“My Prediction? Pain.”

It’s finally here; today is the ACC Tournament’s Opening Day, signifying that March Madness has officially arrived. The 55th annual league tourney takes place at Charlotte Bobcats Arena … where former Tar Heels go to die.

Yesterday, Scooter & Hum broke down each conference team. Today, with an apology to Clubber Lang, we take a shot at predicting the outcomes of each and every game in the ACC Tournament. Click here for the tournament bracket, here for the official tourney headquarters, here for last year's seeding breakdown and here for a look at last year’s predictions.

Without further ado …

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, FIRST ROUND


Noon: #8 Wake Forest vs. #9 Florida State
As has been the case with previous Wake teams, there are times when the Deacs fall in love with the perimeter shot and don’t work the ball inside. Wake Forest’s Ish Smith and Jeff Teague will square off against FSU’s Toney Douglas and Jason Rich in a battle of strong backcourts, but the Seminoles are bigger and stronger at the guard position, and that will pay off in a big way for Florida State. The Demon Deacons will need to feed James Johnson and Chas McFarland in the post in order to punish the ‘Noles on the interior, but FSU will dictate the pace and not allow that to happen. The league’s Cinderella story will end in the noon game instead of at midnight for the Deacs, but it should be close the entire way.
Winner: #9 Florida State

2:30 p.m.: #5 Miami vs. #12 NC State
The Hurricanes will have payback in mind after the Pack stunned Miami earlier in the year with a last-second steal and layup by Gavin Grant. Jack McClinton carried the ‘Canes in that matchup, and he’ll do the same in this one. State has trouble defending perimeter screens and also matching up man-to-man, and with an eight-game losing streak hanging around their necks like an anchor, the Wolfpack has zero momentum going into the tourney. Miami also has to win to cement a bid to the “Big Dance,” while NC State is looking for reasons to end a dismal campaign. All the signs point to the Hurricanes in this one, but State will be a difficult out if it can summon some of the “Cardiac Pack” magic it discovered in last year’s tourney. This one is likely to be tighter than most expect, but look for NC State to play to form by committing some crucial turnovers at crunch time to gift-wrap the game for the ‘Canes.
Winner: #5 Miami


7:00 p.m.: #7 Georgia Tech vs. #10 Virginia
This is a matchup of a couple of teams who ended the regular season playing pretty good basketball for bottom-feeders. With two evenly matched squads, the advantage usually goes to the team with the difference-maker, and in this case, that’s Wahoo super senior Sean Singletary (say that 10 times fast). Tech’s Matt Causey isn’t quick enough to stay with Singletary on the perimeter and “Mo” Miller isn’t experienced enough to deal with Singletary’s veteran tricks at the point. The 'Hoos were one of the biggest disappointments in the ACC Tournament last year after getting bounced by the Wolfpack despite a very high seed, so coach Dave Leitao will be itching for a better showing. Yellow Jackets Anthony Morrow and Jeremis Smith will do enough to give the Cavaliers a lot of trouble, but UVa should pull this one out down the stretch ... but not before Tech coach Paul Hewitt gets his money's worth in lambasting the refs.
Winner: #10 Virginia


9:30 p.m.: #6 Maryland vs. #11 Boston College
Terps coach Gary Williams squares off against his former school, and when it comes to Xs and Os, he’ll find a way to nullify the Eagles lone weapon, Tyrese Rice. Grievis Vasquez is a strong defender who will get physical with Rice, and B.C. doesn’t have anyone who can deal with James Gist and Bambale Osby in the paint. Boston College coach Al Skinner will put a scare into the Terrapins — and so will his choppers — but for not much longer than a half.
Winner: #6 Maryland


FRIDAY, MARCH 14, QUARTERFINALS

Noon: #1 UNC vs. #9 Florida State
The ‘Noles are one of the league’s rarities, in that they are athletic enough to match up well with the Tar Heels at most positions. FSU’s Jason Rich is a big-game player, and Toney Douglas and Uche Echefe are capable of catching lightning in a bottle for stretches. The question becomes whether Douglas can put enough pressure on still-injured Tywon Lawson, while how Tyler Hansbrough is officiated will have a huge impact on the outcome. Danny Green runs hot and cold for the Heels, but he’s been the best sixth man in the nation of late, giving UNC an enormous spark off the bench. The country’s top-ranked team simply has too much firepower for the Seminoles to handle.
Winner: #1 UNC


2:30 p.m.: #4 Virginia Tech vs. #5 Miami
Kudos to ACC Coach of the Year Seth Greenberg and his Hokies for a strong season, but they are as vulnerable a fourth-seed as I can remember in the league. In this “battle of the bubbles,” the winner not only earns a trip to the semifinals, but also likely a berth in the NCAA Tournament. A.D. Vassallo, Jeff Allen and Deron Washington are a respectable trio for Virginia Tech, but Jack McClinton & Co. are deeper and more talented overall. If you’re getting the idea that I think the ‘Canes are dangerous in Charlotte, you’re right. Unfortunately for the Hokies, this is simply not a good matchup for them, and it’s going to be a tough finish to a surprising year for this gutsy bunch.
Winner: #5 Miami


7:00 p.m.: #2 Duke vs. #10 Virginia
The Blue Devils will have a lot to prove after laying an egg in the regular-season finale against UNC and going out early in last season’s tourney in a loss to NC State. A surprisingly deep Duke squad simply has too many weapons to offset Sean Singletary and his merry band of no-names. This is one of the few games the Devils will face the rest of the way where they won’t have to be lights-out from three-point land to advance. No one in the conference will be happy to see Coach K’s crew gaining confidence with a relatively easy victory here.
Winner: #2 Duke


9:30 p.m.: #3 Clemson vs. #6 Maryland
The three-seed will always have it rough under this format of the ACC Tournament. Playing your first game of the tourney super-late on the second day? Having to watch seven other games played before you even get a chance to see the floor? It’s a tough gig for the Tigers, and it doesn’t get any easier against a Terps team that has demonstrated the ability to play very strong basketball. Clemson’s stifling press, the slashing of Cliff Hammonds, the perimeter shooting of K.C. Rivers, and the boardwork of James Mays and Trevor Booker give the Tigers a lot of respectable threats, but Maryland boasts the better all-around players and the better coach. Horrific free-throw shooting cost Clemson two victories over UNC this season, and it’s hard to ignore the idea that it will haunt them in the postseason. It says here that it will in this one.
Winner: #6 Maryland



SATURDAY, MARCH 15, SEMIFINALS

1:30 p.m.: #1 UNC vs. #5 Miami
A trip to the semis locks up a “Big Dance” ticket for the ‘Canes, but coach Frank Haith’s squad runs out of gas against the deeper and more well-rested Tar Heels. The Hurricanes would do well to slow the tempo against UNC and save some energy, but expect the Heels to push the ball as often as possible. Can McClinton’s legs hold up long enough to keep knocking down three-pointers for the third straight day? Will it be enough to keep carrying Miami against the nation’s No. 1 squad? Tired players get lazy on defense, and that doesn’t bode well against Tyler “The Traveler” Hansbrough. Expect the Hurricanes to get whistled for any contact at all against Hansbrough, helping to usher them out of the ACC tourney despite a valiant effort.
Winner: #1 UNC


4:00 p.m.: #2 Duke vs. #6 Maryland
It’s no secret that Coach K and Gary Williams hate each other, so this game will have all kinds of intensity. Duke’s Greg Paulus is outmanned in the matchup against Grievis Vasquez, and Maryland’s James Gist can cause matchup problems for the Blue Devils with his ability to wheel and deal on the blocks and also shoot from long range. The Terrapins should dominate the boards against the smaller Devils thanks to Gist and Bambale Osby, but Duke’s longer bench and ability to get hot from beyond the arc should carry the Blue Devils to victory. Lost in the euphoria over a third UNC-Duke contest will be the question of whether Maryland did enough to claim one of the final berths for the NCAAs.
Winner: #2 Duke



SUNDAY, MARCH 16, FINALS

1:00 p.m.: #1 UNC vs. #2 Duke
My brain tells me UNC, but my gut tells me Duke. My heart? Well, my heart tells me to wish for a minor earthquake that destroys the Bobcats Arena at gametime. They say the devil doesn’t have a heart, but Duke’s was broken by a terrible performance at Cameron Indoor Stadium against the hated Heels a week prior. Something tells me that the Blue Devils are going to make up for a subpar effort from the perimeter by drilling three after three against a Tar Heels squad that is known for defensive lapses. Duke isn’t afraid to push the ball against anyone, and while some feel that plays right into UNC’s wheelhouse, the reality is that the Heels usually forget about Tyler Hansbrough when they try to get out and run. The smallish Devils would welcome it if the Tar Heels elect to ignore hammering away at the vulnerable Duke frontcourt with Hansbrough, and Roy Williams is too proud to change his approach. Yet the biggest question of the today is going to be: Who’s officiating this one? But now it’s baby blue hearts that are breaking in Wal-Marts all across the state, as Duke claims the all-important No. 1 seed in the East Region.
Winner: #2 Duke