Posted by Brandon Rink on December 30, 2010 under ACC Football | 
T.J. Yates could go out in style in Nashville against the Vols. (Per OrangeandWhite.com)
Nashville hosts a virtual road game for UNC – it’s not like they’ve faced much adversity already this season…
2010 ACC Pick’Em (71-29 so far on the season)
- 12/30/10 – North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Tennessee Volunteers / ESPN / 6:40 ET
Must-See Matchup, UNC offense vs. UT Defense: T.J. Yates’ arm vs. Vols secondary
Tennessee had a pedestrian secondary this season at 81st in the nation in pass defense – Yates could have a field day.
Must-See Matchup, UT offense vs. UNC Defense: Vols ground game vs. UNC D
UT’s Tauren Poole is looking for six more yards (and many more) for a 1,000 rushing yard season – while UNC hopes to shut him down and force the Volunteers to win through the air.
Watch 4: UNC to end a tumultuous season on a good note
Looking at Tennessee’s resume – nothing really impresses me…they are on a four-game winning streak, but they beat some terrible teams. UNC is the better team and will take this one if they are focused.
The Pick: Heels 28 Vols 20
ATS Section (44-42-1 to date)
We’re 2-1 straight up, but 1-2 ATS in ACC bowls…
- UNC and over 1 vs. Tennessee
Take to Bank %: 75%
Just not impressed with Tennessee at all – UNC wins comfortably over this spread.
Meineke Bowl breakdown coming up next – thoughts on the Music City?
Posted by Brandon Rink on December 29, 2010 under ACC Basketball |
Coming off knee surgery, Clemson's Stitt has led an improved Tigers' attack. (Per OrangeandWhite.com)
What’s happened and to come in ACC basketball right here with this week’s ACC B-Ball Report…
ACC Standings…
| (As Of December 29) |
| School |
Conf. |
Pct. |
Overall |
Pct. |
| Boston College |
1-0 |
1.000 |
10-2 |
.833 |
| Florida State |
1-0 |
1.000 |
10-4 |
.714 |
| Virginia |
1-0 |
1.000 |
8-4 |
.667 |
| Duke |
0-0 |
.000 |
11-0 |
1.000 |
| Miami |
0-0 |
.000 |
10-3 |
.769 |
| North Carolina |
0-0 |
.000 |
9-4 |
.692 |
| NC State |
0-0 |
.000 |
8-4 |
.667 |
| Georgia Tech |
0-0 |
.000 |
6-5 |
.545 |
| Wake Forest |
0-0 |
.000 |
6-6 |
.500 |
| Clemson |
0-1 |
.000 |
9-4 |
.692 |
| Maryland |
0-1 |
.000 |
8-4 |
.667 |
| Virginia Tech |
0-1 |
.000 |
7-4 |
.636 |
—
The games…
UNC 78, Rutgers 55 (Carolina March)
For Christmas this year, the Tar Heels apparently asked for a shooting touch. And Leslie McDonald at least got one in his stocking – he went 4 of 7 from behind the arc, on his way to 14 points. The rest of the the team was a mixed mag, but they ran the transition game well, shot almost 47% from the field, and was never in any danger of losing, en route to a 23-point victory.
Roy Williams appeared to use this game to allow players to get comfortable with one another over long stretches. He often subbed in four or five players at a time, and basically played two teams: the starting lineup of Drew, Strickland, Zeller, Henson and Barnes, and the second squad of Marshall, McDonald, Bullock, Knox and Watts. The second team seemed particularly strong, and almost matched the first team’s point total, scoring 36 to their 40. It’s hard to judge how well to take this, as the opponent was Rutgers. Still, the Scarlet Knights were contesting most of the shots, and they still fell. UNC also dominated the boards, and had 13 assists and 11 steals. There was good, quick ball movement and the backcourt was strong, not letting Rutgers just collapse on the big men.
Sure of themselves, efficient Tigers take care of business against Delaware State (OrangeandWhite.com)
A no-nonsense, all-business focus notched the Clemson men’s basketball team its ninth victory of the season Monday night, as the Tigers rolled past Delaware State 76-41 with a performance that coach Brad Brownell described as “really efficient basketball.”
Playing against an undersized, perimeter-oriented opponent that came within a buzzer-beater of upsetting NC State at Raleigh in its final game before Christmas, the Tigers shut down Delaware State’s three-point game and solved the Hornets’ switching zone defenses with complementary inside-outside offensive balance.
All-in-all, it was a satisfying follow-up to Clemson’s confidence-building victory at College of Charleston in its final game before a brief holiday break.
Observations: Alabama A&M – N.C. State (Charlotte Observer)
Tracy Smith could finally be back Saturday for San Diego. But in his absence, DeShawn Painter has gotten valuable minutes and battles hard in the paint. The 6-foot-9 sophomore should give Pack coach Sidney Lowe a dependable post player off the bench in ACC games.
After the nail-biter against Delaware State, then time off for Christmas, everyone seemed more relaxed and confident Tuesday for NCSU, coaches and players alike. The game had all of the suspense of a 6-0 hockey game, but the Pack’s concentration level was relatively high and its play generally solid.
Preview | usc upstate (2-9) @ VT (7-4) | 2 PM Thursday (Tech Hoops)
I’m being serious, Virginia Tech is playing the university of south carolina upstate on Thursday. Let’s see who can be the first to post their nickname correctly without looking it up! (I honestly have no idea)
Please note it is a “Business Man’s Special” start time of 2 PM on Thursday, so get to the Cassell early as the Hokies play at home for just the fifth time this season. This will be your first chance to see the “Elite Eight” in action now that Dorenzo Hudson and Cadarian Raines have been shut down for the season and Ben Boggs is on his way to greener pastures (still no official word on where that will be to my knowledge). These next two games, along with mt. st. mary’s at home on Sunday, will give the Elite Eight some valuable playing experience before conference action ramps up on Saturday, January 8th (home versus florida state).
There’s a Basketball Game Tomorrow, Too: Previewing Maryland-North Florida (Testudo Times)
They’ve faced a decent number of high-major teams, so they won’t be starstruck by Maryland. The closest they’ve come against any of the Big 6 teams they’ve faced is a 20-point deficit, against both FSU and Purdue. They’ve also suffered their fair share of blowouts.
Their most notable stat is TO%, which ranks as the fifth-worst in DI. If Maryland’s defense goes high-pressure, which they probably will at some point, you can probably expect a decent number of turnovers to result.
The Osprey’s tempo is middle of the road, neither Maryland’s breakneck pace nor a Big Ten slog. That should lend itself to a decent score when it’s all said and done.
Injury recovery…
Sherrill and Scott on the mend (Daily Progress)
When Virginia fans come to John Paul Jones Arena on Thursday night to see their Wahoos take on Iowa State, they may see something that they haven’t witnessed in five games — a span of 31 days.
There is a chance that senior captains Will Sherrill and Mike Scott will be back on the court together.
That’s something that hasn’t happened since UVa’s big road win at Minnesota in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge on Nov. 29.
ACC Games to Come This Week
From the ACC…
Wednesday, December 29
Duke at UNCG …………………………………. ESPNU…… 7:00
Boston College at Rhode Island …………………………. 7:00
East Carolina at Clemson ………………………………….. 7:00
North Florida at Maryland …………………………………. 8:00
Wake Forest at Richmond …………………………………….tba
Thursday, December 30
USC Upstate at Virginia Tech …………………………….. 2:00
Pepperdine at Miami ………………………………………… 6:00
Iowa State at Virginia …………………………….CSN….. 8:00
Friday, December 31
Mercer at Georgia Tech …………………………………….. 1:00
Saturday, January 1
San Diego at NC State ………………………….FSSO…..Noon
Boston College at South Carolina ……….. ESPNU…… 5:30
Sunday, January 2
Gonzaga at Wake Forest ………………………… FSN…… 1:00
Mount St. Mary’s at Virginia Tech ………………………. 2:00
St. Francis (Pa.) at North Carolina …….FSSO/SUN/NESN …….3:30
The Citadel at Clemson …………………………………….. 4:00
Charlotte at Georgia Tech ………………………………….. 5:00
LSU at Virginia …………………………………….. FSN…… 5:30
Miami at Duke ……………………………………… FSN…… 7:45
Monday, January 3
Florida State at Auburn …………………………………….. 8:00
Tuesday, January 4
Colgate at Maryland ……………………. CSN/NESN…… 8:00
Howard at Virginia …………………………………………… 7:00
—–
We’re inching closer to full conference play – ACC teams getting in their last warmups before it tips-off…
Posted by Brandon Rink on December 28, 2010 under ACC Football |
Perez and co. face a tall task with ECU's pass-happy attack. (Pic per OrangeandWhite.com)
Here we are – probably one of the most intriguing bowl games of the season with Ralph Friedgen’s last game as Maryland coach…
2010 ACC Pick’Em (70-29 so far on the season)
- 12/29/10 – Maryland Terrapins vs. East Carolina Pirates / ESPN / 2:30 ET
Must-See Matchup, MD offense vs. ECU Defense: Friedgen playcalling vs. awful Pirates D
ECU gave up 76 points to Navy at one point this season – I’m interested to see just how crisp Friedgen will be in his final game as coach of his alma mater…if he’s not on – ECU can put the points to take this game.
Must-See Matchup, ECU offense vs. MD Defense: ECU air-attack vs. MD secondary
The Pirates rank 7th in the nation in passing and former BC QB Dominique Davis has almost 3,700 passing yards and 36 TDs.
Watch 4: Terps to win an ugly game
You have the feeling it could be one of those “win one for the Gipper” games, but then again – the Terps could be sluggish with all of the turmoil…I say it’s somewhere in between and they are able to keep the Pirates at bay for the win.
The Pick: Terps 24 Pirates 21
ATS Section (44-41-1 to date)
Georgia Tech just melting down offensively kept us from picking the upset in game one – let’s hope for some better luck from here out…
- ECU and under 7.5 vs. Maryland
Take to Bank %: 20%
I think the Terps win, but ECU is solid team and the Pirates’ McNeill did a good job last year with Texas Tech in the bowl as an interim coach – he’ll have them ready to keep it close.
Music City breakdown coming up next – thoughts on the Military Bowl?
