Here is your ACC Weekend Preview for games played February 19th through the 21st. I am not going to go into depth as you can check out my Atlantic Division preview by clicking here and my Coastal Division preview by clicking here. Starting next week, you will get a full preview of weekend action as we will already have a week in the books to start to see some trends. Remember to join me tomorrow at 12 noon for a Live Chat to discuss the games across the country. I have included picks from The Diamondback baseball beat writer Michael Lemaire and Georgia Tech student radio broadcaster Kyle Tait. I have also included a fan’s picks this year who will be picking under Skip McCarthy. You can leave your predications in the comment section at the bottom of the article.
#3 Virginia at #16 East Carolina
Storyline: This is one of the marquee series in the country during the opening weekend with the number 3 ranked Cavaliers taking on the number 16th ranked Pirates.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: UVA So. LHP Danny Hultzen (9-1, 2.17 ERA) vs ECU Junior RHP Seth Maness (9-3, 4.71 ERA)
Saturday: UVA Junior RHP Robert Morey (3-0, 3.33) vs ECU So. LHP Kevin Brandt (9-2, 3.64 ERA)
Sunday: UVA Junior RHP Cory Winiarski (NR) vs ECU Junior RHP Brad Mincey (10-5, 3.16 ERA)
Predictions
Brian Foley: East Carolina takes 2 out of 3 games.
Kyle Tait: Virginia takes 2 out of 3 games
Michael Lemaire: Virginia beats ECU (2-1)
Skip McCarthy: UVA wins 2 of 3
Georgia State at #6 Florida State
Storyline: Is this the year Florida State breaks the dryspell in the ACC with a National Title?
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: GSU JR RHP David Buchanan (NR) vs FSU So. LHP Sean Gilmartin (12-3, 3.49 ERA)
Saturday: GSU JR LHP Aidan Francis (5-1, 4.15 ERA) vs FSU JR RHP Geoff Parker (6-2, 4.82 ERA)
Sunday: GSU SR RHP Ryan Moore (7-2, 4.41 ERA) vs FSU JR LHP John Fast (5-3, 5.12 ERA)
Predictions
Brian Foley: FSU Sweeps
Kyle Tait: FSU Sweeps
Michael Lemaire: FSU sweeps
Skip McCarthy: Seminoles win 2 of 3
Missouri State at #9 Georgia Tech
Storyline: Can the Yellow Jackets find anyone for the other two spots in the rotation after Deck McGuire?
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: GT – Deck McGuire, RHP, Jr., (11-2, 3.50) vs MS – Aaron Meade, LHP (9-2, 3.39)
Saturday: GT – Brandon Cumpton, RHP, Jr. (4-3, 4.76) vs MSU – Pat Doyle, RHP, Sr. (4-2, 4.12)
Sunday: GT – Jed Bradley, LHP, So. (2-3, 6.65) vs MSU – TBA
Predictions
Brian Foley: GT takes 2 out of 3 games
Kyle Tait: Georgia Tech Sweep
Michael Lemaire: Ga Tech Sweep
Skip McCarthy: GA Tech wins 3 of 3
Rutgers at #12 Miami (FL)
Storyline: Can the Hurricanes start the season out with a big weekend against a middle of the road Big East team?
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: UM – LHP Eric Erickson vs. RUTGERS – RHP Casey Gaynor
Saturday: UM – LHP Chris Hernandez vs. RUTGERS – LHP Dennis Hill
Sunday: UM – RHP Jason Santana vs. RUTGERS – RHP Willie Beard
Predictions
Brian Foley: Miami (FL) Sweep
Kyle Tait: Miami (FL) Sweep
Michael Lemaire: Miami (FL) Sweep
Skip McCarthy: Miami wins 3 of 3
George Washington at #13 North Carolina
Storyline: Can the Tar Heels find any offense or pitching this season with key losses after last season?
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: UNC Matt Harvey (7-2, 5.40 ERA) vs GW TBA
Saturday: UNC Colin Bates (4-4, 3.15 ERA) vs GW TBA
Sunday: UNC Patrick Johnson (2-2, 3.49 ERA) vs GW TBA
Predictions
Brian Foley: UNC Sweep
Kyle Tait: UNC Sweep
Michael Lemaire: UNC Sweep
Skip McCarthy: Tarheels win 3 of 3
#14 Clemson vs Miami (OH), Furman, Michigan State
Storyline: How will Clemson rebound this season after losing so many quality pitchers from last year?
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: CU Casey Harman (7-3, 3.95 ERA) vs MU Tyler Melling (6-3, 6.35 ERA)
Saturday: CU Scott Weismann (3-1, 1.23 ERA) vs MSU Tony Bucciferro (5-2, 3.55 ERA)
Sunday: CU Kevin Brady (0-0 1.69 ERA) vs Furman Barry Benton (2-6, 6.31 ERA)
Predictions
Brian Foley: Clemson Sweeps the weekend
Kyle Tait: Clemson Sweep
Michael Lemaire: Clemson goes 2-1
Skip McCarthy: Clemson goes 3 for 3
Wake Forest vs Army (2) and Dayton (2)
Storyline: How will new head coach Tom Walter do this season with the Demon Deacons?
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: WF LHP Austin Stadler (So., 4-5, 4.13) vs. Army RHP Kirk Porter (Jr., 6-3, 4.18)
Saturday: WF LHP Tim Cooney (Fr., 0-0, 0.00) vs. Dayton RHP Burny Mitchem (R-So., 1-0, 0.55)
Saturday: WF RHP Brandon Johnson (Jr., 0-0, 6.06) vs. Army RHP Ben Koenigsfeld (Jr., 8-4, 4.89)
Sunday: WF LHP Niko Spezial (Fr., 0-0, 0.00) vs. Dayton TBA
Predictions
Brian Foley: Wake Forest goes 3-1
Kyle Tait: Wake Forest goes 1-3
Michael Lemaire: Wake goes 2-2
Skip McCarthy: Wake Forest wins 3 of 4
Boston College at Tulane
Storyline: How will Boston College score runs without Tony Sanchez and Mike Belfiore?
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: BC LHP Pat Dean (Jr., 6-4, 3.30 ERA) vs RHP Conrad Flynn (Jr. 8-3, 3.93 ERA)
Saturday: BC RHP Mike Dennhardt (So., 5-2, 4.96 ERA) vs LHP Matt Petition (Sr,. 5-3, 5.13 ERA)
Sunday: BC TBA vs RHP Robby Broach (Jr. NR in 2009)
Predictions
Brian Foley: Tulane sweeps
Kyle Tait: Tulane takes 2 out of 3
Michael Lemaire: Tulane sweeps
Skip McCarthy: Eagles win 1 of 3
Duke vs Baylor (2) and Georgia (2)
Storyline: How will Duke replace Alex Hassan and Nate Freiman?
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: BU RHP Shawn Tolleson, Jr. (1-2, 4.50 ERA) vs DU: LHP Eric Pfisterer, So. (3-2, 5.00 ERA)
Saturday Game 1: BU RHP Craig Fritsch, Jr. (4-5, 5.09 ERA) vs DU RHP Michael Ness, Sr. (2-2, 2.44 ERA)
Saturday Game 2: UGA Michael Pallazone (3-0, 5.16 ERA) vs DU TBA
Sunday: UGA Chase Hawkins (3-2, 4.76 ERA) vs DU TBA
Predictions
Brian Foley: Duke splits the weekend
Kyle Tait: Duke goes 0-4
Michael Lemaire: Duke goes 2-2
Skip McCarthy: Duke goes 0 for 4
Virginia Tech vs Kentucky, Coastal Carolina, and West Virginia
Storyline: How will Virginia Tech handle the high expectations for the team?
Friday: VT RHP Justin Wright (7-2, 3.95 ERA) vs KY Alex Meyer (1-4, 5.73 ERA)
Saturday: VT RHP Mathew Price (3-4, 6.90 ERA in 2009) vs CCU Anthony Meo (9-2, 2.93 ERA)
Sunday: VT TBA vs West Virginia TBA
Predictions
Brian Foley: VT goes 2-1
Kyle Tait: VT goes 1-2
Michael Lemaire: VT goes 1-2
Skip McCarthy: VA Tech wins 1 of 3
VT Series Notes
LaSalle at NC State
Storyline: How will NC State respond after a horrific season?
NO PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS ANNOUNCED AT PRESS TIME (WILL UPDATE IF POSSIBLE)
Predictions
Brian Foley: NC State goes 2-1
Kyle Tait: NC State goes 2-1
Michael Lemaire: NC State sweeps
Skip McCarthy: NC State wins 3 of 3
NC State Series Notes
Maryland at Florida International
Storyline: Will Bakich be able to bring his success from Vanderbilt to Maryland?
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: MD Brett Harman vs. FIU Scott Rembisz (6-3, 4.69 ERA)
Saturday: MD Eric Potter vs FIU Corey Polizzano (4-3, 6.29 ERA)
Sunday: MD Adam Kolarek vs FIU Daniel DeSimone (5-6, 6.46 ERA)
Predictions
Brian Foley: FIU takes 2 out of 3 games
Kyle Tait: FIU takes 2 out of 3 games
Michael Lemaire: FIU sweeps
Skip McCarthy: Maryland wins 1 of 3
