The #11 Virginia Cavaliers (10-3, 2-2 ACC) welcome the Syracuse Orange (10-5, 3-1 ACC) to town in a Saturday conference clash. Virginia holds an 11-6 all-time record against Syracuse that dates back to the 1983-84 season.
The ACC matchup tips off at 5 p.m. EST inside John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia. Virginia is an 11.5-point favorite, and the over/under total is 127.5 points.
What to Know – Syracuse Orange
Syracuse has had a strong start to the conference slate, winning three of its first four ACC contests. The Orange come into the weekend off back-to-back victories over Boston College (79-65) and Louisville (70-69).
Offensively, the Orange score 75.2 points per game and shoot 46% from the field and 34.5% from the 3-point line. Syracuse’s defense holds opponents to 69.1 points, 40.1% shooting from the floor, and 33.1% from the 3-point line.
Joseph Girard III leads Syracuse in scoring averaging 16.7 points per game. Girard hits 39.9% of his shots, including 37.3% of his attempts from three. Judah Mintz is next in line, pouring in 15.8 ppg, while Jesse Edwards is the third Orange averaging double-figures with 13.9 ppg.
The Orange are 7-8 against the spread this season with a 1-2 mark ATS on the road. Syracuse is 1-5 ATS in its previous six contests away from home.
What to Know – #11 Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia looks to bounce back in conference action after suffering a 68-65 defeat at the hands of Pittsburgh earlier this week. Head coach Tony Bennett is one win away from becoming UVA’s all-time winningest coach. UVA has a three-game winning streak against the Orange.
The Cavaliers average 69.8 points per game and hit 45.9% of their shots from the floor and 37.2% from deep. On defense, Virginia limits opposing teams to 59.1 points, 40.1% shooting from the field, and 33.6% shooting from three.
Points are hard to come by in the UVA offense, but the Cavaliers have an equal balancing of scoring, with three players averaging in between 11 and 12 points. The trio includes leading scorer Kihei Clark (11.9 ppg), Jayden Gardner (11.4 ppg), and Armaan Franklin (11.0 ppg).
UVA owns a 4-9 record ATS and a 1-6 showing ATS in home games. The Cavaliers are 1-6 ATS in recent conference battles.
The Pick is In
Saturday’s showdown in Charlottesville pits two of the slowest teams offensively, according to KenPom’s adjusted tempo. Expect points to be hard to come by in a low-scoring dogfight.
UVA has struggled against the spread at home, and the line here seems a bit steep for what should be a game where each team struggles to reach 70 points. Virginia has struggled this season to put quality teams away, so give us the points and the Orange, who come in riding some momentum, in this one.
The Pick: Syracuse Orange +11.5
