News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

Georgia Tech has at least three fans from inside the ACC tonight — UNC, Virginia Tech and Virginia — for its game with Miami.

A Miami win tonight would all but give the Hurricanes the Coastal Division title. It would eliminate Virginia Tech and Virginia. A Georgia Tech win keeps five Coastal teams alive and means Virginia Tech would then control its own fate.

Remember the ACC tie-breaker starts with head-to-head results, or group record when more than two teams are involved, and then goes to division record.

On with the scenarios:

Miami wins:

Miami would be 5-2 and 4-1 in the division.

Even with a loss to N.C. State on Nov. 29, the Canes would win any three-way tie involving VT, UVa or UNC. Meaning the only way for the Canes to lose the division is to get in a head-to-head tie with UNC.

For that to happen, VT and UVa each have to lose once. Problem for UNC is VT and UVa play next week, which means one of them has to win. 

So, UNC would be reduced to having to root for Duke to beat VT and then have VT turn around and beat UVa. Or root for Clemson to beat UVa and then have UVa win at VT. If VT and UVa both win on Saturday, UNC's eliminated. Bleak.

The Miami win would eliminate VT or UVa because they beat both teams, which gives them the head-to-head tie-breaker over either, and Miami wins a three-way tie with UNC and VT or UNC and UVa based on their division record. 

In the case of a three-way tie with UNC and VT, UNC's potential 3-2 division record would eliminate the Heels leaving VT and Miami, which reverts back to the head-to-head result, a Miami win.

Georgia Tech wins:

Virginia Tech gets back in control while UNC would still need a loss by VT or UVa on Saturday.

A Georgia Tech win finishes the Yellow Jackets' ACC season at 5-3 but 2-3 in the division. They would lose any multi-team tie-breaker. They can only win the division if they are tied with only Miami or finish one game in front of the rest of the division.

If Virginia Tech wins out (Duke and UVa), the Hokies would control the most tie-breakers. They would win:

• A head-to-head with GT (beat GT)
• A three-way tie with GT and Miami (superior division record)
• A three-way tie with GT and UNC (2-0 group record)
• A four-way tie with Miami, GT, UNC (superior group record to GT and Miami, same group record as UNC, beat UNC)

If Virginia wins out (Clemson and at VT), the Cavaliers would win:

• A head-to-head with GT (beat GT)
• A four-way tie with GT, Miami and UNC (superior group record to Miami and GT, same group record as UNC, beat UNC)

If UNC wins out (State and at Duke), the Tar Heels would win:

• A head-to-head with GT (beat GT)
• A three-way tie with Miami and GT (2-0 group record):

If Miami beats N.C. State, the Canes would win:

• A three-way tie with UVa and GT (same division record as UVa, beat UVa)