Dayton has seen few zones this year but struggled in losing to Chattanooga and looking ugly against a really bad La Salle team twice. Syracuse is tougher on defense than both of them.

Syracuse has shooters to neutralize the edge Dayton has down low. Yet again, the consensus team that did not deserve to make it will shut up the critics. The Orange has some instability with the Boeheim suspension, but will take advantage of a second life.

Syracuse opened as a favorite in most shops. Oh those oddsmakers made the three-seeds lower team the favorite for a reason. The fact squares bought into the media hate and made them the slight puppies makes it more enticing.