Greensboro Coliseum – Greensboro, NC
Atlantic Coast Conference – First Round
Tip-off: Tuesday, 1:00 p.m. ET
Line: N/A

Georgia Tech and Boston College meet in Greensboro Tuesday for the opening game of the ACC tournament.

Georgia Tech heads into the ACC tournament after losing its past four games. The Yellow Jackets most recently faced the Tar Heels in Atlanta and lost 81-49 as 5-point home underdogs. The team has not scored more than 63 points in a single game since Feb. 9 against Wake Forest. Boston College, meanwhile, got hot heading into this tournament. The Eagles have now won-and-covered in three straight games after beating Wake Forest 79-61 as 4.5-point home favorites. These two teams only met once this season and Boston College won 64-62 as 4.5-point road underdogs. Prior to that victory for the Eagles, Georgia Tech had won three straight games SU against Boston College. They covered in two of those games and the other contest was a push. While the Yellow Jackets are a miserable 3-15 SU versus ACC opponents this season, they are 9-8-1 ATS in those contests. They are also 2-1 SU and 1-2 ATS when playing in a neutral site game this season. Boston College, meanwhile, is 4-14 SU against ACC opponents but an impressive 11-7 ATS in those games. The Eagles are 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS when playing in neutral site games this season. F Will Magarity (Concussion) is questionable for Boston College and G Lonnie Jackson (Leg), G Darryl Hicks (Knee) and F Idy Diallo (Knee) are all out for the season or indefinitely. F Marcus Georges-Hunt (Foot) is expected to miss this tournament.

Can Boston College stay hot with a win over Georgia Tech in the ACC tournament Tuesday? For the latest college basketball picks, check out The Platinum Sheet for all the StatFox Experts selections every week throughout the entire 2013-14 season. The experts have been heating up since Feb. 6, combining for a 55% ATS mark (60-49) in college basketball Best Bets. StatFox Zach is on a 62% ATS (29-18) Best Bets run since Jan. 1 and has a 58% ATS mark (49-36) this season. StatFox Brian is a robust 68% ATS (15-7) in Best Bets since Feb. 6 to put him at 57% ATS (48-36-1) this season, while StatFox Gary has been a profitable 55% ATS (30-25) since Dec. 23 to maintain a 57% ATS (48-37) record for the season. StatFox Dave holds a strong 62% ATS (13-8) mark since Feb. 6.

Georgia Tech has been a miserable offensive team this year, averaging just 63.2 PPG (282nd in NCAA) on 40.8% shooting (296th in NCAA). The team is, however, solid defensively. The Yellow Jackets are allowing just 64.5 PPG (127th in NCAA) this season and will need to slow down a red-hot Boston College team. With F Marcus Georges-Hunt (13.6 PPG) likely out, F Charles Mitchell (9.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG) will need to be at his best against Boston College. Mitchell had one of his best games of the year in a loss to North Carolina on Tuesday, finishing with 16 points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes. He did not get any help from his teammates though and that can’t happen again in this one. He also had just two points in his first meeting with Boston College this year. C Demarco Cox (8.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG) was the only other player who showed up against North Carolina. He had 14 points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes. His size makes him extremely tough to guard when he gets near the rim, but he will occasionally check out of games. He had just four points and three rebounds the last time he faced the Eagles and he will need to provide a solid inside presence in this one. G Travis Jorgenson (3.7 PPG, 3.3 APG) is this team’s best passer and is averaging 3.8 APG over the past four contests. He is also averaging 2.0 SPG over the past two. The problem is that he is an abysmal shooter (31% FG, 30% 3PT) and does not provide any offense for this team. The Yellow Jackets would need him to find a way to uncharacteristically score the basketball in this one in order to pull off the upset. F Robert Sampson (5.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG) is averaging 5.0 PPG and 9.0 RPG over the past two contests. He will need to continue to be tough on the glass and give himself and his teammates second chances on the offensive end.

Boston College hasn’t been great on either end of the floor this season, averaging 65.9 PPG (214th in NCAA) on 44.8% FG (102nd in NCAA) and allowing 67.0 PPG (188th in NCAA). G Olivier Hanlan (19.4 PPG, 4.2 APG, 4.1 RPG, 1.3 SPG) is one of the toughest covers in the country. Hanlan knows how to attack the basket with his ability to change speeds and he is also a good shooter from the outside (36% 3PT). He had 25 points and seven rebounds the last time he faced Georgia Tech and will be looking for a similar outcome in this game. F Aaron Brown (15.0 PPG) is yet another player that can score the ball for this team. Brown has scored 13 points in each of the past three games, but averaged 21.0 PPG in the two games before that. He is a good but streaky shooter from the outside (32% 3PT) and can really hurt his opponents once he gets it going. Brown had 11 points the last time he faced Georgia Tech, but he was also in foul trouble in that game. He must stay on the floor in this one and knock down some timely shots, especially if Hanlan is to struggle. C Dennis Clifford (6.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.2 BPG) will be the biggest player on the court in this game at 7-foot-1. He has blocked eight shots over the past three contests and will need to really body up Demarco Cox on both ends of the floor. G Patrick Heckmann (8.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.3 SPG) is going to be an x-factor for this team. Heckmann had 14 points against Wake Forest last game, but just five in a win over Virginia Tech the game before. He must score the basketball in this one, as Hanlan and Brown need help from their supporting cast.