Big Ten/ACC Challenge Day 1

Monday: Wake Forest (3-0) at Iowa (4-2) 7:00 ESPN2 This year's Big Ten/ACC Challenge kicks off in Iowa City. Wake has won three straight home games to start the year against subpar teams Fairfield, NC Central, and Winston Salem State. Iowa has also yet to defeat anyone meaningful as they continue to learn new coach Todd Lickliter's system. The Hawkeyes are 4-0 at home, but just dropped their last two contests to Bradley and Utah State in the South Padre Invitational over the weekend. The lone bright spot for Iowa this year has been defense, but giving up 75 to a bad Utah State team is not good. Both teams are short on talent and are adjusting to new coaches after Demon Deacon head coach Skip Prosser passed away suddenly in July and former Hawkeye coach Steve Alford left for New Mexico. Pick: Give Iowa the slight edge since this game is being played at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, although three games in four days is a tough obstacle. If the Hawkeyes can keep this game in the 60's I like their chances to give the Big Ten a headstart in this year's challenge. The Rest of the slate: (Check back tomorrow for more picks.) Tuesday: Georgia Tech (3-2) at Indiana (4-1) 7:00 ESPN Northwestern (1-3) at Virginia (5-1) 7:00 ESPNU Minnesota (3-0) at Florida State (5-2) 7:30 ESPN2 Wisconsin (5-0) at Duke (6-0) 9:00 ESPN Purdue (3-0) at Clemson (5-0) 9:30 ESPN2 Wednesday: NC State (4-1) at Michigan State (4-1) 7:00 ESPN Boston College (4-0) at Michigan (3-3) 7:15 ESPNU Illinois (4-1) at Maryland (4-2) 7:30 ESPN2 North Carolina (5-0) at Ohio State (4-1) 9:00 ESPN Virginia Tech (2-2) at Penn State (2-3) 9:30 ESPN2