2024 SEC-ACC CBB Challenge: Tuesday’s Game-by-Game Predictions

Kentucky at Clemson - 9:30 p.m. on ESPN

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats invade the Upstate as Big Blue Nation plays at Clemson. It’s a late start in South Carolina, but the Tigers will be ready after a successful trip to Florida, where they beat San Francisco and Penn State to win the Sunshine Slam. Clemson is anchored by the duo of Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin, but they do not have the depth of talent to run with the Wildcats. Kentucky will space the floor, let it rip from three, and eventually pull away from Clemson.

Prediction: Kentucky 81 - Clemson 72

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South Carolina at Boston College - 7:00 p.m. on ACC Network

The South Carolina Gamecocks have not had an ideal start to the season. They are just 4-3 with losses to Indiana, Xavier, and a head-scratching one to North Florida. However, they played their best ball in their last outing, handling Virginia Tech 70-60. The Gamecocks now head to Chestnut Hill for another matchup with an ACC foe: the Boston College Eagles. While SC has been up and down, Boston College has been even more of a roller coaster. They lost by 25 to VCU and then suffered an inexcusable loss to Dartmouth, surrendering 88 points to the Ivy League school. That came after five wins in a row, and Boston College should focus entirely on getting back on track.

Prediction: Boston College 72 - South Carolina 67

Cal at Missouri - 7:00 p.m. on SEC Network

Missouri and Cal have gotten off to good starts this season, each sitting at 6-1. Missouri looks improved over last season, but the only real challenge they have faced was Memphis, and that was a defeat. Cal was expected to be a poor team but has found six wins and knocked off USC on the road by five points. The home-court advantage could matter in this one, and Missouri should benefit and have a chance for a rare but much-needed non-conference victory.

Prediction: Missouri 80 - Cal 69

Arkansas at Miami - 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2

This matchup was made with the expectation that Miami would be a solid team. A month into the season, the Hurricanes are just 3-4, and that includes a dreadful loss to Charleston Southern. John Calipari is still trying to figure things out with his entirely new Arkansas team, but the Razorbacks have more talent than Miami and will win this game easily.

Prediction: Arkansas 81 - Miami 68

Syracuse at Tennessee - 7:30 p.m. on ESPN

Syracuse is 4-2, but they have lost each game against high-major opponents (Texas and Texas Tech). That’s a big problem, as they now have to travel to Knoxville and play the No. 3 Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols are unbeaten, including a 22-point win over Louisville, a 22-point win over Virginia, and a 15-point thumping of Baylor. Tennessee is a more mature and talented team, and they should be able to lock up the Orange and make this a one-sided game.

Prediction: Tennessee 70 - Syracuse 52

Wake Forest at Texas A&M - 9:00 p.m. on ESPN2

Wake Forest has wins over Michigan and Minnesota and losses to Xavier and Florida. The Demon Deacons are expected to finish in the top five of the ACC, but they’ll need to find a bit more quality on a consistent basis. Texas A&M has three quality wins (Ohio State, Creighton, and Rutgers) but two confusing losses to UCF and Oregon. The Aggies will have the best player on the floor in this game in Wade Taylor IV, and that makes a difference in a closely contested matchup.

Prediction: Texas A&M 72 - Wake Forest 67

Georgia Tech at Oklahoma - 9:00 p.m. on ESPNU

How about those Sooners? Not much was expected from Porter Moser’s squad this season, but they went to the Bahamas and won the Battle 4 Atlantis excitingly and are now ranked 21st. Georgia Tech gave up 105 points to North Florida and lost to Georgia and Cincinnati. The Sooners have received good production from Jalon Moore, and he’ll be a real problem for the defensively challenged Yellow Jackets.

Prediction: Oklahoma 74 - Georgia Tech 62

Ole Miss at Louisville - 9:00 p.m. on ACC Network

The Ole Miss Rebels and Louisville Cardinals sound like a fun football game this season, but it has turned into an exciting clash on the hardwood and a big matchup in this challenge. Ole Miss lost at the buzzer to Purdue but impressed as they beat BYU by 11 and have a 6-1 record. Louisville lost by 22 points early in the season but went to Atlantis and blew out Indiana by 28 points (and it wasn’t even that close), beat West Virginia in overtime, and then fell by five points to Oklahoma. The Cardinals were a lot of fun to watch in the Bahamas, and the fan base will be fired up to get behind this team. The building should be rocking, and the pace of this game should be fast, which favors both teams, but I like the home team in situations like this.

Prediction: Louisville 85 - Ole Miss 81

Florida State at LSU - 9:00 p.m. on SEC Network

Leonard Hamilton’s team is 7-1, but they have only played one high-major opponent, a 13-point loss to Florida. The LSU Tigers are 6-1 with wins over UCF and Kansas State but a loss to Pittsburgh. This game is being played at LSU, but the Pete Maravich Assembly Center is not exactly a hostile environment (you can get tickets for as little as $2). Jamir Watkins headlines Hamilton’s crew, and they have a good length that should cause trouble for the Tigers.

Prediction: Florida State 74 - LSU 70

Kentucky at Clemson - 9:30 p.m. on ESPN

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats invade the Upstate as Big Blue Nation plays at Clemson. It’s a late start in South Carolina, but the Tigers will be ready after a successful trip to Florida, where they beat San Francisco and Penn State to win the Sunshine Slam. Clemson is anchored by the duo of Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin, but they do not have the depth of talent to run with the Wildcats. Kentucky will space the floor, let it rip from three, and eventually pull away from Clemson.

Prediction: Kentucky 81 - Clemson 72

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