After last night’s docket, the Big Ten/ACC Challenge is notted up at 3-3. And if Illinois had actually decided to SHOOT THE BALL BEFORE THE CLOCK RAN OUT, and Iowa didn’t send a kid to the line that was 3-of-14 on FT attempts on the year, there’s a chance — a small chance — the Big Ten could be up 5-1 in the challenge. A challenge they’ve never won since its inception in 1999.

But no, it’s knotted up at 3-3. Here’s how I see it playing out.

Indiana at Wake Forest — Did you see how Indiana looked against Notre Dame and St. John’s in the Maui Invitational? Hint: The Hoosiers did not look very good. Wake Forest is a 24-point favorite. If my alma mater pulls this off against the Demon Decons, I will give each reader of this blog a brand new puppy.*

North Carolina at Michigan State — This is an intriguing matchup, with Tyler Hansbrough still iffy for tonight’s affair and freshman Tyler Zeller out for the year. Michigan State is pretty dang good. It’s also at Ford Field. But yeah: This is North Carolina; there was a reason they were the unanimous preseason No. 1. Carolina wins this won.

Penn State at Georgia Tech — According to my copy of College Basketball Prospectus, Georgia Tech lead all power conferences in fouls per player minute last season at 4.5. Yeah, I don’t know what that has to do with tonight, but Penn State does have a dude named Stanley Pringle on their team. Tech wins this one. Home court counts for a lot in college basketball.

Michigan at Maryland — I feel bad for Gary Williams. Seems like a nice fellow, and he’s proven to be a good coach. But times are sort of tough for him now in College Park. (Going after Tyree Evans was sort of a desperate plea for talent.) Maryland is a six-point favorite tonight, but just because I don’t want to go all ACC home teams tonight — though I probably should — I’m going with Michigan. Manny Harris for life.

Florida State at Northwestern — Northwestern is a 1.5-point favorite. Bill Carmody runs the slowest, most methodical offense of all-time. Florida State lost three senior starters from last year. I don’t think I’ve ever picked Northwestern to win anything in my life, so now is as good a time as any. Northwestern wins.

So, that leaves us with the ACC winning this year’s challenge at 6-5. If I’m dead wrong on all this, don’t be surprised. Expect it, in fact.

For more ACC-Big Ten goodness, get at the Dagger.

*Offer not redeemable anytime, anywhere.