Big Ten-ACC Challenge 2014: TV Info and Predictions for Each Matchup

The Big Ten has already gotten a 2-0 start in its annual battle against the ACC, but the best games are still to come.

Nebraska barely escaped on the road with a 70-65 win over Florida State, while conference newcomer Rutgers defeated Clemson 69-64. 

Still, this is just the start of what should be an exciting two more days of action between the two deepest conferences in college basketball. With the way realignment has been going lately, this event might never end as the two sides just draft schools around the country to join in the fight.

Until that happens, here is a look at the games that are scheduled to take place, with predictions for each.

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV	Pick
Dec. 2	Pittsburgh at Indiana	7 p.m.	ESPN2	PIT
Dec. 2	Minnesota at Wake Forest	7 p.m.	ESPNU	MIN
Dec. 2	Syracuse at Michigan	7:30 p.m.	ESPN	SYR
Dec. 2	Illinois at Miami (FL)	9 p.m.	ESPN2	MIA
Dec. 2	North Carolina State at Purdue	9 p.m.	ESPNU	NCST
Dec. 2	Ohio State at Louisville	9:30 p.m.	ESPN	LOU
Dec. 3	Michigan State at Notre Dame	7:15 p.m.	ESPN2	MSU
Dec. 3	Virginia Tech at Penn State	7:15 p.m.	ESPNU	PSU
Dec. 3	Iowa at North Carolina	7:30 p.m.	ESPN	UNC
Dec. 3	Georgia Tech at Northwestern	9:15 p.m.	ESPNU	NW
Dec. 3	Virginia at Maryland	9:15 p.m.	ESPN2	UVA
Dec. 3	Duke at Wisconsin	9:30 p.m.	ESPN	DUKE

Closest Calls

Syracuse at Michigan

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Michigan has some quality scorers in Zak Irvin and Caris LeVert, but their usual strategy of slashing to the rim and getting points will not work against Syracuse's 2-3 zone.

Head coach John Beilein recently discussed the issue with facing the unique defense, via Brendan F. Quinn of MLive.com:

"

I've watched (Boeheim's system) for years and it just works. He's got so many things that he's been so successful with for so long.

It's a pain in the neck type of team that you have to play. It's a puzzle. It's a puzzle that even if you figure it out, you still have to shoot the ball over length and that's a big thing.

"

The Wolverines have their shooters but not enough size to shoot over tall defenders at each position.

Still, the biggest issue will be on the other end of the court where Rakeem Christmas and Chris McCullough have turned into a formidable tandem for Syracuse in the low post. With Michigan struggling to defend the interior, this could lead to some easy buckets throughout the game.

While Michigan might have the better team over the course of the season, this is just a bad matchup and Syracuse will win.

Michigan State at Notre Dame

Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

In two games against elite opponents, Michigan State has fallen short in each, with losses to Duke and Kansas. However, one thing you need to know about Tom Izzo is that his teams always find a way to improve as the season continues.

One person who has already improved a great deal is Travis Trice, who has become a leader for the Spartans in the early part of the season. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports notes the jump from last year:

He will be involved in one of the best individual battles you will see all year against Jerian Grant, the Notre Dame guard showing once again why he is among the most underrated guards in the country.

After missing most of last season, Grant is back and averaging 18.7 points and seven assists per game while making everyone on the floor better.

Despite this great guard matchup, though, this game will be decided in the frontcourt. Branden Dawson hasn't been playing well lately, but he has the talent to dominate Notre Dame down low with his offensive skill set and work on the glass.

Zach Auguste has had a great start to the year, but Michigan State has more athleticism and strength in the paint, and that will be the difference in a very close game that could come down to the final possession.

Duke at Wisconsin

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Home teams usually have the advantage in college basketball, but I'm going outside the box with a third road victory on this list.

Wisconsin returned most of the rotation from last year's Final Four team and is now looking for even more this year. With the talent of players like Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker to go with the overall experience of everyone on the floor knowing how to win close games, the Badgers have everything you want in a national title contender.

However, that doesn't mean they will be able to win every game, especially against as challenging of an opponent as Duke.

The Blue Devils have one of their deepest rosters in school history with an incoming class as good as any in the country. Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones have created a dynamic group capable of making big plays at a young age and carrying the squad.

Meanwhile, veteran leader Quinn Cook is making sure everyone is prepared, especially for this game:

Duke has the size, strength and athleticism to give Wisconsin trouble on both ends of the court. With a deep lineup, the squad will also try to run as much as possible and wear down the Badgers' relatively thin bench.

It will be a close battle throughout, but the Blue Devils will pull off the upset in Madison.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.