The Florida State Seminoles’ unbelievable run finally ran out of steam last time out as they were upset in a laugher by Georgia Tech. But the Seminoles have proven a lot in the last few weeks and will aim to get back on track against the Syracuse Orange.
Florida State is in the mix for ACC supremacy but has to play well as a bunch of other elite teams are also within striking distance. Syracuse, meanwhile, is simply hoping to play well enough to get into the conversation to make the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
The ACC is tough enough where the Orange don’t need a great record, but at only three games over .500 currently they need to turn it on, and this would be a huge win.
This war on the floor will go down Saturday, January 28, 2017, at 12 p.m. ET at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Saturday schedule.
Odds at BookMaker.eu
Florida State is 18-3 straight up and 13-8 against the spread. The Seminoles have played in three road games and have only covered in one of them. Florida State is 12-7 against the spread as the favorite this year.
Syracuse is 12-9 straight up and 7-9 against the spread. The Orange have played nine home games this season and have fared really well there, covering nine times. It’s been a stark difference from road games in which Syracuse has failed to cover in five attempts.
Syracuse has gone just 1-4 against the spread as the underdog this season and they will be getting points in this one.
Player to Watch
Andrew White III – The senior guard has been leading Syracuse all season and he comes into this matchup off a big game against Wake Forest. White finished with a season-high 27 points and five rebounds in his team’s 81-76 victory on January 24th.
White is averaging 16.3 points per game this season. Tuesday's performance marked his fifth game of the season where he has scored 20 points or more and he’s due for a big game on a big stage like this against Florida State.
White averaging 15 points a game against ranked opponents this season, just a notch below his season average. He will need to be a his best Saturday for Syracuse to stay competitive in this one.
Key Stat
22. That’s how many points unranked Georgia Tech beat Florida State by on Wednesday. The Seminoles are going to be eager to bounce back this weekend against Syracuse after a game like that.
The loss could very well have been the result of fatigue for Florida State, which entered the matchup after a six-game stretch against nationally ranked opponents like Duke, Virginia and Louisville. Nonetheless it was a stunning result, especially considering the Seminoles went 5-1 in that aforementioned stretch with the only loss coming to No. 11 North Carolina on January 14th.
Wednesday’s loss was the second big upset of the season for Florida State. The team also fell 89-86 to Temple back in November.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Florida State’s impressive run springboarded it all the way up to No. 6 in the country, but the loss to the Yellow Jackets will hurt. The Seminoles will aim to stop the bleeding in this one.
They are trailing North Carolina in the ACC despite the impressive stretch and needs to win these tough games in order to stay in the chase.
Syracuse has not beaten a ranked team this season and does not look like the perennial power it has usually been. The Orange will look to Tyler Lydon to help out White as both need to have a big game against a defense which can be stingy.
The Seminoles had their eyes opened last time out and should be able to bounce back with an important road win, but watch the spread because Syracuse makes sense as a home cover.
College Basketball Odds: Florida State 73, Syracuse 70
BookMaker.eu 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.eu!
