ACC Tournament 2012: Predictions for Potential Duke vs. UNC Title Game

The North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils are the overwhelming favorites in the 2012 ACC Tournament, and it's very likely they will meet in the finals. 

As the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, these are the teams that everyone wants to see play for the championship.

Their history together is tremendous, and the hate each team has for the other would make for a really intense game.

What are the chances they meet up? 

Being the top overall seed, the Tar Heels have a very easy path to the finals. They'll play Maryland tonight and then face the winner of the North Carolina State vs. Virginia game. A win there and they're off to to the finals.  

North Carolina's only conference losses came at the hands of Duke and Florida State. The Tar Heels should easily coast and play for the ACC title. 

As for Duke, their road is a bit tougher, as they must face a surging Virginia Tech team tonight and then most likely take on FSU in the semifinals. The Blue Devils know they can beat both teams with ease, so they shouldn't be too worried. 

The chances of Duke and North Carolina actually meeting in the finals are really strong, as both are the best the ACC has to offer. They'll avoid choking and get ready for battle on Sunday. 

How the game goes down

So now that we know these two teams are destined to meet in the finals, it's time to explore exactly how this game will pan out. 

In the first meeting between Duke and North Carolina, the game came down to the wire, with Austin Rivers hitting a buzzer-beater to win the game. The second time around, the Tar Heels made sure there would be no crazy finish, as they annihilated the Blue Devils right from the start.

With the championship on the line, though, you can definitely expect it to be a close game. Since Ryan Kelly is out, Duke will be at a disadvantage, but all that means is that other players must step up. 

The Plumlee brothers will perform at a higher level, making sure Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes and John Henson don't dominate throughout. 

With stellar guards on both teams, this game will go back and forth all night long. In the end, the team that excels down low will walk away victorious. 

North Carolina is the better team, plain and simple. The Tar Heels' forwards will get the job done in the closing minutes to prevent Duke from spoiling their shot at a No. 1 seed. 

Prediction: North Carolina 74, Duke 70