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After getting hammered all week, we have finally made it to championship Saturday. This tournament preview combined record on picks is a brutal 8-18 (including futures). If you placed one unit on each play, you would be down 11.5 units. But all of those sweet, sweet units could be coming home if you still have a Virginia Tech to win the ACC tournament 12/1 ticket. This pickle poses the age-old question, "Hedge your bet or let it ride?". Let it ride. You've come this far just to chicken out now? No. Spoiler, Virginia Tech's future will not be the only play.
I wrote on the semifinal preview that Duke would come out firing against Miami, and of course, they didn't. Nothing will change in this one too. You should be nervous about this one if you're a Duke fan. Besides North Carolina fans, every Blue Devils and college basketball fan wanted to see round three of the greatest rivalry in college sports. Even Paolo Banchero said in the post-game interview he wanted to play UNC.
Duke is notorious this season for playing down to their competition. They continuously start flat in these games. Maybe an ACC Championship game will get them fired up early, but I doubt that. It seems like all the Blue Devil players wanted to play UNC and now will go into Saturday night's game thinking they'll easily win. But this Virginia Tech squad is red hot right now and desperate to play in the big dance. They won't have to sweat like their counterparts down in Winston-Salem if they win Saturday. Another concern for the Blue Devils is how do you use Mark Williams? Or do you have to play small ball with Paolo Banchero at the five?
The Hokies hit a grand slam by hiring Mike Young. If I could choose one coach right now from the ACC to jumpstart my program, it would be him. There is so much to love about this team and how they play. They play some of the best defense I've seen this year while also being undersized. But is it enough to stop this star-studded Duke team? Not quite. I believe this game will go blow for blow with substantial defensive plays made on each end. Whichever team has the ball in their hands last will win this game. I think we see Duke squeak another win out and claim their 22nd ACC Tournament title.
