Brian Gregory and the Yellow Jackets are going for their first ACC "home" win this season against BC (Pic per OrangeandWhite.com).

Virginia at FSU headlines the weekend…

(33-11 on the ACC season picks)

Saturday

1:00 PM ET – FSU 64 Virginia 57 – There will be defense. But will there be offense from UVA? That’s the question as FSU has been absolutely smoking in the ACC play since the 63-59 road win at Virginia Tech kicked off a six-game winning streak including the 90-57 win over UNC and 76-73 victory at Duke. Lately, they’ve handled business against Wake (75-52) and Georgia Tech (68-54). But maybe the light has come on for Virginia, too, offensively? They’ll need another big effort from guard Joe Harris, who hit 5-of-6 3-pointers in the 65-61 win over Clemson.

1:00 PM ET – Georgia Tech 70 BC 66 (Atlanta) – The battle to the bottom of the ACC – BC (7-15, 2-6) vs. Georgia Tech (8-14, 1-7). Since the close call with Duke at home (81-74), the Jackets have been awful in their new digs for the season, losing 70-38 to Virginia and 64-49 to Miami. But, flip a coin here.

1:00 PM ET – NC State 74 Wake Forest 59 (Raliegh) –  NC State drilled Wake by 36 points in Winston-Salem earlier this season. Don’t think I have to say more.

4:00 PM ET – Clemson 64 Virginia Tech 58 (Blacksburg) – If the result above holds, Virginia Tech might own sole possession of last place in the ACC by the end of the day – yeah, it’s been a tough year to be a Hokie basketball fan. This is definitely their most winnable home ACC contest yet after taking on FSU, Duke and UNC so far, but I need to see some signs of life from Virginia Tech before I pick them again. My more statistical breakdown for OrangeandWhite.com.

4:00 PM ET – UNC 75 Maryland 63 (College Park) – It’s a thin line you walk between being a NCAA-contender and not, and Maryland almost found themselves on the right side of things, falling in double OT 90-86 at Miami Wednesday. Meanwhile, UNC has hit their stride after the crushing loss at FSU – drilling Virginia Tech, NC State, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest in a row. The core of Maryland’s talent is pretty young, and I don’t think they’re consistent enough to pull off the home shocker here.

Sunday

3:00 PM ET – Duke 73 Miami 64 – Miami has a chance to do what its Sunshine State rival did a couple weeks ago – put a major résumé-win on the board in Durham. It’s not going to happen, but they have a chance. And it’s not a talent gap either, the Hurricanes play a complete game where everyone’s on and this could get interesting.

With a change in the ACC map, is coming even more that aren't sitting well with some ACC fans (Pic per OrangeandWhite.com).

Boom – the ACC is going to a 9-game football conference schedule when Pittsburgh and Syracuse join on a date TBD.

It’s an interesting move, following in the footsteps of the PAC-12, and in the end, it’s probably the right one.

If you’re adding teams, adding conference games makes sense – cutting the OOC down to three games.

Obviously, it’ll limit the amount of prime non-conference games, but let’s be honest, that can only help the ACC.

I’ve said for a while that Syracuse to the Atlantic and Pitt to the Coastal makes the most sense. The Orange rekindles the yearly matchup with regional neighbor Boston College, and plays Pitt in cross-divisional action.

It appears that was the main idea from what commish John Swofford told David Teel of the Daily Press:

Swofford said the “overriding factors” in the division assignments were keeping Virginia Tech and Boston College as partners, and rekindling the Boston College-Syracuse and Virginia Tech-Pitt rivalries that waned when the Hokies and Eagles left the Big East for the ACC.

In my estimation, there just wasn’t a way to feasibly blow up the divisional structure and piece it back together North-South or otherwise. They made the right call here.

The other main point of contention from the ACC announcement was the structure of the new 18-game basketball conference schedule, having just one guaranteed home-and-home series and a 14-team ACC Tourney. From the release:

The scheduling model will be based on a three-year cycle during which teams will play every league opponent at least once with the primary partners playing home and away annually while the other 12 rotate in groups of four: one year both home and away; one year at home only; and one year away only. Over the course of the three-year cycle primary partners play a total of six times and all other conference opponents play four times.

This is where most folks are freaking out, mostly in one particular state. How else can you really do it when throwing the ‘Cuse and Pitt into the mix? It’s not Tobacco Road-friendly from a historical standpoint, but there’s 10 other conference schools now.

From Teel again, Swofford says the new basketball-schedule style passed with majority support:

“The (basketball) coaches were very supportive of the one-partner scheduling,” Swofford said, “and as it turned out, so were the athletic directors.”

So, the plan is finally in place – when does this all go down? Looks like we’re not any closer to knowing.

From CBS’ Brett McMurphy…

ACC commissioner John Swofford wouldn’t speculate on Pittsburgh and Syracuse joining the ACC before 2014. “First of all, (that decision) is between Pitt and Syracuse and the Big East,” Swofford said.

However, if the Panthers and Orange can leave before 2014, the ACC will be ready.

“The fact we made our decision how we will schedule and compete certainly helps us (when they join),” Swofford said. “In terms of when that time may come, I don’t want to get into a hypothetical of this or that. Our position continues to be that we want to prepare ourselves when they’re ready and it’s appropriate for them to join us.”

The Big East won’t really still hold Pitt and Syracuse until 2014, right? (Right??) Who knows, but it’s not happening in 2012, and beyond that, the courts and whatever precedent West Virginia sets in its departure to Big XII will determine if there can be epic clashes like Clemson-Syracuse in 2013.

The sooner this will all go down the better, but probably by then, the ACC will get raided or add 10 more teams just to mess with us.

Clemson's 2012 motto is "Hunt or be hunted" and they'll have that target on their back as the ACC coaches' poll pick in the Atlantic (pic per OrangeandWhite.com).

We’re at the two week mark to Opening Day, and it sure feels like baseball weather in the South right now…

5 OOC Series to Watch

Duke at Texas, February 17-19

It may not work out well for the Blue Devils, but kudos for the tough scheduling.

South Carolina vs. Clemson, March 2-4

Have the Gamecocks done anything good recently? This is played on three sites in three days with a game each on at the home fields and one in Charleston.

Florida at Miami, March 2-4

Fun Sunshine State battle actually in a three-game series.

Southern Cal at UNC, March 2-4

I’m a sucker for the East v. West Coast series, and this could be a statement for UNC.

Florida vs. FSU, March 13, March 27 & April 10

They do a funky format much like Clemson/USC but spread out over the season with a home game each and one neutral site game.

Atlantic Division Preview

1) Clemson

2011 Record: 43-20 (17-13)

ACC Coaches Poll: 1st in Atlantic

Returning Position Starters: 4

Returning Starting Pitchers: 3

Top Hitters (2011 Stats): DH/C Phil Pohl (.333 BA/4 HR/33 RBI), 3B Richie Shaffer (.315 BA/13 HR/55 RBI), C Spencer Kieboom (.282 BA/1 HR/31 RBI).

Top Pitchers (2011 Stats): RHP Dominic Leone (12 GS, 6-2, 3.70 ERA), RHP Jonathan Meyer (7 GS, 5-2, 3.31 ERA), RHP David Haselden (4 GS, 6-1, 2.23 ERA).

Schedule Notes: Clemson has a three-game series with five Baseball America top-25 teams, including the three-site South Carolina one and hosting UNC from the top-10. The Tigers received no breaks from their cross-divisional schedule with a trip to Virginia and hosting Miami and the Tar Heels, but division-contender FSU does come to Doug Kingsmore this season.

2) Florida State

2011 Record: 46-19 (19-11)

ACC Coaches Poll: 2nd in Atlantic

Returning Starting Position Players: 6

Returning Pitchers: 9

Top Hitters (2011 Stats): RF James Ramsey (.364 BA/10 HR/67 RBIs), 1B Jayce Boyd (.343 BA/8 HR/60 RBI), 2B Devon Travis (.343 BA/6 HR/33 RBI).

Top Pitchers (2011 Stats): RHP Robert Benincasa (20 app., 2-2, 3.58 ERA), LHP Brian Busch (26 app., 6-2, 4.29 ERA), RHP Hunter Scantling (17 app., 3-3, 4.45 ERA).

Schedule Notes: FSU plays your typically tough schedule with those multiple Sunshine State mini-series, but aren’t facing quite as tough an ACC slate as their division rival Clemson. The trips to Georgia Tech and Clemson will be tough, but they host Miami and NC State – travel to Duke, Wake Forest and BC.

3) NC State

2011 Record: 35-27 (15-15)

ACC Coaches Poll: 3rd in Atlantic

Returning Starting Position Players: 6.

Returning Starting Pitchers: 3.

Top Hitters (2011 Stats): SS Chris Diaz (.306 BA, 2 HR, 32 RBI), RF John Gianis (.289 BA, 1 HR, 24 RBI), 2B Matt Bergquist (.289 BA, 4 HR, 46 RBI).

Top Pitchers (2011 Stats): RHP Chris Overman (30 app., 6-3, 2.39 ERA, 7 saves), RHP Ethan Ogburn (20 app., 6-4, 4.52 ERA), RHP D.J. Thomas (26 app., 2-1, 3.92 ERA).

Schedule Notes: NC State travels to UNC, Clemson, Virginia Tech and FSU – host GT to open the ACC season and Virginia comes to town also.

4) Wake Forest

2011 Record: 25-31 (15-15)

ACC Coaches Poll: 4th in Atlantic

Returning Starting Position Players: 8

Returning Starting Pitchers: 3

Top Hitters (2011 Stats):  LF Mac Williamson (.273 BA, 12 HR, 49 RBI), 3B Carlos Lopez (.270 BA, 11 HR, 34 RBI), 1B Matt Conway (.256 BA, 6 HR, 38 RBI).

Top Pitchers (2011 Stats): LHP Brian Holmes (15 app., 3-4, 3.00 ERA), LHP Tim Cooney (14 app., 7-3, 3.01 ERA), RHP Michael Dimock (28 app., 5-1, 1.87).

Schedule Notes: The Deacs open ACC play with the Terps and travel to NC State. They get both Clemson and FSU in Winston-Salem, but travel to Miami, UNC and Virginia.

5) Maryland

2011 Record: 21-35 (5-25)

ACC Coaches Poll: 5th in Atlantic

Returning Starting Position Players: 8

Returning Starting/Relief Pitchers: 4/5

Top Hitters (2011 Stats):  2B Ryan Holland (.282 BA/3 HR/30 RBI), 1B Tim Kiene (.279 BA/3 HR/18 RBI), CF Charlie White (.304 BA/11 2B/14 RBI).

Top Pitchers (2011 Stats): RHP David Carroll (14 app., 5-5, 4.70 ERA), RHP Brett Harman (Redshirted), LHP Korey Wacker (17 app., 2-4, 2.73 ERA, 3 saves).

Schedule Notes: The Terps travel to No. 14 UCLA to open the season – go to FSU, Wake Forest and Miami, but host Clemson, UNC and Virginia.

6) Boston College

2011 Record: 17-33 (7-22 ACC)

ACC Coaches Poll: 6th in Atlantic

Returning Position Players: 13

Returning Pitchers: 8

Top Hitters (2011 Stats): RF Matt McGovern (.371 BA/1 HR/18 RBI), 3B Anthony Mechionda (.304 BA/1 HR/34 RBI), LF Andrew Lawrence (.271 BA/5 HR/24 RBI).

Top Pitchers (2011 Stats): LHP Andrew Lawrence (12 GS, 2-3, 4.26 ERA), RHP Kyle Prohovich (24 app., 3-1, 3.46 ERA), RHP Taylor Lasko (Missed 2011 with Tommy John surgery).

Schedule Notes: The Eagles open ACC play with a gauntlet of trips to Miami and Clemson, then hosting Georgia Tech, but close with two of their final three series at home (Wake Forest and Duke). Oddly enough, their opening game is with Virginia, but not a conference game, in Conway, South Carolina in a tournament.

A Few Words

The Atlantic’s top two (Clemson and FSU) have a lot to replace in the lineup and rotation, but I’m not seeing anybody with the guns to overtake them. BC and Maryland should be improved after taking lumps with young teams last year, while I expect NC State to take a bit of step back. Wake Forest is the wild card, as they have two really strong lefties at the front of the rotation and the righty Michael Dimock out of the ‘pen. If they can get any hitting, they’re a sleeper with both FSU and Clemson coming to town.

The class was made up of 14 three-star and eight two-star prospects, according to Scout and Rivals. One transfer, quarterback Pete Thomas from Colorado State, also joins this year’s class.

“That certainly was a big plus and anytime we can get anybody like [Pete Thomas] in our program we’ll jump at the opportunity.” commented head coach Tom O’Brien.

O’Brien said he expects three to five of the newcomers to see the field next fall.

“Our staff is very excited about the signing class of 2012,” said O’Brien. “We went into this recruiting year with the intention of adding talent at every position, on both sides of the ball. We are at the point now where we are signing to build a team, not rebuild a position, and we are adding quality depth.”

It was a complete class, as the 23 signees covered 11 different positions. The depth up front was improved- four offensive and six defensive linemen were added by the Pack.

State also found playmakers in this year’s class. Wide receiver Charlie Hegedus and running back Shadrach Thornton, both from Georgia, were highly sought after by the big boys of the SEC. Hegedus was offered by Oklahoma State just a couple days ago, and Thornton held offers from multiple SEC and ACC schools.

Four commits have enrolled and are already on campus, including quarterback Manny Stocker who will be involved in a, as O’Brien put it this afternoon, “battle royale” for the starting job after Mike Glennon graduates following this season.

“Certainly we are excited about today. This is a really talented group of young men that have decided to come to NC State. It’s a long, athletic and talented group of kids, and the thing that stands out at you is the size of them and the length they have… the fact that they can run,” added O’Brien.

For a complete list of NC State’s signees, click here.

Clemson got a big game from Devin Booker in the 71-60 win over Wake Forest over the weekend - they'll need another one at No. 16 Virginia Tuesday.

Here’s the first installment and we’ll update with the rest…

(27-11 on the season on picks)

Tuesday

7:00 PM ET – Virginia 60 Clemson 53 (Charlottesville) – Both are defensive-minded, run a motion offense and limit possessions…Virginia is just a bit better at it right now than Clemson. The Tigers will be without Milton Jennings due to a suspension for academics, which will hurt in defending Mike Scott. Here’s more of a breakdown on OrangeandWhite.com from me.

9:00 PM ET – UNC 75 Wake Forest 60 (Winston-Salem) – I saw the Deacs in Littlejohn over the weekend, and they, uh, struggled. I just wonder how long Jeff Bzdelik can keep this team interested, as they’re starting to get beat worse and worse and just not playing good basketball. Oh, and they’re playing a hot UNC team right now.

Thursday

7:00 PM ET – Duke 71 Virginia Tech 64 (Blacksburg) – Does Greenberg have any magic left? I’m not sure he does. Honestly, I have no idea what Virginia Tech is doing in ACC play, after a solid out-of-conference season. They look lost, and don’t have the guns to upset Duke.

Miami takes its show on the really long road to Boston College Sunday. (Pic per OrangeandWhite.com)

This weekend’s ACC games could be interesting…

(23-10 on season)

Saturday

12:00 PM ET – Clemson 66 Wake Forest 58 (Clemson) – As we’ve documented, the Tigers hold the homecourt down and this should be no different. For more on the matchup, check out my breakdown on OrangeandWhite.com here.

2:30 PM ET – Maryland 65 Virginia Tech 61 (College Park) – In their last two, Virginia Tech has won by scoring 47 points and lost by scoring 68 – who knows with this team right now, but they face a Terps team smarting from close-then-double-digit-losses to Duke and Temple.  The key here is Maryland coming off an emotional game with a packed house against Duke to another ACC game just a couple days later…I’m giving the Terps the edge because of homecourt, but wouldn’t be surprised by an upset.

8:00 PM ET – NC State 65 Virginia 62 (Raleigh) – Run the floor versus slow it down…this should be an intriguing matchup of solid teams (and could very well be an early elimination game for an ACC regular season title shot). The Wolfpack are second in the league in possessions per 40 minutes, while Virginia is last and 334th nationally (out of 347). And while the Cavaliers’ last game appears to be a blowout in the box score – it was anything but…Virginia pulling away in the final four minutes to a 66-49 win.  Of course, NC State is coming off the emotional loss to UNC, 74-55, but they had won their last three games going into Chapel Hill by 18 points per. Since Assane Sene went down against Georgia Tech, Virginia has really struggled to recover, and I need to see them play better on the road minus-him so I’m going Wolfpack here.

Sunday

1:00 PM ET – Miami 65 BC 59 (Chestnut Hill) – Oh, what to do with BC, who won two of its first three ACC games (by four points combined), and proceeded to drop its next three, all by double-digits. Miami has had a rough schedule to start the season – playing and losing to three of the better teams in the ACC, two on the road, so this is a big opportunity to keep some momentum after dominating Georgia Tech, 64-49. Miami is the better team, and I’ll take the risk that they’ll look like it after a long road trip.

6:00 PM ET – UNC 79 Georgia Tech 63 (Chapel Hill) – What’s next for the conference’s last place team on a four-game losing streak? Oh, a trip to Chapel Hill. Well, at least Georgia Tech has come out of the Triangle with a win already this season, downing NC State 82-71, but they face a whole different animal in UNC, who’s coming off one of its strongest performances of the season (74-55 win over NC State). The Tar Heels have won their conference home contests by 19.6 points per game so far. Odds on, this won’t be pretty.

Glen Rice Jr. was the only thing going for GT at Clemson Saturday (19 points), and he'll need to be on against Miami to snap a 3-game losing streak. (Pic per OrangeandWhite.com)

Can NC State stay atop the ACC with a trip to Chapel Hill Thursday? It’s one of a few intriguing midweek games…

(18-10 on season)

Tuesday

9:00 PM ET – Miami 68 GT 63 (Atlanta) – Miami leading scorer Malcolm Grant (12.9 PPG) hasn’t scored in double-digits five of his last six games, including his 5 points in the 78-73 home loss to NC State Sunday (0-5 on 3-pointers), meanwhile, junior forward Kenny Kadji posted double-figure scoring in nine of his last ten (20 points and 11 rebounds against NC State). If it wasn’t for Glen Rice Jr.’s 19, Georgia Tech would’ve been blown out again at Clemson (64-62 loss) after the 70-38 home defeat to UVa last week. I’m saying Miami’s guards get back in action here, while Kadji and Reggie Johnson feast inside to a conference road win.

Wednesday

7:00 PM ET – FSU 68 Wake Forest 59 (Winston-Salem) – You know the story with this FSU team right now – they’re winning…by…scoring. Through five ACC games, the ‘Noles are at 74.4 points per game – 83.3 PPG in their last three wins (at Duke, Maryland and UNC). The Deacs have been up-and-down, losing to Duke and NC State by 27 PPG, and drilling BC on the road Saturday, 71-56. Jeff Bzdelik and co. have to hope the ‘Noles are a bit road-weary and reading their press clippings.

9:00 PM ET – Duke 72 Maryland 64 (College Park) – Both can share stories of their losses to Temple (Duke, 78-73, and Maryland, 73-60). Traditionally, College Park is a tough place to play for the Blue Devils, but I’m not sure Maryland can score with them in this edition.

Thursday

7:00 PM ET – UNC 75 NC State 68 (Chapel Hill) – As we stretch into late January, NC State is looking down on the Tar Heels in the standings – something we haven’t been able to say in quite a while, but they stay on the road after a 78-73 win at Miami en route to Chapel Hill Thursday. UNC struggled for a half and eased to a 82-68 win in Blacksburg last week before taking the weekend off, and play their first full game without guard Dexter Strickland, who’s out for the season with a knee injury. The Wolfpack have scored 77 PPG on the road in the ACC so far (2-0, 76-40 win at Wake the other game), while the Tar Heels have held conference opponents to 58 PPG in the Dean Dome. Bottom-line, winning at Wake or Miami isn’t winning in Chapel Hill, and while I’m a big fan of the new and improved Pack, UNC edges them out here.

9:00 PM ET – Virginia 66 BC 55 (Charlottesville) – *Thud* <— That’s Virginia’s ACC title chances smacking into a brutal, ugly 47-45 loss to rival Virginia Tech at home over the weekend. By their loss and FSU’s triumph in Durham, the ‘Hoos went from top-3 to the back of a five-team group atop the conference, but they have a nice tune-up with BC on Thursday, where they hope to get in the 50s.

“I think our guys, as soon as the Miami game was over, their minds shifted to North Carolina. I think they will be excited, there is no question,” said Gottfried.

And they should be excited; State hasn’t entered a match-up with North Carolina (16-3, 3-1 ACC) with a better conference record than the Heels in years. Following Sunday’s victory over Miami, the Pack matched their win total from all of last year at 15.

This team is playing with confidence, and it is showing on stat sheets night in and night out. All five starters average in double-figure scoring, with an emerging Deshawn Painter coming off the bench averaging 7.8 points per game. Painter took over the game in Miami, scoring 18 points and pulling down seven rebounds while starting forward Richard Howell battled foul trouble. The balanced scoring has kept the Pack in games all season.

Even with the un-explainable loss at home to Georgia Tech, the Pack finds themselves tied atop the ACC standings. The Pack knows it should be 5-0 in conference play right now, but their sights are set on building on the early success they have earned.

“I think for our team what is important to realize is that although we’ve had a couple of nice wins we are a long, long way from where we want to be. Our guys know that,” stated Gottfried.

The players seemed to share the same view as Gottfried. Junior forward Scott Wood, who broke J.J. Redick’s streak of 54 straight free throws made when he was a perfect seven for seven at the charity stripe on Sunday, putting his streak at 58 going back to last season.

“We’re starting to play well at the right time; hopefully we can continue to get better.”

Wood leads the Pack with just over 13 points a game, scoring double-figures in all five ACC games this season. He’ll need to be at the top of his game if State is going to knock off the Heels in Chapel Hill Thursday night.

The game Thursday is far more important than just ending the winning streak that Carolina holds over the Pack. A win would go a very long way towards the Pack’s goal to make the NCAA Tournament, and would give them a great road win to add to their resume.

“Winning is what breeds confidence. We have to win big games. That’s what changes your program,” said Gottfried, and this is certainly a big game.

Just not big enough for the first-year coach to break out a red blazer like his predecessor. Who, by the way, won his first match-up against Roy Williams and the Tar Heels. Unfortunately, it would be the only time he would come out on top in the rivalry.

Virginia has a chance to send the Hokies to 0-5 in ACC play. Also, this is a really old pic. (Pic per OrangeandWhite.com)

No surprises in midweek play means we’ll have a wild weekend?

(16-7 on season)

Saturday

12:00 PM ET – Boston College 65 Wake Forest 61 (Chestnut Hill) – Wake is struggling – really struggling right now, while BC is coming off a 14-point loss at NC State, falling back to 2-2 in ACC play. Should be a classic.

2:30 PM ET – Clemson 67 Georgia Tech 63 (Clemson – The Yellow Jackets haven’t broken 50 points in their last two ACC contests, while Clemson was close but no cigar in each of its last three games (losses by a combined 12 points). Brad Brownell’s club plays well at home (8-2 over last two seasons) and should edge out another desperate team in Georgia Tech.

4:00 PM ET – Duke 70 FSU 62 (Durham) – What is this high-flying scoring machine, and what have you done with FSU? The ‘Noles are scoring 74 PPG in conference-play, led by a league-leading 37.5 3pt%. Obviously, if they lock down and run away like their last two (90-57 over UNC and 84-70 over Maryland) – Cameron will be no factor, but I don’t think any ACC team is that consistent this season.

Sunday

12:00 PM ET – NC State 68 Miami 65 (Coral Gables) – This is a bellwether game for NCAA chances, as Miami can’t afford any home ACC losses, and NC State could use a good road win. In year one, I’m really impressed with what Mark Gottfried has done in Raliegh, and this isn’t an unbeatable Miami team – Wolfpack in a close one here.

6:00 PM ET – Virginia 65 VT 58 – Not a good time for Hokie basketball, eh? Staring 0-5 in the face in ACC play with a trip to rival Virginia, who just drilled Georgia Tech on the road, 70-38, and is 15-2 on the season. Virginia Tech’s death march to another disappointing season continues here.

Just another quiet season for Roy Williams & co. (Pic per OrangeandWhite.com)

A look at the midweek in the ACC with some intriguing games…

Wednesday

7:00 PM ET – Miami 68 Clemson 63 (Coral Gables) – Durand Scott and Shane Larkin being questionable leave me a bit wary here, and the Tigers won in Miami last year…but give me the Hurricanes in a close one.

Thursday

7:00 PM ET – Duke 75 Wake Forest 60 (Durham) – The Deacs scored 40 against NC State, at home, last Saturday. Yeah, they’re struggling at the worst time going into Cameron.

8:00 PM ET – UNC 71 VT 64 (Blacksburg) –  Virginia Tech has lost by 3, 4 and 2 points respectively en route to the 0-3 in ACC play start, while UNC won by 23 and 17 – lost by 33 this conference-play season. So, that’s where we are in a matchup of teams that’ve lost their way. With the Tar Heels, I at least know they can score, while I can’t say the same about the Hokies.

8:00 PM ET – NC State 72 Boston College 63 (Raliegh) – BC is sitting pretty at tied for second in the ACC, but now comes the hard part, the road. The Eagles have lost 86-64, 64-57 and 83-60 on the road this season. The Wolfpack dominated Wake Forest on the road last week (76-40), but fell to Georgia Tech in Raliegh too (82-71). They can’t afford any more slip-ups if they want that elusive NCAA bid.

8:00 PM ET – Virginia  63 GT 55 (Atlanta) – Is Virginia really a challenger for the ACC crown? We’ll find out Thursday night in Atlanta. These are the games that Duke and UNC usually win, but others fall – the 14-2 ‘Hoos facing a solid, but beatable Yellow Jackets squad. In ACC play, Georgia Tech is hitting 40 percent of 3s and holding opponents to a second-best 40.6 field goal percentage. If the Cavaliers are as dialed-in as at Duke, they’ll grab win No. 15.

From yesterday

Tuesday

9:00 PM ET – FSU 65 Maryland 60 (Tallahassee) – Here’s the real trick…FSU refocusing after the pats on the back and high-fives from the last couple days after the 90-57 win over UNC. Clearly, the Seminoles, at their best, can win fairly comfortably here, but remember, this is FSU and ACC basketball…don’t expect another 33-point win, but a win nonetheless.

(11-7 on ACC picks on the season – post-FSU’s win, yeah, that good!)