On a cold December evening that pits N.C. State and Clemson, ESPN’s Dick Vitale excels as a college hoops analyst. His genuine enthusiasm makes the smaller games feel bigger.

Vitale’s test-driven, hyper-charged shtick is beloved by college kids. But for people who are long out of school, it gets a little old.

Packer doesn’t do shtick, but he does do outspokenness. His agenda annoys some, but analysts are paid for their opinions. Packer gives plenty.

Vitale and Packer both are prone to lionize instead of lambaste coaches. That hurts their overall games. Without some criticism, praise loses its luster.

Overall, Matchup board members had extremely strong opinions about these two analysts. The Matchup enjoys Vitale’s real enthusiasm, but that enthusiasm sometimes obstructs a big game, and he fails to turn it down a gear in such spots.

Meanwhile, Packer lets a game breath more, giving him the slight edge, and the Matchup win.