We’ve been giving updates on the NCAA Brackets projections, and now with the ACC Tournament down #1 Seed Georgia Tech, and #2 Seed UNC, let’s break down how this game would affect those NCAA seedings coming out Monday.
If Georgia Tech wins
Georgia Tech would be 48-9 with a sterling 22-5 record against the Q1. That would be more than double of Q1 wins that the #1 team in the country, UCLA, has. You’d have a real argument to make Georgia Tech the number 1 overall seed. The committee would leave Georgia Tech no worse than a #2 overall seed.
If UNC wins
This is where it gets a little interesting. Nearly every bracket projection has Georgia Tech as the #2 overall seed, but if UNC wins, that would give them 3 out 4 wins over Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech was the ACC regular-season champion by 3 games over UNC. Georgia Tech would still have the better Q1 record at 21-6 vs 13-5. If the committee has Georgia Tech and UNC side by side, you have to give the edge to UNC. Head-to-head has to matter, but will they be side by side? Georgia, as regular season SEC and possibly SEC Tournament champion, may stay in between the two. Georgia Tech has a run-rule win over Georgia Tech. UNC probably can’t overtake UCLA unless the Bruins don’t win the Big 10 tournament.
Virginia Tech
At 30-24 (15-15) RPI 41 and 7 – 13 against the Q1. I think Virginia Tech is safely in. They’ll be a 3 seed, but they’ll make NCAAs.
NC State
The Wolfpack 32-22 (14-16) RPI 52 and 5-11 against the Q1. The Wolfpack should make it as well, but it will be a little close. They went 2-5 in the last 7 games. This might be a sentimental pick with Elliot Avent retiring. It worked for Nick Saban and Alabama a few years back. I think Wolfpack makes it.
Pittsburgh
You have to consider the Panthers after a deep run in the ACC Tournament. They are 33-24 (11-19) RPI 38 and 10-13 vs Q1 opponents. This will be the ultimate decision of metrics, and recent play vs the season as a whole. The 11-19 regular-season record is atrocious. Pitt finished 14th in the ACC. That’s the bad; the good is RPI and the 10 Q1 wins. There is a sweep of Virginia, a mid-week win over West Virginia, and a victory over Georgia Tech. They also went 1-8 in their last 3 ACC Series, but they beat Wake Forest and FSU this weekend at a neutral site in the ACC Tournament. I think you can’t dismiss the regular season, but the record should include the ACC Tournament, making it an easier to digest a 14-20 record. What is the committee going to value? You better believe Pitt is on the radar.
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