Will the ACC only get 3 teams into the NCAA tournament?

We are only 2 weeks into January, and already the NCAA bubble for ACC teams is shrinking. North Carolina and Duke will be in the NCAA tournament. Virginia is just about a lock. If the Cavaliers 14-2 start doesn’t convince you I’m not sure what will. They had Duke sweating in Thursday’s 61-58 loss in Durham, plus there is a win over Michigan that looks better every week.

After UNC, Duke, and Virginia then it’s anyone’s guess. I thought NC State would be the ACC’s fourth NCAA team, but a head scratching home loss to Georgia Tech has really reduced the Wolfpack’s margin of error. Outside of NC State, Maryland and Florida State still could get into the Big Dance. Miami, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest can also get into the picture, but at the moment their chances aren’t very realistic.  Gone are the days that an ACC team could go 8-8 and make the NCAAs. Even 10-6 is not a sure bet anymore, but this year I think that will be enough. Someone has to get there first.

Check out the official site ACC for TV Listings.

Games Affecting the ACC Bubble This weekend…

1/14 NC State 12-5 (1-1) at Wake Forest 10-6 (1-1) 1PM

The Wolfpack really can’t afford to the lose to the Deacs after the Georgia Tech loss. Wake Forest’s CJ Harris is a real nice player that could give NC State a lot of problems, considering the issues NC State had defending the Jacket guards. A second straight ACC loss would really put a lot of pressure on the Wolfpack.

1/14 North Carolina 15-2 (2-0) at Florida State 10-6 (1-1) 2 PM

ESPN Gameday is in Tallahassee for this one. The Noles won’t get many better opportunities to get an eye opening win than this weekend. On the other hand North Carolina may be ready to go run that could see them win 14 or 15 conference games. Florida State here’s your big chance…

1/15 Georgia Tech 8-8 (1-1) at Maryland 11-4 (1-1) 4 PM

Suddenly this game looks far more dangerous than anyone would have anticipated. Georgia Tech nearly knocked off Duke last weekend, and then went on the road and played their best game of the season winning in Raleigh over NC State. I like this Maryland team though. Terrell Stoglin is the ACC’s leading scorer, but needs to be a better distributor of the ball. Maryland defiantly can’t look past this game.

Poll Time!