Big Ten/ACC Challenge-final night

With five games left tonight in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the score is tied at three wins apiece for each conference. And so far, the only game I've picked incorrectly was Iowa over Virginia Tech last night. ESPN.com college basketball writer Dana O'Neil wrote a short blog entry about tonight's lineup and deciding games. She also feels that this could be the year for the Big Ten to win its first-ever Challenge.

The Big Ten needs to take three of the five games to earn the 11th edition of the event. O'Neil agreed with my picks for tonight-I'm counting on Minnesota, Michigan and Ohio State to take care of business. The Buckeyes are at home against Florida State and the Wolverines host Boston College. The Gophers need a big win on the road at Miami. O'Neil and I both felt that Wisconsin, although at home, isn't a good matchup against Duke and a physical Clemson squad should overpower Illinois who will be traveling on the road.

Big Ten/ACC Challenge

Basketball teams from the Big Ten and the Atlantic Coast Conference are paired up once again in the 11th installment of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Widely regarded as the two best conferences top-to-bottom in the nation this season, the challenge looks to be the best it's ever been. Especially considering the Big Ten has never won the challenge in its ten editions, there certainly will be some bragging rights on the line. The ESPN family of networks will televise each game, with five tonight and Wednesday night. Penn State took down Virginia, 69-66, on Monday to get the Big Ten off to a good start with a 1-0 lead.

Here's an article by ESPN.com college basketball writer Andy Katz and his take on the Challenge.

Here are my quick picks:

Purdue over Wake Forest

In a battle of black and gold, I like the playmakers of Purdue and Matt Painter's defense. Boiler up.

Northwestern over North Carolina State

Purpleooza is on a roll right now, off to a 6-1 start and playing inspired after losing leader Kevin Coble.

Maryland over Indiana

I'm not sold on the Hoosiers turning the program around in one year with a bunch of hyped-up freshman, even if they are playing at home.

North Carolina over Michigan State

As much as I like the Spartans, they haven't looked particularly impressive early on and the Dean Dome is as tough is road games get.

Iowa over Virginia Tech

The Hawkeyes are due after shooting 41-154 (27%) from beyond the arc, and its students-get-in-free night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, so that helps. A win's a win, even if it's ugly. And Hawks are due after losing at Boston College last season by one point.

Clemson over Illinois

I like the Tigers at home and the Illini's bigs aren't big enough to handle All-ACC forward Trevor Booker.

Minnesota over Miami

If the Gophers are for real, they need to show it now, and I think they will over a lackluster Hurricane squad.

Michigan over Boston College

Same thing applies for the Wolverines: should we believe the hype? Should out-talent the Eagles at home in Ann Arbor.

Duke over Wisconsin

Did you see the pace the Blue Devils played against UCONN? No way the Badgers can keep up with that, especially in a down year for them. But beware of the Cole Center...closer than the experts think in this game

Ohio State over Florida State

The Buckeyes are hot and only getting hotter behind All-America candidate Evan "The Villain" Turner (19.8 ppg, 12.8 rpg), and they cruise at home.

If you're scoring at home, I picked six Big Ten wins and Penn State's makes a total of seven. Yes, this will be the year that the Challenge title leaves the coast for the heartland. If anything, this should be an exciting couple nights of hoops.

Graphic from bigten.org.

New Top 25 poll and videos

Here's a fresh video from ESPN with Mr. College Basketball-Dick Vitale. He talks about the first 2010 Men's Basketball ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll that is stacked with Big 10 and Big 12 teams. Kansas received 27 first place votes, Michigan State earned 3 and North Carolina slated 1 vote.

Vitale's Super Six teams: Kansas, Kentucky, Texas, Michigan State, Purdue and Duke.

The Jayhawks are his choice to win it all come March. He said they "have all the components" of a championship team: a great coach, experienced veterans, talented freshman. I agree with Vitale that the off-court issues from this summer will have little if no effect on KU's season.

Top 25 teams with ranking: Big 10 Big 12

Michigan State (2) Kansas (1)

Purdue (7) Texas (3)

Michigan (15) Oklahoma (16)

Ohio State (17)

Minnesota (18)

Others receiving votes, in order, are: Illinois, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Kansas State and Texas A&M.

I think the poll just shows how much the voters understand the top-to-bottom strength in the Big 10 this year. The conference as a whole has developed into one of the top conferences in the nation. Some criticize the conference for its slow pace and lack of scoring, and rightfully so, but I would put its defense up there with the best in the country.

The Big East leads the way with six teams ranked in the poll (Villanova, West Va., UCONN, Georgetown, Louisville, Syracuse) while the ACC only has four (UNC, Duke, Ga. Tech, Clemson).

ESPN release

Follow Dick Vitale on Twitter here.

Here's another video from ESPN-an interview with head coach Bill Self about the high expectations the Jayhawks face this season.