NCAAB: ‘Eckel on the ACC’ likes Cavaliers and Wolfpack

Clemson at NORTH CAROLINA STATE -5, 2 pm
Pick: North Carolina State -5
The Wolfpack return home after three straight road games, in which they went 1-2, to take on a Tigers team that has struggled in conference play.

North Carolina State (15-4) is 11-1 in Raleigh this season and behind senior guard Torin Dorn (14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds) has averaged 86 points per game, while allowing just 69.

Unless Dabo Sweeney gives Clemson a big pre-game pep talk there’s not much to like about the Tigers. After a 5-0 start against non-conference foes, the BCS football champions have gone 6-7 and are an even more depressing 5-13 against the spread this year. Clemson has also failed in four tries against teams ranked among the top 25 this season. The Wolfpack currently checks in at No. 21.

Clemson’s Marcquise Reed (19.1 points) will get his, but look for State to clamp down on the rest of the Tigers and win this one by double digits.

Virginia -12 at NOTRE DAME, 1 pm
Pick: Virginia -12
This play isn’t as strong as the top one and it’s never easy to give a dozen points on the road, but Virginia is the much superior team.

The Cavs (17-1) have won four of five road games this season, with the only loss the 2-point setback at Cameron. They have also covered in 15 of their 18 contests this year despite being double-digit favorites regularly.

Notre Dame (11-8) has dropped five of its last six games in conference play, has been average at best in South Bend and is 7-12 against the spread this season.

Look for Virginia’s junior guard Kyle Guy (15 points) to have a big game in his home state of Indiana and the Cavs defense to keep the Irish in the low 50s.