ACC Tournament 2015: UNC vs. Notre Dame TV Schedule, Live Stream, Predictions

The ACC tournament boasts two teams looking to claim No. 1 seeds in the Big Dance in Virginia and Duke, so it's only logical that North Carolina and Notre Dame are the only squads left standing heading into the final, right?

Welcome to March Madness.

The Tar Heels have been on an absolute tear since losing their regular-season finale to the Blue Devils, surgically taking down Boston College, Louisville and Virginia in the conference tournament. The Fighting Irish are on a great run of their own, riding a four-game winning streak that includes victories over Louisville and Duke.

Sure, these aren't the teams most of us expected to compete in the final, but the way things are looking, we're in for one epic showdown. So, to ensure you don't miss a moment of the action, let's take a look at the impending contest's essential viewing information and predict a winner.

ACC Tournament Final

When: Saturday, March 14

Who: No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 5 North Carolina

Where: Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Channel: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Preview and Prediction

USA TODAY Sports

Not enough can be said about how well the Tar Heels are playing right now. This team has really begun to come together at the right time and looks completely different from the squad that couldn't seem to overtake ranked opposition earlier in the season.

North Carolina defeated Louisville in its own game in the conference tournament quarterfinals, feeding the ball inside to Brice Johnson and winning with patience and physicality. Johnson managed to connect on 7-of-15 attempts in the game, finishing with 22 points; although, it certainly wasn't a one-man show.

Marcus Paige continues to be a threat from downtown, and the sheer amount of depth this squad has at forward and guard makes it dangerous no matter what combination of players are on the floor. 

While the Tar Heels didn't utilize as many bench players against Virginia, it still succeeded with the same offensive mentality. Johnson and Justin Jackson were the beneficiaries on the inside, combining for 35 points on the day, while Paige continued his solid play from the perimeter. According to ESPN Stats & Info, North Carolina has Virginia's number in ACC postseason play:

This team has found a winning strategy, and head coach Roy Williams shared his thoughts on the matter during a press conference with The Associated Press, via ESPN.com: "Teams talk about us being soft and all that kind of stuff. But I liked our toughness down the stretch yesterday and today both."

That toughness will have to continue to be at a very high level when North Carolina takes on the well-rounded Fighting Irish.

A late-season victory at Louisville appeared to spark Notre Dame, as the team has been virtually unstoppable in recent contests. After defeating Miami in the ACC tournament quarterfinals, the Fighting Irish had the daunting task of facing Duke—a team that beat them by 30 points the last time they faced off—in the semis.

This time around, it was all Notre Dame early, as the Fighting Irish generated a 15-point lead by halftime. The team withstood a late surge from the Blue Devils and went on to win by a 10-point margin. Notre Dame generated plenty of momentum after notching a new mark in its history books, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

The Irish displayed a great amount of physicality during their semifinal clash, shooting 50.0 percent from the floor due to their ability to penetrate the interior of Duke's defense and get open looks at high-percentage shots. In fact, Notre Dame only attempted eight three-pointers on the game.

Forward Bonzie Colson was fantastic down low, collecting five boards and accumulating a team-high 17 points, and Demetrius Jackson's athleticism, precise shooting and good vision saw him come away with 15 points and five assists—he was also a factor on the defensive end of the court with three steals.

If Notre Dame has one glaring weakness, it's on the defensive side of the court. Duke center Jahlil Okafor is a highly talented player; however, the Fighting Irish just didn't have an answer for him, as the freshman hit 13-of-18 attempts, accumulating 28 points. The Blue Devils also notched 34 rebounds to Notre Dame's 27, which isn't a good sign with North Carolina's frontcourt up next.

While Notre Dame has the ability to win this game due to a versatile and athletic roster, its weakness plays right into North Carolina's biggest strength, giving the Tar Heels the advantage here.

Prediction: North Carolina