ACC Tournament 2016: Quarterfinals Schedule, Live Stream, Bracket Predictions

There are 15 teams in the ACC, but the strength of this conference is at the top. This means the real action begins Thursday in the conference tournament quarterfinals.

After the first two days narrowed the field, the top four teams in the league will now kick off their campaigns to win the 2016 title. Adding this race to the squads hoping to improve their seedings or just make the NCAA tournament, there is a lot to watch for at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

Here is a preview and breakdown of the four upcoming games in the ACC tournament quarterfinals.

Matchup	Time (ET)	TV
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 8 Pittsburgh	12 p.m.	ESPN
No. 4 Notre Dame vs. No. 5 Duke	2 p.m.	ESPN
No. 2 Virginia vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech	7 p.m.	ESPN
No. 3 Miami vs. No. 6 Virginia Tech	9 p.m.	ESPN

All games can be viewed online at WatchESPN. Bracket available at TheACC.com. 

No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 8 Pittsburgh

Gerry Broome/Associated Press/Associated Press

Pittsburgh's second-round win over Syracuse should have the squad feeling a lot better about its chances of earning an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. With now three wins over the Orange to go with victories over Notre Dame and Duke, the Panthers might have done enough to go dancing next week.

Head coach Jamie Dixon certainly feels his team deserves consideration, per the Augusta Free Press:

"

We’ve lost to quality teams. Our strength of schedule is one of the best in the country overall, which is what you look at. It’s 26. Obviously it’s changed since them. We played one of the toughest schedules in the country overall. It’s clearly shown that by the numbers, if you go by facts, and not opinions.

So we’ve done it. We’ve lost to good teams. We’re playing better at the end. I don’t know that our record shows it as much as it should, but we’re certainly a better team.

"

The Panthers better hope they have done enough by now because getting another win will not be easy. North Carolina won by 21 points the last time these teams met, and there isn't much reason to expect a big change this time. The Tar Heels can out-rebound Pittsburgh, which takes away one of the underdog's biggest strengths. UNC will also be able to score almost at will inside.

North Carolina has high aspirations this postseason, and it will all begin with a solid showing against Pitt.

Prediction: North Carolina 75, Pittsburgh 61

No. 4 Notre Dame vs. No. 5 Duke

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press/Associated Press

Duke showed both the positives and negatives with its team in Wednesday's narrow win over North Carolina State.

On one hand, the offense is almost unstoppable with Grayson Allen, Brandon Ingram and recently Luke Kennard putting up big numbers. However, the defense has been miserable, as Jon Solomon of CBSSports.com described during the second-round game:

Cat Barber is obviously a great player, but he was able to do virtually whatever he wanted offensively against this team. This all stems from the lack of a post defender, as Reid Forgrave of FoxSports.com noted:

While Marshall Plumlee has been a solid rebounder, he is limited on the defensive end. Demetrius Jackson could have as much success as Barber did against this defense, while Zach Auguste could make plays in the post.

This could end up being one of the more entertaining games of the entire week, but Duke's defensive problems and lack of depth will lead to an early exit.

Prediction: Notre Dame 87, Duke 84

No. 2 Virginia vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Georgia Tech had one of the most dramatic wins of Championship Week, coming back from down 18 to Clemson in the second half before pulling out an overtime win.

All of a sudden, the Yellow Jackets have a chance to get back into the at-large discussion with a win over Virginia. Considering they have won six out of their last seven games and it seems like Marcus Georges-Hunt refuses to lose at this point in the year, they certainly have a chance to pull off an upset.

Unfortunately, Georgia Tech succeeds when opponents make mistakes, whether that is not grabbing rebounds, turning the ball over or just leaving open players. Virginia doesn't make mistakes.

The Cavaliers are once again among the most efficient teams in the nation on both ends of the court. They make shots, grab rebounds and avoid turnovers, and KenPom.com listed both Anthony Gill and Malcolm Brogdon among the 10 best players in college basketball. There isn't much this team doesn't do well.

A slow pace could keep the scoring close, but Virginia will remain in complete control of this game.

Prediction: Virginia 64, Georgia Tech 55

No. 3 Miami vs. No. 6 Virginia Tech

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

Virginia Tech has exceeded just about every expectation this season by finishing 10-8 in conference while advancing to the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament. Considering this squad was 11-22 last season and most of the team should return next year, the future is certainly bright.

However, this has a chance to be a revenge game for Miami. Virginia Tech showed what it could do with a 15-point win over the Hurricanes in the last game of the regular season, but it was also at home with everything going well. The Hokies went 9-of-17 from beyond the arc, while Miami made just four of its 24 three-point attempts.

Miami is much better than it showed, and now it has a chance to avenge a loss that cost the squad a share of the ACC regular-season title. 

The Hurricanes have veteran players in Sheldon McClellan and Angel Rodriguez and the talent to make plays on both ends of the court. They also didn't play the day before into the wee hours of the morning like Virginia Tech.

With extra rest as well as motivation, Miami should be able to win a close game and advance.

Prediction: Miami 75, Virginia Tech 71 

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