Here we go again! The Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tar Heels will face off for the third time, in the past two months. Right now the season series is split at 1-1, with each team winning their home contest. In the last 14 years either Duke or UNC has been in this championship game, and they walked away with the title in 13 of them. Today marks the first time in a decade that these two bitter rivals will face off for the Championship game, and I’d expect it to be a game that lives up to its billing.

I know that it’s easy to give the nod to North Carolina considering they dominated Duke just a week ago, and in the first meeting were in control for the majority of the game. That being said this Duke team is a dangerous, that has a lot of talent and is capable of big runs to overcome any deficit. Although these are the last two NCAA Champions, Duke has the distinct edge in terms of experience. In the end though I do think North Carolina will win this game, but its not a given. Here are their keys to the game:

1. Play your game and don’t let the setting psyche you out:

More of Duke’s team was here last year and in the NCAA Championship as well, as opposed to the UNC players from two years ago. North Carolina does rely a lot on their young talent so they need to ensure that they don’t get overwhelmed. The Tar Heels need to establish their game and tempo, forcing Duke on the defensive. When the Heels have done that this season, they are basically unstoppable, and it showed in the second Duke game. If North Carolina can comeout and do the same things early on then I see them having the lead throughout this game.

2. Let the big men play:

This game very well could end up, having the matchup in the middle deciding who wins. Both teams have two quality bigs, but I think UNC is in the better position here. Tyler Zeller and John Henson offer better size and length than their Duke counter parts, as well as superior athleticism. Zeller is a 7-footer with a surprisingly good offensive game. John Henson, despite not being the strongest player on the court very well could be the best rebounder. He has developed extremely well this season, and should be a force this afternoon. The Tar Heels are a little thin inside, so they will need to watch getting into foul trouble, but overall I like the chances of the UNC bigs over the Duke bigs.

3. Let Harrison Barnes Run Free:

Duke’s biggest question is who will stop Barnes, with the easy answer of nobody. No single player on Duke can guard Barnes one-on-one, which means UNC needs to exploit this matchup as much as possible. Barnes is showing why he is one of the best freshmen in the game, and is coming off a 40 point performance against Clemson. If Duke decides to focus too much attention on Barnes, then I really think that will open things up for the rest of the team. While Barnes is capable of scoring anywhere, I’d bring him inside some and get him driving to the hoop early. First that sets the tone, and secondly it should force a couple of extra fouls from the Blue Devils big men, which could keep them on the bench for longer. The Heels have to keep feeding Barnes, and just let his natural athletic ability take over.

Conclusion and Prediction:

I know that Duke is favored and they are no doubt a talented team, but I think the Tar Heels come away with this one. I like their front court and think they have a huge advantage there across the board. Barnes is a guy who can be a real X-factor, unless Duke finds a way to stop him, they have no shot.

North Carolina wins 81-77

By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Geoff Nelowet:

The Maryland Terrapins will travel to Durham on Saturday for a meeting with the seventh-ranked Duke Blue Devils. Maryland is 16-6 on the season and one game behind Duke for tops in the ACC. Duke is coming off a decisive road victory over the struggling North Carolina Tar Heels – with whom the Blue Devils share a long and storied rivalry. The Duke-Maryland match-up, though, takes center stage, as both teams are posturing for the ACC title, and the Tar Heels will likely fail to reach the NIT (which is an embarrassment to say the least). The Duke-Maryland rivalry is back in full-gear with this game bearing such major conference implications.

All-ACC guard Greivis Vasquez leads Maryland, and Vasquez has been a stalwart for the terrapins averaging 18 points and 6 assists per game. Senior guard Eric Hayes complements Vasquez’s aggressive, penetrating style with his steady play and his ability to knock down the three. Senior Forward Landon Milbourne has been another key contributor averaging nearly 15 points per game. Gary Williams’ team is lead by a triad of seniors, so their time to make a conference statement will have to come now at Cameron Indoor.

Duke, like Maryland, lives by their guard play. In fact, Duke’s only scorers in double-figures are guards. Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler each average over 16 points a game, but beyond those three, not one player on the roster averages more than 6 points per contest. This is troubling for Duke because it signifies that they lack depth, but fortunately, shutting down Duke’s three stars is difficult – if not impossible – to accomplish.

Unlike past years, Duke is beatable – but not at home. The Blue Devils are a perfect 17-0 on home court, and even with Duke being a hair below a top-five caliber team, it is still difficult to see Maryland pulling out a road victory. Maryland will play tough for the first half, but Duke will pull away late in a similar fashion as they did against UNC. Final Score: Duke 84 Maryland 72

By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Geoff Nelowet:

The Atlantic Coast Conference has been known as a basketball power for decades, and year after year, Duke and North Carolina take center stage. Either the Blue Devils or Tar Heels has won the ACC regular season title over the last six seasons, but this could be the first year in a long time that neither of the perennial powers wins the conference.

This year, parity is abundant, as Maryland, Virginia Tech and bottom-feeder Virginia are in the top four of the conference with Duke in second. Maryland is now 4-1 in conference play, and they have won against ACC foes by an average of over 17 points.

Senior guard Greivis Vasquez, who is averaging 17.8 points and 6.2 assists per game, leads Maryland. He is a frontrunner for ACC player of the year, and he is a shoe-in for the All-ACC team. Senior forward Landon Milbourne has also chipped in scoring almost 15 points per contest.

The Terps got off to a shaky start this season in non-conference play. Although four of their five losses came against proven opponents in Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Villanova and Wake forest, they also have a home loss to William & Mary, which instilled a lack of confidence of the team’s potential early in the season. Maryland has bounced back winning four of five conference games to sit alone in first place in the ACC.

The Virginia Cavaliers have also found good fortune this season, as they won their first three conference games – a feat UVA has not accomplished in 15 years. The Cavaliers are led by sophomore shooting guard Sylven Landesberg, who is averaging over 17 points a game. Junior forward Mike Scott has also played a major role averaging over 13 points and 7 rebounds per game.

The Cavaliers rely on their strong defense to win games, and at times their scoring ability can be problematic. When Landesberg is on the bench, the Cavs lose a noticeable dimension to their attack, and they have gone long stretches appearing inept with the ball in their hands with Landesberg off the court.  Virginia has now lost two straight ACC games. They are still fourth in the conference – just behind Virginia Tech, who they lost to at home this past Thursday night. The young Cavs will have to prove that their wins over ranked and ACC opponents were not a fluke.

Virginia Tech, now third in the ACC, is 16-3, and they have won three ACC games. They have played a relatively weak non-conference schedule, which brings into question how they will fair as they get into the thick of their conference schedule, as they are still virtually unproven. Junior guard Malcolm Delaney has dominated this season, and he leads the ACC in scoring at 19.9 points per game.

This may be an anomaly of a year in the ACC with surprises atop the conference and UNC falling back to the middle of the pack. Teams such as Virginia, Virginia Tech Maryland should look to take advantage of essentially a down year in the ACC with the conference title open to all takers.

The National Champs loss their fourth game of the season last night, putting a bit of a dimmer on any repeat chances they might have. Though it seemed unlikely that UNC would go undefeated the rest of the way, a loss to the College of Charleston hurts quite a bit more than a loss to say Florida State or Duke (except for the whole rivalry factor). The Tar Heels first three losses came against Syracuse, Kentucky, and Texas, all Top-10 if not Top-5 teams. While UNC would have loved to have taken one of those games, those losses aren’t shocking or overly damaging to UNC’s ranking or tournament hopes. Losing to Charleston on the other hand is damaging to both.

The Tar Heels will likely maintain their Top-25 ranking, but they will drop 10+ spots. Though it’s way to early to really make any predictions about the tournament, a loss to Charleston is a major black mark on their resume. In fact, I’d say last night’s loss hurts UNC worse than their other three losses combined. Now North Carolina will enter tournament play, in a much weaker position than they ever thought they would.

The ACC is a probably a tougher conference this year than season’s past. Currently there are five ranked teams in the conference, and a few others knocking at the door. In addition to the talent at the top of the conference, the ACC has gotten stronger as a whole. There really isn’t a ‘gimme’ game on the Tar Heels schedule this season. Right now the ACC depth is on par (if not better) than the Big East’s, where any team can knock off another. UNC will need to rebound and start off this conference schedule strong, if they hope to go far this season.

Personally I think the Tar Heels will be dangerous down the stretch, they are overall a young team that should improve as the season wears on. I think they can rise to the challenge of the ACC schedule and remain a solid contender. The key for UNC, as they hope for a chance of a repeat title, is to put themselves in a position for no worse than a four seed heading into the NCAA Tournament. If they can get a couple of easy games early, then I think they could do some serious damage in the Tournament. Regardless of where they end up, the Tar Heels are one team I wouldn’t want to face in March.

By contributing Fanspeak writer Geoff Nelowet

1. North Carolina (6)

The Tar Heels do not rebuild – they reload, and that is what they are doing after winning a national title a season ago. Sophomore forward Ed Davis is a pre-season All-American pick, and he will undoubtedly be North Carolina’s best player. Sophomore PF/C Tyler Zeller, a McDonald’s All-American, will also have a big role this season, as he backed up Tyler Hansborough a year ago before suffering a major wrist injury that kept him off the court for 13 weeks. Senior forward Deon Thompson will get his shot at leading the Tar Heels. He is also a top-notch talent that would start on any team. The question marks come in the backcourt for the Tar Heels, as they are lacking experience aside from senior Marcus Ginyard, who is also coming off a major injury. Ginyard, though, will be a great asset because his defensive skills are among the best in the ACC. If Ginyard stays healthy, he could push UNC as a top-five team.

2. Duke (9)

Kyle Singler is arguably the best player in the ACC, and he is one of the best in the nation. He averaged 16.5 points and 7.7 boards a year ago, and he will improve on those numbers. He has both an inside and outside game, and he is very versatile as both a scorer and rebounder. Jon Scheyer, at point guard, is also one of the best in the ACC. His length and skills make him hard to guard, and his decision-making is nearly flawless. Duke plays very sound, fundamental basketball, but to be a one-seed come March, they will need players such as junior guard Nolan Smith and freshman Mason Plumlee to play at a very high level. Unfortunately, Plumlee recently hurt his wrist, and he will be out for the next few weeks. Smith, though, has made major strides this offseason, and his coaches and teammates expect him to have a breakout year. Should this happen, Duke could win the ACC.

3. Clemson (22)

I hesitate to rank Clemson this high because they always seem to fade at the end of the season. Last year was the only time they maintained strong play over the last few weeks. Oliver Purnell is a good coach, though, and he will have this talented team ready to play consistently. Trevor Booker at power forward is the Tigers’ best player, and he is a definite all-ACC prospect. Booker is the center of the Tigers’ success after averaging over 15 points and 10 rebounds last season. His younger brother Devin Booker has joined the Clemson roster, and he could be a contributor this year. Heralded freshman Milton Jennings will decide how far Clemson will go this year. He is a McDonald’s All-American, and he could be a big threat on the offensive end at the forward position. Clemson has an abundance of talent this year, and it will fall on Purnell to make everything work. I would expect big things from Clemson this year, and a two or three-seed in March would not be out of the question.

4. Maryland (25)

Greivis Vasquez is familiar name around the ACC, and his senior campaign comes with high expectations. After averaging over 17 points per game over the last two years, it will be hard to statistically top his past years, but he could improve in the assist category. He averaged nearly 7 assists two seasons ago, but last year that number took a dive to 5 per game. Getting his teammates involved should be a major priority. Also, Vasquez has worked on his outside shot this off-season, which has been a major weakness. Senior guard Eric Hayes is essentially the antithesis of Vasquez, as his game is based on his outside shot. He will have to become a bigger factor in the offense to push the Terps to the next level. It is important to note that Vasquez led the team in rebounding a year ago, which is problematic. Maryland lacks an inside presence, and that equates to very few easy baskets. This team will go as far as players other than Vasquez will take them. Expect a 6-8 seed in the NCAA tournament.

5. Georgia Tech (21)

Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors are the center of this team.  Forward Gani Lawal averaged over 15 points and 9 rebounds last season, and Derrick Favors is coming in as one of the most highly touted freshman in the nation. The Yellow Jackets will hard to match up with down low, and they will be the best rebounding team in the conference. Their backcourt is solid with Iman Shumpert returning after a strong freshman year averaging 10 points 5 assists and just over 2 steals per game. Those three players could all be first round NBA draft prospects next summer. It is hard to tell just how good Georgia Tech is, as one of their primary players is a freshman, but they are definitely one of the most talented teams in the conference, and they can contend with any team. They will make the NCAA tournament.

6. Wake Forest 7. Virginia Tech 8. Florida State

It would not be a big surprise if one or two of these teams made the tournament. Virginia Tech has one of the best players in the conference in point guard Malcolm Delaney.

9. Miami 10. Boston College 11. Virginia 12.  N.C. State

These are the bottom feeders of the conference. I wouldn’t be surprised if more than one of these teams has an overall losing record. The one intriguing team is Virginia. They have a first-year head coach, and they have some talent. Returning ACC freshman of the year Sylven Landesberg makes things interesting in Charlottesville.

By contributing Fanspeak writer Geoff Nelowet:

11^th-ranked Virginia Tech travels to Dolphin stadium this weekend to take on the 9^th-ranked Miami Hurricanes. The Hokies are coming off a come-from-behind home victory over Nebraska in which they extended their non-conference home winning streak to 32 games. The ‘Canes made a statement last week in handling then-ranked (14) Georgia Tech. Miami is 2-0, and both wins have come against ranked opponents.

As Techsideline.com points out, this rivalry could not be any more even. Since 1987 the teams are 9-9, and they have both scored 391 points against one another. With that in mind, this should be a very close game. Both teams are extremely talented on both sides of the ball. At this point I would give the edge to Miami. They’ve simply been more impressive than Virginia Tech this season.

Miami is led by Jacory Harris – a bona fide Heisman Trophy candidate. He embarrassed Florida State and Georgia Tech, whose defenses are not necessarily inferior to Virginia Tech’s. The Miami offense should find its stride against a physical defense, and they will put up a surprising number of points.

The biggest question mark heading into the game is Virginia Tech’s offense. The Hokies can run the ball, and they have a tandem of talented running backs in Ryan Williams and David Wilson. Tyrod Taylor is also a dynamic runner from the quarterback position, but his arm could be what dictates the game. His paltry 444 passing yards this season are nearly eclipsed by Harris’ 386 yards just against Florida State. In short, Miami can put eight men in the box because they are confident that Taylor won’t beat them with his arm. If Taylor finds a way to make big plays in the passing game, the Hokies have a much better chance in this game.

Miami’s explosive passing game is what separates these two teams: Miami can set up the run with the pass, whereas Virginia Tech maintains predictability in their run game. The key to this game, like every game for Virginia Tech, is the play of Tyrod Taylor. Taylor needs to step up and lead his team, and he will have to do it through the air. Miami is absolutely talented enough to score in excess against a stout Hokie defense, and they are good enough on defense to keep Virginia Tech in check. Based on the last few weeks – both will happen.

Final score: Miami 28 Virginia Tech 16

This is a big game for the ACC to show that they are a legitimate conference this year, which is highly in question after their performance the first two weeks of the season. Last weekend Florida State and Maryland barely squeaked by at home against a pair of FCS teams, Jacksonville State and James Madison. (19) North Carolina needed a last minute safety to overcome UConn, one of the youngest and weakest teams in the Big East. Amazingly, that performance was better than the ACC’s performance in week 1. Virginia and Duke both lost to FCS teams in a pretty bad fashion. Against other big conferences the ACC didn’t do too much better. NC State and Wake Forrest both lost at home to South Carolina and Baylor, neither one of which are going to compete for their conference title. (12) California embarrassed Maryland beating them by almost 40 points. (7) Virginia Tech loss to (5) Alabama 34-24 at a neutral site. While Tech played well and the outcome wasn’t a huge surprise, it was pretty telling that the Hokies couldn’t couldn’t win the big game. Tonight’s game will hopefully prove that the ACC has more talent in their conference behind Virginia Tech.

Tonight should be a good match up, both Georgia Tech and Miami are top-15 team material. Miami has already shown its ability to knock off ranked opponents with their 38-34 win over the 18th ranked Florida State Seminoles in week one (the only ranked opponent beaten by an ACC team this year). The Yellow Jackets did beat the Clemson Tigers last week in a 30-27 showdown. The Tigers might not be a top notch team, but they have the talent to play with anyone in the country.

For the Hurricanes to upset another ranked team they will have to deal with Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense. Last year the Yellow Jackets ran all over Miami, on their way to a 41-23 performance. In fact Tech only had seven passing attempts, completing four of them, in their 18 point victory. The Yellow Jackets will need to rely on more than just the legs of QB Josh Nesbitt and RB Jonathan Dwyer to win tonight. Miami’s defense is going to stack the box tonight to shutdown the option attack. If the Hurricanes can force Nesbitt to try and beat them with his arm instead of his legs, they will overcome the Yellow Jackets.

Miami’s offense will also need to be running on all cylinders tonight to upset Georgia Tech. Tech has an underrated defense led by DE Derrick Morgan, who is one of the best pass rushers in college football. If Morgan is a force tonight and can put constant pressure on QB Jacory Harris, then the Yellow Jackets have a good shot of winning on the road. If Harris plays like he did in week 1 against FSU, then Georgia Tech will find themselves with a number in the loss column. Harris, took his game to the next level against the Seminoles, and if it is the real deal and not just a flash in the pan, Miami’s offense is going to be real dangerous this year. They have very talented receivers and plenty of speed at running back. What they’ve needed was a signal caller who could make plays happen, and they might have found that in Harris.

I’d look for Miami to challenge the Yellow Jackets in the air early on in this game. Not only is that Miami’s strength, but the Georgia Tech defensive backs are probably their weakest unit. If Harris can lead the Hurricanes to some quick scores (and the defense can contain Dwyer), the Yellow Jackets will be forced to play catch up by throwing more than they want to. I think the Hurricanes win at home 35-27.

By contributing Fanspeak writer Geoff Nelowet

1. Virginia Tech Hokies

Why They Will Contend: The Hokies have a stingy defense every year. Tyrod Taylor is blossoming into a game-breaker, and Frank Beemer and Bud Foster are two of the best coaches in the ACC. The Hokies could run the table in the ACC and contend for a national title.

Why They Won’t Contend: Tech’s star running back, Darren Evans is out for the season with a torn ACL. Beyond Tyrod Taylor, the Hokies don’t really have any serious offensive threats. The Hokies could be an injury away from handing Georgia Tech the ACC crown.

Offensive Player to Watch: QB Tyrod Taylor. Any Quarterback that rushes for 738 yards is worth watching.

Defensive Player to Watch: DE Jason Worilds. Worilds recorded eight sacks last season, which was fourth best in the conference.

2. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Why They Will Contend: This is a talented team. Jonathan Dwyer is the best running back in the ACC, and he will have no problem shouldering the load for the Yellow Jackets. A 1,500-yard season is not out of the question for Dwyer. Morgan Burnett and Derek Morgan are two of the better defenders in the ACC.

Why They Won’t Contend: They can be one-dimensional on offense. They only averaged 16.3 points per game last season, and they run a triple-option that is not a great fit for quarterback Josh Nesbitt. The Yellow Jackets also lost three of their starting defensive linemen from a year ago.

Offensive Player to Watch: QB Josh Nesbitt. Everyone is already watching Dwyer. If Nesbitt can produce like a top-tier quarterback, Georgia Tech will be very scary.

Defensive Player to Watch: S Morgan Burnett. Burnett was an All-American last season as a sophomore.  He led the team in both tackles (93) and interceptions (7). He is easily the best athlete on the team.

3. Clemson Tigers

Why They Will Contend: Clemson is talented on both sides of the ball. They are continually one of the most talented teams in the ACC, and with C.J. Spiller returning on offense, they should be a potent unit. Willy Korn and Kyle Parker were both top-ten recruits at the quarterback position, so there is no drop-off in talent at the most critical position. Clemson also returns one of the best linebacker corps in the conference.

Why They Won’t Contend: They may be talented at quarterback, but they are inexperienced. They have problems pressuring the quarterback on defense, and their offensive line struggled all last season. Clemson may have great talent in key places, but they have major holes on both lines.

Offensive Player to Watch: RB C.J. Spiller. Spiller will contend with Dwyer this season as the best back in the ACC. He led the conference in all-purpose yards a year ago.

Defensive Player to Watch: LB Kavell Conner. Conner had 125 tackles last season, and he recorded 11 against Nebraska in the Gator Bowl. He is one of the Tigers’ most consistent players.

4. North Carolina Tar Heels

Why They Will Contend: Butch Davis has built an excellent defense in Chapel Hill, and this may be the best unit in the conference. T.J. Yates is back at quarterback, and he will foster both poise and experience. The Tar Heels were 8-4 last season, and that was a slight disappointment.

Why They Won’t Contend: The Tar Heels lost their three best receivers to the NFL. Their offense in all likelihood will be underpowered and underwhelming, and with the loss of guard Calvin Darity and tackle Garrett Reynolds, the Heels may have huge issues moving the chains.

Offensive Player to Watch: RB Shaun Draughn. With Hakeem Nicks gone, the offense might lean on Draugn a bit more. After an 866-yard campaign a year ago, Draugn could break out this year.

Defensive Player to Watch: LB Quan Sturdivant. Sturdivant had 122 tackles last season. Expect more of the same.

5. Florida State Seminoles

Offensive Player to Watch: QB Christian Ponder. Ponder, a junior, has shown flashes, but he’s been inconsistent, which can be attributed to inexperience. Ponder could be one of the best in the conference this season if he continues to develop and gain consistency.

Defensive Player to Watch: S Myron Rolle. Rolle, a Rhodes Scholar, is clearly a very smart player, but don’t sleep on his talent. Rolle could easily be an all-ACC selection at the end of the season.

6. Miami Hurricanes

Offensive Player to Watch: QB Jacory Harris. Harris had a strong freshman season, and he has all the tools to be an excellent college quarterback. His skill set is reminiscent of former Ohio State QB – and Heisman trophy winner – Troy Smith.

Defensive Player to Watch: LB Arthur Brown. Brown switched to inside linebacker near the end of last season, and it made a huge difference. He was heavily recruited across the country out of high school, and with the switch inside, his game should elevate to an entirely different level.

7. North Carolina State Wolfpack

Offensive Player to Watch: QB Russell Wilson. He was first-team ACC a year ago, and he led the conference in pass efficiency.

Defensive Player to Watch: LB Nate Irving. Irving recorded 80 tackles last season as a sophomore, and he did it in only ten games.

8. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Offensive Player to Watch: WR Marshall Williams. Williams is filling big shoes with D.J. Boldin (All-ACC) graduating. Williams has the speed to be a productive wide out, and his development may be pivotal to the success of QB Riley Skinner and the offense.

Defensive Player to Watch: DT Boo Robinson. Robinson led the team with five sacks last season.

9. Boston College Eagles

Offensive Player to Watch: RB Montel Harris. Expect BC to rely on Montel Harris to carry the offense with inexperience at Quarterback. Harris racked up 900 yards last season with five touchdowns.

Defensive Player to Watch: DE Jim Ramella. Ramella recorded four sacks last season for the eagles. BC was crushed on defense when star linebacker Mark Herzlich was diagnosed with bone cancer. Best wishes to Herzlich.

10. Virginia Cavaliers

Offensive Player to Watch: QB Vic Hall. This will be Hall’s first year at quarterback, but in UVA’s new wide-open spread offense, Hall could be a major playmaker in the ACC with both his arm and his legs.

Defensive Player to Watch: CB Ras-I Dowling. Dowling was second in the ACC with 11 pass breakups. Dowling is one of the best cornerbacks in the ACC today.

11. Duke Blue Devils

Offensive Player to Watch: QB Thaddeus Lewis. Lewis made it onto Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List.

Defensive Player to Watch: DT Vince Oghobaase. Oghobaase had six sacks last season, and he was a force in the middle. Duke is lucky to have him this season, as he nearly chose to leave for the NFL.

12. Maryland Terrapins

Offensive Player to Watch: RB Da’Rel Scott. Scott amassed over 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Expect him to compete with Dwyer and Spiller as best back in the ACC.

Defensive Player to Watch: LB Alex Wujciak. As a sophomore, Wujciak led the Terps with 133 total tackles. Wujciak is a potential All-American candidate.