The Syracuse Orange take on the Florida State Seminoles in the ACC Tournament. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
Florida State is favored by 3.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -170. The total is set at 149.5 points.
Here are my Syracuse vs. Florida State predictions and college basketball picks for March 11, 2025.
Syracuse vs Florida State Prediction
My Pick: Syracuse +3.5 (Play to +2)
My Syracuse vs Florida State best bet is on the Orange spread, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Syracuse vs Florida State Odds, Spread, Pick
| Syracuse Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 149.5 -110o / -110u | +145 |
| Florida State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 149.5 -110o / -110u | -170 |
- Syracuse vs Florida State spread: Florida State -3.5
- Syracuse vs Florida State over/under: 151.5 points
- Syracuse vs Florida State moneyline: Florida State -170, Syracuse +145
- Syracuse vs Florida State best bet: Syracuse +3.5 (Play to +2)
My Syracuse vs Florida State College Basketball Betting Preview
The ACC Tournament begins on Tuesday, and it could be the final game of Leonard Hamilton's career if Florida State can't pick up a win over Syracuse.
The Seminoles will look to fluster Cuse's diminutive backcourt with intense length. The Orange have smaller guards in J.J. Starling and Jaquan Carlos, and Florida State has an entire lineup with 6-foot-5 or taller players.
That isn't a surefire thing to hurt the Orange, though. Virginia just beat Florida State with smaller guards a few weeks ago.
I won't let Florida State beating SMU to finish the season change my view on what this game will look like. The Seminoles aren't a great team and are pretty bad if they aren't forcing turnovers.
Florida State's turnover rate is down to 18% (252nd nationally) since Feb. 1 and is down 19.6% for the year (66th nationally).
The Seminoles excel at getting free throws, posting a 39.3 free throw rate since Feb. 1, which ranks 45th. Star wing Jamir Watkins is the main culprit, ranking top-75 in free throw rate.
I've never understood this Florida State roster. Daquan Davis is the only real guard option in the lineup and he missed Florida State's season finale. If he can't go, then I have no clue how the Noles operate in the half-court or late in games.
That will put a ton of pressure on Malique Ewin to initiate everything offensively or Watkins to erupt for a 30+ point game.
I have one major matchup advantage I love for the Orange. They should dominate on the offensive glass, as they have a 35% offensive rebounding rate since Feb. 1 (39th nationally).
Despite Florida State's size advantage, it struggles on the glass (304th in defensive rebounding rate) due to its consistent ball pressure.
Syracuse has looked really good offensively in its last 10 games, ranking 40th in offensive efficiency. A lot of the success stems from the Orange shooting the ball at a 38% clip from downtown.
Starling is a pretty poor shooter percentage-wise, but he's a lethal scorer. The shooters are Lucas Taylor at 40%, Chris Bell at 36% and Jyare Davis, who's capable if left open.
Eddie Lampkin Jr. should be pivotal in this game, too. He has to defend in space a bit versus the athletic Ewin, but he should dominate on the glass. Florida State has zero answers to move the big man, who's posted double-doubles in three of his last four games.
Lampkin is fresh off a 25-point outing on 11-of-12 shooting versus Virginia, and he's the most important player on this Cuse roster.
I'm prioritizing offense for this handicap. I don't see the Noles beating Cuse if it doesn't turn the ball over, which is something Cuse can do, posting a 17% turnover rate. But that's the only way I can see Florida State winning, and even then, the Orange's rebounding could offset some of the giveaways.
