2025 ACC-SEC Challenge Preview - Tuesday Games

We are into year three of the ACC-SEC Challenge. This event, partially created by ESPN who owns the television rights, replaced the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and Big 12/SEC Challenge which each came to an end in 2022. The two leagues split the first series seven to seven in 2023. However, in 2024, it was a blood bath in favor of the Southeastern Conference. The SEC went 14-2 last season. Oddly enough, it was, at the time, #2 Auburn and #4 Kentucky who lost at Duke and Clemson respectively. This year the SEC is down a bit from its all-time great status of a season ago while the ACC has certainly taken a step up. SMU and Stanford will sit out to provide an even 16 matchups between the two conferences.

Entering week five of the season, the ACC has three teams ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll. However, two of those teams are ranked higher than any SEC program. Duke checks in at #4 this week followed by Louisville at #6 and North Carolina at #16. As for the SEC, they feature seven Top 25 teams. #12 Alabama, #13 Tennessee, #15 Florida, #17 Vanderbilt, #18 Kentucky, #20 Auburn, and #25 Arkansas will all be in action across Tuesday and Wednesday evening. This season’s marquee matchups include the defending national champion Florida Gators at Cameron Indoor Stadium to take on Duke, North Carolina traveling to Rupp Arena to face Kentucky, and Louisville heading to Bud Walton Arena to battle Arkansas.

We have sifted through all 16 matchups to provide digestible previews for one of college basketball’s signature events. Whether you are a fan of one of the teams or just a consumer of the sport in general this will be your one-stop shop for the 2025 ACC-SEC Challenge. Let’s dive on in and take a closer look at the games.

Oklahoma @ Wake Forest

When/Where to Watch: 7:00 p.m. ET ACC Network

KenPom Prediction: Wake Forest 82-75

KSR Prediction: Wake Forest 77-70

Oklahoma Player to Watch: Tae Davis – 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds per game

Wake Forest Player to Watch: Juke Harris – 19.6 points, 7.1 rebounds per game. 17-46 (37%) from 3.

(Kind of) Twitter-Length Preview: This will be a game of contrasting styles. Wake Forest likes to play fast and features the #31 defense per KenPom. Meanwhile, Oklahoma likes to play slow and features the #30 offense per KenPom. The Sooners are excellent at taking care of the ball. The Demon Deacons are excellent at forcing turnovers. It’ll be strength versus strength in this one.

#13 Tennessee @ Syracuse

When/Where to Watch: 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN2

KenPom Prediction: Tennessee 78-71

KSR Prediction: Tennessee 80-65

Syracuse Player to Watch: Williams Kyle – 9.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 blocks per game.

Tennessee Player to Watch: Nate Ament – 17.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.9 steals per game.

(Kind of) Twitter-Length Preview: A Coach Rick Barnes defense at Tennessee hasn’t finished outside of the KenPom Top 5 since 2020. This group currently ranks 13th, but the Volunteers might also have their best offense in a long time. Ja’Kobi Gillespie has been outstanding and superstar freshman Nate Ament has been as advertised.

Texas A&M @ Pittsburgh

When/Where to Watch: 7:00 p.m. ET ESPNU

KenPom Prediction: Texas A&M 75-73

KSR Prediction: Texas A&M 79-69

Pittsburgh Player to Watch: Cameron Corhen – 14.8 points, 9.6 rebounds per game.

Texas A&M Player to Watch: Rashaun Agee – 10.5 points, 7.3 rebounds per game.

(Kind of) Twitter-Length Preview: Bucky Ball is alive and well in College Station. The Aggies lead the nation in assist rate while playing as fast as anyone and shooting as many 3’s as anyone. Pittsburgh is nearly the polar opposite. They will try to grind this game to a halt. Which style of play wins out could dictate who wins the game.

Virginia Tech @ South Carolina

When/Where to Watch: 7:00 p.m. ET SEC Network

KenPom Prediction: South Carolina 76-74

KSR Prediction: Virginia Tech 72-66

South Carolina Player to Watch: Meechie Johnson – 14.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists per game.

Virginia Tech Player to Watch: Neoklis Avdalas – 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists per game.

(Kind of) Twitter-Length Preview: Virginia Tech’s Neoklis Avdalas is one of the best freshmen in the country that you may not have seen yet. The 6’9″ point guard is having a great start to the season. Meanwhile, Meechie Johnson runs the show in his second stint with the Gamecocks. These are two teams that are projected to finish towards the bottom of their respective leagues.

#15 Florida @ #4 Duke

When/Where to Watch: 7:30 p.m. ET ESPN

KenPom Prediction: Duke 82-74

KSR Prediction: Duke 80-67

Duke Player to Watch: Cameron Boozer – 22.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.1 blocks per game.

Florida Player to Watch: Thomas Haugh – 17.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists per game.

(Kind of) Twitter-Length Preview: What more do you need than watching Cameron Boozer go up against, arguably, the best front court in the country? Boozer will be the star, but the Blue Devils’ backcourt will be the difference in this one against a struggling Florida duo of Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee. Alex Condon will be available for the Gators after missing their last game for precautionary reasons.

Georgia @ Florida State

When/Where to Watch: 9:00 p.m. ET ACC Network

KenPom Prediction: Georgia 86-83

KSR Prediction: 92-91 Georgia

Florida State Player to Watch: Robert McCray V – 13.3 points, 7.9 assists per game.

Georgia Player to Watch: Jeremiah Wilkerson – 16.5 ponts, 2.5 steals per game.

(Kind of) Twitter Length Preview: Two of the country’s 10 fastest-paced teams will go against each other in this matchup. These teams, especially Florida State, are going to let it fly from 3. The Seminoles also lead the country in defensive turnover rate while the ‘Dawgs are 15th. It is fair to expect a LOT of points to be scored in this one.

Miami (FL) @ Ole Miss

When/Where to Watch: 9:00 p.m. ET SEC Network

KenPom Prediction: Ole Miss 76-72

KSR Prediction: Ole Miss 77-70

Miami (FL) Player to Watch: Malik Reneau – 20.8 points, 7.3 rebounds per game.

Ole Miss Player to Watch: Ilias Kamardine – 15.1 points, 4.7 assists,1.7 steals per game.

(Kind of) Twitter Length Preview: International guard Ilias Kamardine has stepped in right away as Ole Miss’ best player. AJ Storr and Malik Dia have been excellent for the Rebels too, but they will have their hands full with Tre Donaldson and Malik Reneau. Miami’s lack of shooting makes it hard for them to be consistent offensively. If Reneau can be the best player on the floor though it will help negate some perimeter problems.

Missouri @ Notre Dame

When/Where to Watch: 9:00 p.m. ET ESPNU

KenPom Prediction: Missouri 76-73

KSR Prediction: Notre Dame 70-66

Missouri Player to Watch: Mark Mitchell – 17.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game.

Notre Dame Player to Watch: 20.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists per game.

(Kind of) Twitter Length Preview: Notre Dame plays at one of the slowest paces in college basketball. Controlling the pace against this high-powered Missouri offense is no small task though. Mark Mitchell is the hub of the Tigers’ offense and Coach Gates has surrounded him with shooters. If the Fighting Irish can take away 3’s they will likely turn this into a lower-scoring game.

#16 North Carolina @ #18 Kentucky

When/Where to Watch: 9:30 p.m. ET ESPN

KenPom Prediction: Kentucky 84-74

KSR Prediction: Kentucky 78-76

Kentucky Player to Watch: Denzel Aberdeen – 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.6 steals per game.

North Carolina Player to Watch: Caleb Williams – 19.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.1 blocks per game.

(Kind of) Twitter Length Preview: Kentucky is in desperate need of a quality win after getting outclassed by both Louisville and Michigan State. Freshman superstar Caleb Wilson has carried the Tar Heels, but they are also coming off of an ugly loss against Michigan State. How the Wildcats matchup against the biggest team in college basketball will go a long way towards determining the outcome of this one.