ACC Tournament: Round-by-Round Predictions

From Mar. 14 to Mar. 17, the famed ACC tournament will take center stage during March Madness. Some of the nation's elite teams will go up against one another in an attempt to earn conference supremacy.

The question is how will it all go down?

There are powerhouse schools that we all expect to achieve victory. In that same breath, there are teams that have underachieved in the regular season, but are prepared for a deep tournament run.

So what games will we see and how will they go down?

First Round, March 14

No. 8 Boston College vs. No. 9 Georgia Tech

Boston College and Georgia Tech played one other on Mar. 9. Five days later, they'll play again in the ACC tournament.

During their first battle, BC protected their home court by a score of 74-72. Four Eagles were in double figures, and Marcus Georges-Hunt's late-game heroics fell short.

Perhaps most importantly, Boston College has won three consecutive games. As rare as it is to win two games over the same team in the same week, we'll see it.

Ryan Anderson will step up when it counts and lead the Eagles to a win.

Boston College 58, Georgia Tech 54

No. 5 North Carolina State vs. No. 12 Virginia Tech

Erick Green is the nation's leading scorer at 25.0 points per game. He's doing so on a slash line of .481/.385/.818—as a point guard.

On Feb. 16, Green scored 29 points and tallied eight assists against North Carolina State. In turn, the Hokies took the Wolfpack to overtime.

N.C. State ended up winning by a score of 90-86.

This time around, expect the Wolfpack to focus directly upon Green. This is not to say that he will be contained, but Lorenzo Brown will receive significant help defense.

Behind dominant interior play by Richard Howell and C.J. Leslie, the Wolfpack win a tough one.

North Carolina State 76, Virginia Tech 67

No. 7 Maryland vs. No. 10 Wake Forest

This might be a No. 7 vs. No. 10 matchup, but Maryland is a heavy favorite. Rightfully so, as their star-studded roster is marginally better on paper than that of Wake Forest.

Such will be on display as the Terrapins snap a two-game losing streak behind Dez Wells and Alex Len.

C.J. Harris will keep things interesting early, but the Terrapins have too much power for the Demon Deacons to handle. Wells is an efficiently dominant scorer, and Len can alter the outcome with his play in the post.

Look for Pe'Shon Howard to emerge as an unsung hero for Maryland.

Maryland 83, Wake Forest 69

No. 6 Florida State vs. No. 11 Clemson

With Devin Booker working in the paint, you could make the case that Clemson has the superior interior. With that being said, there is one area that the Seminoles have a distinct advantage.

Michael Snaer.

Snaer is one of the most clutch players in the nation. He hit the game-winner against Virginia on Mar. 7 and scored 17 points in an upset of North Carolina State on Mar. 9.

Between he and the rising Devon Bookert, the Seminoles will hold on to win this one.

Florida State 71, Clemson 63

Quarterfinals, March 15

No. 1 Miami (FL) vs. No. 8 Boston College

On Jan. 16, the Boston College Eagles nearly upset the Miami Hurricanes, only to fall 60-59. On Feb. 5, the Hurricanes won 72-50 and established their status as a powerhouse in the ACC.

With Miami looking to earn respect, losing in the quarterfinals is not an option. Fortunately, Shane Larkin and Durand Scott are one of the top duos in the nation.

They'll lead a comfortable win in this one.

Miami 72, Boston College 57

No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 5 North Carolina State

Led by Joe Harris, the Virginia Cavaliers are a legitimately dangerous team. Harris is an elite scorer, Jontel Evans is an underrated point guard and Akil Mitchell creates a legitimate low-high attack.

For that reason, Virginia will be in control of this game early.

With much to prove and a high NCAA tournament seeding to lose, however, N.C. State will bounce back. Led by C.J. Leslie and Lorenzo Brown, the Wolfpack will have a counter for every punch Virginia throws.

It's T.J. Warren that will decide this down-to-the-wire victory.

North Carolina State 69, Virginia 64

No. 2 Duke vs. No. 7 Maryland

This is a rematch that the Duke Blue Devils have been waiting for since losing 83-81 to Maryland on Feb. 16. With Ryan Kelly back in the rotation, they'll make the most of their opportunity to exact revenge.

Kelly will fire up the three-ball while Mason Plumlee will work it inside to counter Alex Len's contributions. With Seth Curry stroking it from three, Duke will also be able to counter Dez Wells.

When it comes down to it, point guard Quinn Cook will put on his usual act—too clutch.

Duke 67, Maryland 56

No. 3 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. No. 6 Florida State

The North Carolina Tar Heels have won six of their past seven games. That includes a 79-58 drubbing of Florida State on Mar. 3.

It won't be so easy this time, but the Tar Heels will secure a victory nonetheless.

Michael Snaer will continue his rise to stardom, topping 20 points and hitting memorable late-game shots. With Reggie Bullock stroking it from beyond the arc, however, UNC's balance will win it late.

This is the type of game that goes down in the ACC tournament history books.

North Carolina 73, Florida State 72

Semifinals, March 16

No. 1 Miami (FL) vs. No. 5 North Carolina State

We're beginning to enter the territory of legendary games.

The first time these two teams met, the Hurricanes outlasted the Wolfpack by a score of 79-78. Miami won on a tip shot by Reggie Johnson with four seconds left on the clock.

This time around, expectations will be high for another instant classic. The two teams won't let us down, as stars will do battle in this ACC showdown.

When it comes right down to it, revenge is a powerful motivator. So is the leadership of Jim Larranaga.

One name will rise and begin to make their legacy—Rodney Purvis

North Carolina State 81, Miami 77 OT

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 3 North Carolina

The last time Duke defeated North Carolina three times in one season was 2002. Since then, the two rivals have met twice in the ACC tournament.

Once in 2003 and again in 2011. Both times, the Blue Devils won.

That trend will continue in the ACC tournament semifinals.

North Carolina will keep it much closer than their Mar. 9 showdown. James Michael McAdoo will step up, and Reggie Bullock will drain big shots from three.

With that being said, Ryan Kelly's ability to keep James Michael McAdoo out of the paint will enable Mason Plumlee to rekindle his National Player of the Year candidacy. Beyond him, there will be a familiar trend.

Quinn Cook stepping up with the game on the line.

Duke 69, North Carolina 64

Finals, March 17

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 North Carolina State

It all comes down to this.

Duke is the heavily-favored team in this tournament, with their record of 27-4 overall and 14-4 in the ACC. They're ranked No. 3 in the nation and have won 11 of their past 13 games.

North Carolina State, meanwhile, was ranked sixth in the nation entering the season.

Unfortunately, the Wolfpack have seen lackluster results and rest at 22-9 overall and 11-7 in the ACC. This comes in spite of their 13th-ranked scoring offense and placing of fifth in field-goal percentage.

The issue for N.C. State has been defense.

When matched up against Duke in the ACC tournament championship, look for that trend to change. Lorenzo Brown will neutralize Quinn Cook, and C.J. Leslie will take out Ryan Kelly.

Unfortunately, Ty Warren will be unable to slow down Mason Plumlee. He and Seth Curry will pace Duke to a surprisingly comfortable lead.

Brown and Rodney Purvis will bring the Wolfpack back, but it will be too little, too late.

Duke 67, North Carolina State 62