Big Ten/ACC Challenge 2011: ACC Will Prove Midwest Is No Deeper Than Ohio State

The Big Ten still has a way to go to make the Big Ten/ACC Challenge an actual challenge.

On paper, many of the teams look evenly matched, but when the teams face off in the inter-conference matchups that begin tonight, the differences will show.

With the exception of Michigan and Ohio State, the Big Ten teams have played exceptionally weak nonconference opponents up to this point. Many of their inflated records don't give a true indication as to how talented a team they are.

One game that I predict the Big Ten conference to win is the Northwestern-Georgia Tech matchup. I think this is the year the Wildcats finally make the NCAA tournament. Georgia Tech has had problems with turning the ball over. Glen Rice Jr. is leading the team in scoring, but he is turning it over more than four times per game.

The Wildcats have a nice balance of youth and upperclassmen leadership. Senior John Shurna leads the way, averaging 21 points per game. 

The only other game I see the Big Ten taking is the Purdue-Miami matchup. Robbie Hummel and the Boilermakers are too experienced for the Hurricanes.

Purdue is powered by tons of senior leadership. Hummel is the leading scorer, and both Ryne Smith and Lewis Jackson average at least 10 points a game. The Boilermakers are not without their own diaper dandy in freshman Anthony Johnson.

The marquee matchup is certainly the Ohio State-Duke contest. Jared Sullinger's critics will be watching closely as the undersized big man tries to produce the kind of performance he will need to defeat the Blue Devils.

Duke boasts three upperclassmen who stand 6'10" or bigger. In the case of Mason Plumlee, he is not only long, but also extremely athletic. 

This will be a tall task for Sullinger to contend with, as Duke has the depth up front to keep a fresh body in front of him.

Buckeyes senior guard William Buford will need a big game from outside to take the pressure off Sullinger.

In the end, Duke will win a close, hard-fought battle. They have too much depth for Ohio State, which will be a consistent theme for most ACC teams throughout this challenge.