Jim Boeheim probably never imagined that his Syracuse Orange would be wearing white jerseys anywhere along the way in the NCAA Tournament. Now, he's going to get the chance to bring out the whites a second time in the Sweet 16 when the 'Cuse take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs in a rare 10 vs. 11 game in the Midwest Region.
NCAA Tournament Odds
Gonzaga Bulldogs -4
Syracuse Orange +4
Over/Under 134
HOW THEY GOT HERE
To say that the Orange got a massive gift is an understatement. They had a tougher time with Middle Tennessee State than they probably should have, but they ultimately went on a 30-9 run to end the game. The 75-50 final was well-deserved, but by no means was that game all that close.
Still, live bettors have to like what they've seen from a thin Syracuse team down the stretch in games in this tournament. The Orange were up just 30-28 against Dayton at the break before just cruising to a 26-5 run to kick off the half over a span of 12+ minutes.
Gonzaga though, hasn't struggled at all in this tournament. The Bulldogs put away a red hot Seton Hall team with ease in the opening round, only to follow that up with a romp by 33 over a Utah club which many thought had Final Four potential this season.
Both of these teams have one thing in common right now, and that's that when they're sticking their foot on the gas pedal, they aren't letting off. It's easy to just assume in a tournament full of comebacks that at some point, the team which is behind will end up making a nice run to get back in the game, but that logic would've had you getting crushed in live betting in each of the four games involving these teams thus far in the first week of the tourney.
KEY MATCHUP
Can the Orange deal with Domantas Sabonis and Kyle Wiltjer on the inside? If they can't early, they probably aren't going to be able to figure it out over the course of the game, and that's going to be a sure sign to back the Bulldogs for yet another win.
The numbers for Sabonis and Wiltjer haven't been staggering, but their play has certainly been incredibly effective. Sabonis has 40 points and 26 boards in the two games, while Wiltjer has put up just 30 and 10 respectively. Those numbers, though good, aren't what they're both capable of putting together on a night in, night out basis.
The Orange have gotten two great games out of Tyler Roberson in the post, but he's just 6-foot-8, and he'd be giving up a ton of size to both men and a lot of speed to Wiltjer. Can Roberson clean up the glass and manage a double-double? If he can, the Orange will have a shot to hang around. If not though, Boeheim doesn't have any other options. Size has killed live bettors who have been fading the Zags thus far in March, and Syracuse doesn't have enough of it to change any of that.
KEY STATS & TRENDS
The Bulldogs might have been an 11 seed, but they sure aren't playing like it, nor have they been lined like it by the oddsmakers. It's the first time in the history of the NCAA Tournament that a double-digit seed has been favored in its first three games while playing all better-seeded teams in the process.
Syracuse has covered each of its last three games, but what's most impressive about its run in the dance is its defense. The Orange haven't allowed more than 51 points, and live bettors should note that that has equated to two under games in a tournament where overs have been all the rage.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The Sweet 16 showdown between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Syracuse Orange will start at 9:40 p.m. ET on Friday, March 25, 2016, at the United Center. The contest will be broadcast on CBS.
