ACC Bubble Drama: Who Needs a Tourney Win to Dance?

2024 ACC Tournament

The ACC Tournament begins on Tuesday afternoon in Washington, DC. Games can be seen on the ACC Network or the ESPN family of networks. North Carolina and Duke have separated themselves at the top of the league and both are likely to earn 2-seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Clemson is safely in the field thanks to a very strong non-conference resume that includes a win at Alabama and a home victory over South Carolina. The league will likely get a couple of more teams in with Virginia, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest entering the ACC Tournament as teams on the bubble.

Conference Tournaments Schedule and SportsGrid Betting Guides

1. Pittsburgh Panthers

The Pittsburgh Panthers enter the 2024 ACC Tournament as the four-seed. That means they secured a double-bye into the quarterfinals and will not play until Thursday afternoon. Their opponent will be Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, or Notre Dame. Pitt is currently projected as one of the last teams in the field, according to SportsGrid’s bracketology. 

A victory over Wake Forest on a neutral court would very likely seal the deal, and they would probably avoid the “First Four” games in Dayton. On the other hand, a defeat to Wake Forest or a bad loss to Georgia Tech or Notre Dame would place the Panthers’ NCAA Tournament bid in serious jeopardy.

2. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Wake Forest’s NCAA Tournament status appeared to be in good shape after they beat Duke at home. That said, they went into a tailspin and lost three straight games to non-tournament teams (Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech). Steve Forbes’ squad prevailed in a must-win contest at home against Clemson to keep themselves alive, and they enter the ACC Tournament as a “First Four Out” team on most projections. 

The Demon Deacons will play on Wednesday against the winner of Georgia Tech and Notre Dame. They absolutely cannot afford to lose to either the Yellow Jackets or the Fighting Irish again. A win may not be enough to put them in, but a loss will surely leave them out. 

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A victory on Wednesday would set up a clash with fellow bubble team Pittsburgh on Thursday in a game that could decide both teams’ NCAA Tournament fates.

Wake Forest's Odds to Make NCAA Tournament: Yes +168/No - 230

3. Virginia Cavaliers

The Virginia Cavaliers are a near fixture in the NCAA Tournament, and it is bizarre to see the three-seed in the ACC Tournament as a bubble team. Still, Tony Bennett’s squad definitely could use a win in the ACC Tournament to feel secure. UVA has advanced metrics in the 30s, and the win last weekend against Georgia Tech probably did enough to punch their ticket. 

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After earning a double-bye, they’ll play Clemson, Miami, or Boston College. UVA is likely rooting for the Tigers to advance because a win over Clemson would help their seeding in the NCAA Tournament, and a loss would not be a detriment. If Clemson got upset and the Cavaliers had to play BC or Miami, their game on Thursday would become a must-win to avoid the bubble on Selection Sunday.

Virginia NCAA Tournament Odds: Yes +140 No -188

2024 ACC Tournament

The ACC Tournament begins on Tuesday afternoon in Washington, DC. Games can be seen on the ACC Network or the ESPN family of networks. North Carolina and Duke have separated themselves at the top of the league and both are likely to earn 2-seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Clemson is safely in the field thanks to a very strong non-conference resume that includes a win at Alabama and a home victory over South Carolina. The league will likely get a couple of more teams in with Virginia, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest entering the ACC Tournament as teams on the bubble.

Conference Tournaments Schedule and SportsGrid Betting Guides