Pitt vs Syracuse Odds, Prediction
| Pitt Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
PK -110 | 146.5 -110o / -110u | -110 |
| Syracuse Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
PK -110 | 146.5 -110o / -110u | -110 |
ACC play continues Saturday afternoon as Syracuse hosts Pittsburgh at the JMA Wireless Dome in New York.
Both teams hold 9-3 records, although they've taken different paths to get here, and this should be a fun game to watch and bet on.
Pittsburgh opened the season with four consecutive victories, and its offense appeared to be one of the most explosive units in the sport, scoring 86 points or more in all four contests.
But following the hot start, Pitt lost three of its next four, falling to Florida, Missouri and Clemson. The Panthers enter this game off another four-game winning streak, but none of the wins have come against quality opponents. They could use a marquee win for resume purposes.
Syracuse did not look the part of a competitive team in the Maui Invitational, getting blown out by Tennessee and Gonzaga before picking up its only win at the event over Chaminade. The Orange followed that up with a blowout road loss to Virginia in their only ACC contest this season.
But since then, they've turned a corner, picking up four straight wins by double digits against Cornell, Georgetown, Oregon and Niagara.
Both teams would love a win, but what's the best bet?
Pitt Panthers
While Pitt started the season making every shot, the Panthers are defense-first.
The Panthers own the nation's 41st-ranked defense compared to the 61st-ranked offense.
The defense is fantastic at limiting opponents from making 3s. Opposing offenses are shooting just 25% from deep against Pitt, a mark that would lead to plenty of wins in ACC play if it holds.
Carlton "Bub" Carrington is among the best freshmen in college basketball, and he runs the show in the Pittsburgh backcourt. Carrington's success was a large part of the hot start to the season, but he's cooled off recently, scoring just five points in multiple games this month.
Syracuse Orange
Carrington must play his best to keep up with Syracuse's explosive backcourt.
Judah Mintz and JJ Starling are as talented as any guard combo.
Mintz has seven games with 20 or more points. He is a three-level scorer who lives at the charity stripe. When Starling gets hot alongside him, there are few answers for opposing defenses. Starling opened this season making just one of his first 18 shots from deep, but he's 8-17 from 3 (47%) in his past five.
Syracuse is undefeated at home this season, 6-0. All three of the Orange's losses this year have come to KenPom top-34 teams, and Pitt currently ranks 45th.
Pitt vs. Syracuse
Betting Pick & Prediction
Given Syracuse's success at home, it's surprising to see this game listed as a PK.
Pitt is 9-0 vs. teams ranked outside the top 100 but 0-3 against top 100 teams.
Syracuse cracks the list at 86th, and I'm betting the Orange keep their perfect home record alive on Saturday.
Pick: Syracuse ML (-110)
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