ACC Morning Linkfest 3/9 with Game Sim Predictions

The last weekend of ACC regular season basketball is here.  Six games this weekend will decide the ACC tournament seeding and there is still a lot unknown.  Once the seeds are set on Sunday night, make sure to check out SCACCHoops.com and submit your bracket for our ACC Tournament Bracket contest.  I'm still working on the prize for the winner, so stay tuned!

The big matchup today is obviously Duke playing UNC in Chapel Hill.  The funny thing, is I'll be watching how Miami performs just as close.  Will the Miami defense show up today?  That said, expect Duke and UNC to be a great one. 

The Blue Devils are back healthy and UNC may be the hottest team in the conference.  It will be fascinating to see who Duke puts Ryan Kelly on, neither PJ Hairston or Reggie Bullock seem to be a good matchup for Kelly.  On the other side of the ball, I think UNC will be able to react to Kelly on the perimeter with their quickness.  Will Kelly be able to use his size advantage to help Duke on the boards or scoring in the post?  Shooting will obviously play a huge role in the game as both teams rely heavily on eFG%, but its the other three (of the four) factors that will likely decide this one.  Make sure to follow the live tempo-based stats for this one.

In other games, NC State needs a win to clinch at least a 4th seed and a first round bye in the ACC tournament.  Of course, if NC State wins and UNC loses, the Pack move to the 3rd seed.  The conundrum here is that the Pack may rather be a 4th seed and face a struggling Miami team on Saturday as opposed to facing Duke.

Check out the game sim predictions, links, previews, and more below.

Game Sim Predictions

Georgia Tech at Boston College - Boston College wins 62-61 Sim the game here

NC State at FSU - NC State wins 68-67 Sim the game here

Clemson at Miami - Miami wins 65-53 Sim the game here

Duke at UNC - Duke wins 71-70 Sim the game here

Team	Conf	Pct	Overall	Pct
Miami	14-3	0.824	23-6	0.793
Duke	13-4	0.765	26-4	0.867
UNC	12-5	0.706	22-8	0.733
NC State	11-6	0.647	22-8	0.733
Virginia	10-7	0.588	20-10	0.667
Maryland	8-9	0.471	20-10	0.667
FSU	8-9	0.471	16-14	0.533
Georgia Tech	6-11	0.353	16-13	0.552
Boston College	6-11	0.353	14-16	0.467
Clemson	5-12	0.294	13-16	0.448
Wake Forest	5-12	0.294	12-17	0.414
Virginia Tech	4-13	0.235	13-17	0.433

Injury Report
KJ McDaniels (CL)
ankle
John Auslander (MD)
left tibia fracture - out for season
Darion Atkins (VA)
stress reaction in shins

Links

• UNC band student expands on his letter about being a Duke fan
• Ballad to the class of 2013
• Duke basketball talks UNC, Kelly, postseason
• Community slams Durham-Chapel Hill crime story
• Duke Game Notes: at North Carolina (March 9, 2013)
• Duke Speaks Before Regular Season Finale vs. UNC
• Coach K Press Conference
• Interviews: Mason Plumlee l Ryan Kelly l Quinn Cook
• Hairston, UNC rolling into tonight’s game with Duke
• Heels carry six-game win streak into Duke game
• Duke faces UNC with bigger things in mind
• Duke, UNC rivalry comes full circle
• DeCock: Two freshmen going different directions may be deciding factor for UNC, Duke
• UNC forward James Michael McAdoo on playing through back pain: I am tough
• P.J. Hairston hits his stride in his sophomore year
• Duke to host UNC as the battle of Tobacco Road continues on the court
• Duke reminds everyone why it’s a title threat
• McAdoo's Back Is Giving Him Some Trouble
• Through trials and tribulations, Evans has stayed the course at UVa
• Terps coach Mark Turgeon needs to lose hangdog look
• Kelly-Hairston key matchup in Duke-UNC battle
• UNC Band Member Apologizes For Talking Smack About Carolina
• Miami Hurricanes can clinch ACC basketball title on Seniors day
• Wolfpack has eye on tournament bye
• Dropping the ball on academics and tradition in the ACC
• Big East seeking $2.5M from Irish for early exit

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