NCAA Vegas Prediction: Georgetown Hoyas at Syracuse Orange
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
The number of games in this classic Big East rivalry is dwindling, but the intensity will be high when No. 2 Syracuse Orange welcomes No. 11 Georgetown Hoyas.
This is their first matchup since the Orange declared they would be leaving for the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014. More than 30,000 fans are expected to pack the Carrier Dome, where the Orange have won 18 straight since losing to Georgetown 64-56 last season.
The Hoyas are riding several streaks of their own, including four consecutive wins over top-20 teams and back-to-back games of allowing 45 points or less.
Holding Syracuse to anywhere near that total seems far fetched: the Orange boast the top scoring offense in the Big East (78.1) and are coming off a 95-70 drubbing of St. John's in which five players reached double figures.
- Georgetown Hoyas @ Syracuse Orange
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Where: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
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Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Orange listed as 9-point favorites versus the Hoyas.
Georgetown Hoyas (18-4): The Hoyas solved the Orange 2-3 zone in their last trip to the Dome by penetrating and passing to the top of the key, then dishing for open looks and cuts to the basket. Point guard Chris Wright had nine assists and Georgetown shot 42.1 percent from beyond the arc. This season, though, the Hoyas' top assist man has been center Henry Sims, who does not possess the floor vision nor quick recognition that Wright did a year ago. Plus, the Hoyas will have to deal with 7-foot center Fab Melo, who played just three minutes in that loss as a freshman.
Syracuse Orange (23-1): Distribution will be just as vital for Syracuse. But the Orange have a point guard who excels in the open floor and half court. Scoop Jardine dished out 13 assists against three turnovers in two matchups with the Hoyas last season. Georgetown has held its last two opponents under 32 percent shooting by focusing on a pair of key scorers. Against Syracuse, a team that goes 10-deep, the Hoyas will have to defend all five positions.
1. Georgetown ranks second in defensive rebounding (39.9) in the Big East. Syracuse lost the battle of the boards by a double-digit margin in two of three games before playing a small St. John’s team last weekend.
2. The Orange are hitting just 30 percent on 3-pointers in Big East play; leading scorer Kris Joseph is 9 for his last 40.
3. Georgetown’s young backcourt has lost the turnover battle in three straight games against ranked teams. Syracuse leads the conference in steals and turnover margin.
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Orange 72, Hoyas 64.
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carrier dome - chris wright - fab melo - georgetown hoyas - henry sims - kris joseph - scoop jardine - syracuse orange
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