ACC Roundup - Tuesday Predictions

Post-season play is going to start Tuesday and before we look at that, let’s remember last March when the tournament was stopped mid-stream as the pandemic took hold. We’re very lucky that there will be one this year, even if unusual circumstances.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the first round of this year’s tournament.

The 2:00 game has Pitt playing Miami. We have immense respect for how much heart Miami has shown this season and you really can’t rule them out simply because of that.

But it won’t be easy and Pitt has found a new unity since Xavier Johnson and Au’Diese Toney departed. We like Pitt here but it won’t surprise us at all if Miami guts one more out. Pitt will have to match their effort and not everybody has done that lately.

By the way, Jeff Capel had some things to say about how ACC officials have been calling Pitt games. He’s not happy.

Duke is going to be smarting after the UNC game and playing on Tuesday for the first time but keep in mind that Boston College, for whatever reason, maybe relief, maybe anger or maybe just pride, has played much better since Jim Christian was fired. Duke is more talented and should win, but if the Blue Devils show up flat again, the season ends at 6:30.

In the nightcap, Notre Dame gets Wake Forest. The Irish should have some wind in their sails after a stunning win over Florida State. Wake Forest played well as teams got their first view of Steve Forbes’s system and style but in the second half of the season, things got tougher: Wake has won just once since January, a narrow win over Boston College.

Notre Dame won last time by 21. We think Forbes has put down the foundations of his program and has coached brilliantly under the circumstances, but realistically, talent is limited. Notre Dame should win easily here.