Challenge accepted
A breakdown of the 14th ACC/Big Ten Challenge courtesy sports editor JIM ROSSOW, who has the Big Ten winning 8-4:
TUESDAY
Iowa (5-1) at Virginia Tech (5-0)
6:15 p.m., ESPNU
Hawkeyes haven’t shown much in the Challenge: 2-9 and without a win since ‘05
Rossow’s pick: Virginia Tech, 64-60
Minnesota (6-1) at Florida State (4-1)
6:15 p.m., ESPN2
Big Ten POY Andre Hollins averaged 20.3 points in three games over the holidays
Rossow’s pick: Minnesota, 59-58
N.C. State (4-1) at Michigan (5-0)
6:30 p.m., ESPN
Expect a riled Crisler Center crowd: Wolverines to raise ‘12 Big Ten title banner before tip
Rossow’s pick: Michigan, 74-67
Nebraska (4-1) at Wake Forest (3-2)
8:15 p.m., ESPNU
A perfect match. Demon Deacons had to rally from 13 down to beat William & Mary
Rossow’s pick: Nebraska, 58-56
Maryland (4-1) at Northwestern (6-0)
8:15 p.m., ESPN2
Wildcats, 6-0 for the third consecutive season, have won 21 straight November games
Rossow’s pick: Northwestern, 70-61
North Carolina (5-1) at Indiana (6-0)
8:30 p.m., ESPN
Jordan Hulls has an Alford-like streak going: at least three three-pointers in every game
Rossow’s pick: Indiana, 92-84
WEDNESDAY
Virginia (4-2) at Wisconsin (4-2)
6 p.m., ESPN2
Bo Ryan’s Badgers have won 92 percent of their home games, 75 percent by at least 10 points
Rossow’s pick: Wisconsin, 45-41
Purdue (2-3) at Clemson (4-1)
6:15 p.m., ESPNU
Good news for Boilermakers fans: They’ll represent the Big Ten at the 2014 Maui Invitational
Rossow’s pick: Clemson, 64-58
Michigan State (5-1) at Miami (3-1)
6:30 p.m., ESPN
Hurricanes’ only edge: the forecast. Wednesday’s projected highs: 79 in Coral Gables, 37 in East Lansing
Rossow’s pick: Michigan State, 69-54
Georgia Tech (4-1) at Illinois (7-0)
8 p.m., ESPN2
Jackets are a veteran bunch, seven returnees accounting for 82 percent of team’s scoring in 2011-12
Rossow’s pick: Illinois, 71-61
Boston College (2-4) at Penn State (3-2)
8:15 p.m., ESPNU
Tim Frazier’s replacement, D.J. Newbill, was solid (10 points, seven assists, seven boards) in debut
Rossow’s pick: Boston College, 70-55
Ohio State (4-0) at Duke (6-0)
8:30 p.m., ESPN
Deshaun Thomas needs seven points to become 49th Buckeye with 1,000 in his career
Rossow’s pick: Duke, 79-71
PAST RESULTS
YEAR TALLY
2011 Big Ten, 8-4
2010 Big Ten, 6-5
2009 Big Ten, 6-5
2008 ACC, 6-5
2007 ACC, 8-3
2006 ACC, 8-3
2005 ACC, 6-5
2004 ACC, 7-2
2003 ACC, 7-2
2002 ACC, 5-4
2001 ACC, 5-3
2000 ACC, 5-4
1999 ACC, 5-4
ILLINOIS RESULTS
YEAR SCORE
2011 UI 71, Maryland 62
2010 UI 79, North Carolina 67
2009 UI 76, Clemson 74
2008 Clemson 76, UI 74
2007 Maryland 69, UI 61
2006 Maryland 72, UI 66
2005 UI 68, North Carolina 64
2004 UI 91, Wake Forest 73
2003 North Carolina 88, UI 81
2002 UI 92, North Carolina 65
2001 Maryland 76, UI 63
2000 Duke 78, UI 77
1999 Duke 72, UI 69
Contenders??Pretenders??Fade Aways??The answer is fade aways.As always Bten conference picked to be the best.That will fade away.As aways picked to send 7 or 8 teams to the danceThat wil fade away.Bten picked to win ACC challenge that will fade away.ACC 7 wins and Bten 5 wins. Illini ranked 22 in polls and that will fade away too.Way to much Hype going on in the media,time to get real and view games with our eyes,not what you have read only.====The winners are as follows in ACC,VA Tech,NC ST.,Wake,Terps,Cemson,Duke and Fl.St.. The wins in Bten,Ind,Illini,Wis,UM St.and PSU. Possible wrong picks Illini,PSU,Wake Forest and that is why they play the game.Bten will fade away and that is not a mistake.
The B1G usually "fades" once they start playing each other. It's hard for any one team to dominate in the B1G which ruins the story lines for the national media. It's much easier to overrate an average ACC team dominating their weaker conference than find the true value of a B1G team that just lost a road game to another tough B1G team.
Come on. 45-41 in the Wisconsin - Virginia game? I am not a fan of Wisconsin (just live here, so I see a fair # of their games), but their rep as slow-paced, low-scoring ball is overblown. Look at their PPG averages over last few seasons -- they're comparable to Illinois in PPG, except they actually win.
Yes, they led the nation with fewest points allowed per game *last year* but their D this year has not been nearly as good and was a big part of their losses to Florida and Creighton.
Playing at home, I'd go with the Badgers by at least 10, something like 65-53.
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