The Syracuse Orange and Pittsburgh Panthers are used to playing against each other, first as rivals from the Big East and now as ACC foes. Both of these teams seem like they're going to be bound for the tourney this year, but a good start in conference play for both is crucial as we finish up the calendar year.
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HOW THE SYRACUSE ORANGE CAN COVER THE SPREAD
The Orange are still without the suspended Jim Boeheim, and this is going to be the test of all tests without him. It's the first ACC road game, and it comes at a time when the team hasn't played well against tougher competition, losing to St. John's and Georgetown during this suspension.
Here's the good news, though. Trevor Cooney and Michael Gbinije are both fifth-year players, and there's plenty of experience in games like this one. Syracuse is going to have to rely heavily upon its two super veterans who also happen to be the top scorers on the team at 13.5 and 18.6 points per game respectively.
The 2-3 zone has historically given teams fits this time of year, and the Orange aren't going to be able to deviate a heck of a lot from it without Boeheim calling the shots on the bench. That means rebounding the basketball is crucial. Syracuse is going to have to get a little lucky here as well, knowing that Jamel Artis and James Robinson can take over a game with three-point shooting if given the chance to do so.
HOW THE PITTSBURGH PANTHERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
For our money, the Panthers have to figure out how to force the ball into the hands of some of the Orange’s less experienced players. Malachi Richardson has all the talent in the world, but in the two losses without Boeheim, he shot a combined 5-for-28 from the field.
Artis is the man who is going to be a matchup nightmare in this game. The junior has historically ripped the Orange, and he's had a few games this year which remind you just how special of a player he really is. He put up 29 against Western Carolina just before Christmas, as an example, and without his efforts, the Panthers would've been beaten as 20.5-point favorites.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Home court advantage is massive this time of year, and though the Panthers were able to steal a game at the Carrier Dome last year, that came after the sanctions were handed out banning Syracuse from postseason play. The home team had won five of the previous six meetings, and we have to think that's going to end up being the case again in this NCAAB game.
That said, don't expect a runaway. The last nine meetings between these rivals have been decided by no more than 10 points, and the two games last year combined were only decided by a total of 10.
However, we just have a little more confidence in the men Pittsburgh will have on the court at the end of a close game at home than the men Syracuse will be trotting out there on the road in the same spot, and that's why we think the Panthers are going to come away with a victory to just barely nip this spread.
Pittsburgh 66, Syracuse 60
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