PREMIUM
Rogers' EARLY UPSET CALL >> *HOT* 13-5 NCAAB Run!
(NCAAB) Syracuse vs. Notre Dame,
Point Spread: 8.00 | -106.00 Syracuse (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 8.00 | -106.00 Syracuse (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 11-8 (3-3 in ACC) Syracuse Orange will be in South Bend to take on the 16-3 (5-1 ACC) Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who are ranked 15th in the nation. Notre Dame is off its first ACC loss of the season, losing 83-80 Wednesday at No. 12 Florida State, which ended a seven-game overall winning streak. Meanwhile, the Orange remained win-less in six games away from home this season, losing 85-68 on Monday at No. 9 North Carolina.
Syracuse: The Orange were a surprise Final Four team last season (actually, most were surprised the Orange even made the NCAA field!) but it seems unlikely Syracuse will get an at-large bid this season. We are almost 20 games into the current season and Syracuse is still looking for its first win away from home this season. Syracuse's loss at North Carolina makes them 0-6 in road or neutral-court games this season, The 6-7 White, a Nebraska transfer, leads the team in scoring at 15.8 PPG and 6-9 sophomore Lydon is the team's top rebounder at 7.6 per game. Lydon is also the team's only other double digit scorer, averaging 13.7 PPG. However, freshman guard Tyus Battle (9.9) appears to be hitting his stride. He has scored at least 13 in each of the past for games games, including a career-high 21 against Boston College last Saturday, after reaching double digits in points in just three of the first 15 games. He has seven steals against only two turnovers the past two games.
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish have to be thrilled to be back home, after a three-game ACC road swing that included five charter flights and nearly 4,000 air miles over nine days. Notre Dame plays at home for the first time in two weeks.The Irish won 24 games last year, before losing in the Elite 8 and has a starting-five that includes two seniors and three juniors. PG Jackson (15.8 & 4.7 APG) and center Auguste (14.0 & 10.7) are missed from last year's team but four of five starters this year average 13.9 PPG or more. SF Colson leads in scoring (15.5) and rebounding (10.7) and is joined up front by the 6-8 Beachem (13.9 & 3.9) and the 6-10 Geben (4.2 & 4.7). SG Vasturia (15.2) and PG Farrell (14.2 & 5.5 APG) make up a terrific backcourt. The Irish are one of the nation's most efficient offensive teams, scoring 81.1 PPG on 47.0 percent shooting (including on 40.9% threes which ranks 11th) and 82.4% from the FT line to rank 1st.
The pick: Notre Dame lost at FSU, despite making 15 of 21 threes. According to College Basketball Reference, Notre Dame is the 19th team since 2010-11 to make 15 or more 3-pointers while shooting over 70 percent from the field — and the first to lose. The problem against FSU was turnovers, as Notre Dame committed a season-high 18! The Fighting Irish had entered the game averaging the second-fewest in the nation at 9.4 per game. Now here's the rub. Notre Dame seniors V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia have seen and done a lot in their collegiate careers but they've yet to beat Syracuse and are 0-3 against the Orange, who have won seven of the last eight in the series. Notre Dame is averaging 81.1 PPG but hasn't reached 80 against Syracuse since getting 87 in a seven-point loss way back in 2008. Boeheim's zone has caused nightmares for Notre Dame, as Syracuse has won the past four meetings. Upset alert? Take the points and Syracuse an 8* play.
Syracuse: The Orange were a surprise Final Four team last season (actually, most were surprised the Orange even made the NCAA field!) but it seems unlikely Syracuse will get an at-large bid this season. We are almost 20 games into the current season and Syracuse is still looking for its first win away from home this season. Syracuse's loss at North Carolina makes them 0-6 in road or neutral-court games this season, The 6-7 White, a Nebraska transfer, leads the team in scoring at 15.8 PPG and 6-9 sophomore Lydon is the team's top rebounder at 7.6 per game. Lydon is also the team's only other double digit scorer, averaging 13.7 PPG. However, freshman guard Tyus Battle (9.9) appears to be hitting his stride. He has scored at least 13 in each of the past for games games, including a career-high 21 against Boston College last Saturday, after reaching double digits in points in just three of the first 15 games. He has seven steals against only two turnovers the past two games.
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish have to be thrilled to be back home, after a three-game ACC road swing that included five charter flights and nearly 4,000 air miles over nine days. Notre Dame plays at home for the first time in two weeks.The Irish won 24 games last year, before losing in the Elite 8 and has a starting-five that includes two seniors and three juniors. PG Jackson (15.8 & 4.7 APG) and center Auguste (14.0 & 10.7) are missed from last year's team but four of five starters this year average 13.9 PPG or more. SF Colson leads in scoring (15.5) and rebounding (10.7) and is joined up front by the 6-8 Beachem (13.9 & 3.9) and the 6-10 Geben (4.2 & 4.7). SG Vasturia (15.2) and PG Farrell (14.2 & 5.5 APG) make up a terrific backcourt. The Irish are one of the nation's most efficient offensive teams, scoring 81.1 PPG on 47.0 percent shooting (including on 40.9% threes which ranks 11th) and 82.4% from the FT line to rank 1st.
The pick: Notre Dame lost at FSU, despite making 15 of 21 threes. According to College Basketball Reference, Notre Dame is the 19th team since 2010-11 to make 15 or more 3-pointers while shooting over 70 percent from the field — and the first to lose. The problem against FSU was turnovers, as Notre Dame committed a season-high 18! The Fighting Irish had entered the game averaging the second-fewest in the nation at 9.4 per game. Now here's the rub. Notre Dame seniors V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia have seen and done a lot in their collegiate careers but they've yet to beat Syracuse and are 0-3 against the Orange, who have won seven of the last eight in the series. Notre Dame is averaging 81.1 PPG but hasn't reached 80 against Syracuse since getting 87 in a seven-point loss way back in 2008. Boeheim's zone has caused nightmares for Notre Dame, as Syracuse has won the past four meetings. Upset alert? Take the points and Syracuse an 8* play.
