NCAAB Saturday: A Busy Day for the ACC Triangle

There’s a full slate of games today in the ACC and we like a few of them. We actually like all three schools in the triangle today. So here we go . . .

ST. JOHN’S (+17.5) at DUKE, 12 p.m.
Pick: Duke -17.5

St. John’s (16-5) upset the Blue Devils (18-2) last year and don’t think that’s not on the minds of Coach K and Company. Duke will go after the Red Storm from the opening tip and not let up until the game is well in hand.

Yes, 17.5 points is a lot, but not for an angry and talented group of Blue Devils who seek revenge and get it in blowout fashion.

VIRGINIA TECH (+2.5) at NORTH CAROLINA ST.,12 p.m.
Pick: NC State (-2.5)

Since we started a week ago, I’m 0-2 picking Wolfpack games and undefeated picking non-Wolfpack games. Picked them to cover against Clemson and they didn’t. Picked them to lose by the number against Virginia and they covered. We’ll try one more time.

NC State (16-5) is an impressive 12-2 in Raleigh this season and faces a Hokies (17-3) squad that hasn’t been so good on the road (2-3). The line is small and the Wolfpack should be able to handle it.

NORTH CAROLINA (- 1.5) at LOUISVILLE, 2 p.m.
Pick: North Carolina - 1.5

The best game of the day is a revenge game for the Tar Heels (16-4), who lost to the Cardinals (16-5) at the Dean Dome earlier this season. Both teams come in on winning streaks, North Carolina having won four straight and Louisville six straight. Louisville is 12-1 at home this season, but UNC is 6-1 on the road.

Roy Williams has the Heels looking like a team about to make a run and it’s hard to imagine them getting swept by the Cardinals.

SYRACUSE (-3) at PITTSBURGH, 6 p.m.
Pick: Syracuse -3

Are you like me and still forget some times that both of these schools are actually in the ACC?

The Orange (15-6) is starting to roll. In an up-and-down season they have been up more than down of late. They are also 4-1 on the road and have covered eight of their last 10 games and four of their last five. Pitt (12-9) just doesn’t have the horses to keep this one as close as the number suggests.