Big Ten ACC Challenge Predictions

The Big Ten/ACC Challenge has come back around again. To me, this is the start of paying attention to College Basketball. This year's challenge certainly features some great matchups, and the premiere matchup includes my Badgers on Wednesday night. Because both conferences have 14 teams now, the challenge has increased from the traditional 12 games over two nights into 14 games over three nights. Here are my picks for how each game will turn out.

Monday
Nebraska @ Florida St: Nebraska is supposed to be a top five team in the Big Ten and Florida St is considered an ACC cellar dweller. Pick: Nebraska

Rutgers @ Clemson: snooze. Both of these teams will be residing in their respective conferences basements this year. Home court decides this one. Pick: Clemson

Standings Through Night One: ACC: 1 Big Ten: 1

Tuesday
Pitt @ Indiana: Both of these teams are considered middle pack teams that both have the potential to have surprisingly strong or disastrous seasons. This game could swing the pendulum for how their seasons could go. Pick: Indiana

Syracuse @ Michigan: Both of these teams have slightly lower expectations than in years past, but still high. Both are still expected to finish top 5 in the conference, but not compete for a conference title like last year. Pick: Syracuse

Minnesota @ Wake Forest: Minnesota is right smack in the middle of the Big Ten rankings. They have the makeup of a potentially good team, but have several flaws to fix. Wake Forest is just bad, but on home court this could be a tricky game. Pick: Minnesota

Illinois @ Miami: Neither team is expected to do a lot this year, but with both teams still riding undefeated records the winner will certainly feel good about their potential. Pick: Miami

NC State @ Purdue: Three years ago this would have been a great matchup. Now, not so much as both teams have fallen way down. Pick: Purdue

Ohio St @ Louisville: The premiere matchup on Tuesday night features the second best team from each conference. Look for home court to make the difference. Pick: Lousville

Standings Through Night Two: ACC: 3       Big Ten: 3


Wednesday
Michigan St @ Notre Dame: Michigan St will be very good as always, but maybe not quite as good as in years past. Notre Dame is still a question mark. In Michigan this would be a blowout, but on Notre Dames court it should be close. Pick: Michigan St

Virginia Tech @ Penn St: Double snooze. Penn ST is bad as usual, but Vtech might be the worst team between either conference. Pick: Penn St

Iowa @ North Carolina: Iowa is not going to be nearly as good as last year, and UNC is going to be the usual UNC. This one may not be close. Pick: North Carolina

Virginia @ Maryland: Both of these teams are huge question marks. Both are expected to be decent, but both also have the potential to be very good. Home court is the difference. Pick: Maryland

Georgia Tech @ Northwestern: Northwestern is one of the Big Tens worst, as is the usual. Georgia Tech will be very bad also, but I always have a hard time picking Northwestern to win anything. Pick: Georgia tech

Duke @ Wisconsin; Not only the premier matchup of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, possibly the premier matchup of the season through December. Both teams are in the top 5, expect the Kohl Center advantage to be the difference maker in this one. Pick: Wisconsin

Final Standings: ACC: 5     Big Ten: 7