gw67
01-23-2011, 12:21 PM
I believe that I have seen all 12 teams play at least two games each. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a down year in the ACC. This happens occasionally and normally is not a big deal because there generally are 4-5 good teams to carry the banner for the ACC in the NCAAT. This is a very different year, IMO. The following is my forecast of the league contenders and those that appear to be good now but, IMO, will fall back.
Contenders
Duke The Devils were the best team in the country, much less the ACC, with Irving. They are merely the best team in the ACC at present and on a par with Pitt, Nova and Syracuse nationally. I see them finishing at 13-3 or 14-2 in conference.
Florida State The Noles are not a good shooting team but they play good team defense, are a strong rebounding team and have good depth. Singleton and Kitchen are playing at a high level but Snaer and Dulkys will need to pick up their scoring for them to keep their present pace. Six of their remaining ten ACC games are on the road including games against Clemson, UNC and Md. I see the Noles winning 6-7 games and finishing at 11-5 or 12-6.
UNC This is tough because the Heels have looked bad in the games Ive seen. Further, they have more remaining games that any other ACC team and 11 of the 12 are against teams that could beat them Away: Duke, Miami, BC, Clemson, FSU and NC State; Home: NC State, FSU, Duke, Md and BC. The only easy game is home against Wake. I expect them to lose 4-5 more games but to finish in third at 11-5 or 10-6
Pretenders
BC The Eagles only have 10 remaining games but except for a game against Wake the games are against teams that could potentially beat them UNC (2), VT(2), Duke, Md, Clemson, Miami and UVA. Donahue has gotten a lot out of this team but they rely on the three, are so-so at the defensive end, are a poor rebounding team and dont have much quality depth. They won on the road against Md but have subsequently lost road games to Miami and FSU. I see them finishing at 8-8 or 9-7.
Virginia Tech The Hokies have 11 games remaining and the most advantageous schedule of any of the teams at the top. They play Duke, BC, Miami and Md at home and NC State, BC, UVA and Clemson on the road. They also play GT twice and Wake once. I may be way off base, I see them losing to a bunch of teams they should beat and finishing at 8-8.
The Rest
I expect to see Clemson and Maryland each wining 7-8 games with the remaining five teams winning less. Duke, FSU and UNC should make the NCAAT.
gw67
Contenders
Duke The Devils were the best team in the country, much less the ACC, with Irving. They are merely the best team in the ACC at present and on a par with Pitt, Nova and Syracuse nationally. I see them finishing at 13-3 or 14-2 in conference.
Florida State The Noles are not a good shooting team but they play good team defense, are a strong rebounding team and have good depth. Singleton and Kitchen are playing at a high level but Snaer and Dulkys will need to pick up their scoring for them to keep their present pace. Six of their remaining ten ACC games are on the road including games against Clemson, UNC and Md. I see the Noles winning 6-7 games and finishing at 11-5 or 12-6.
UNC This is tough because the Heels have looked bad in the games Ive seen. Further, they have more remaining games that any other ACC team and 11 of the 12 are against teams that could beat them Away: Duke, Miami, BC, Clemson, FSU and NC State; Home: NC State, FSU, Duke, Md and BC. The only easy game is home against Wake. I expect them to lose 4-5 more games but to finish in third at 11-5 or 10-6
Pretenders
BC The Eagles only have 10 remaining games but except for a game against Wake the games are against teams that could potentially beat them UNC (2), VT(2), Duke, Md, Clemson, Miami and UVA. Donahue has gotten a lot out of this team but they rely on the three, are so-so at the defensive end, are a poor rebounding team and dont have much quality depth. They won on the road against Md but have subsequently lost road games to Miami and FSU. I see them finishing at 8-8 or 9-7.
Virginia Tech The Hokies have 11 games remaining and the most advantageous schedule of any of the teams at the top. They play Duke, BC, Miami and Md at home and NC State, BC, UVA and Clemson on the road. They also play GT twice and Wake once. I may be way off base, I see them losing to a bunch of teams they should beat and finishing at 8-8.
The Rest
I expect to see Clemson and Maryland each wining 7-8 games with the remaining five teams winning less. Duke, FSU and UNC should make the NCAAT.
gw67