South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Syracuse Orange Betting Preview
Where: Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY
When: Saturday, November 26, 2016 – 2:00 PM ET
Line: South Carolina Game Cocks (TBA) vs. Syracuse Orange (TBA); total: TBA– view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ACC Network
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Betting on the South Carolina Gamecocks (TBA)
After countless years of being whipping boys in college basketball, the Gamecocks are continuing to raise their image. The team has now started 5-0 (3-2 ATS) in back-to-back seasons, and it appears that they’re getting better.
One of the things they have vastly improved on is defense. They are just giving up 58 ppg this season, which was 13 points lower from last year, allowing them to have the 25th-ranked defense in the nation. Shots are being defended tremendously as well, as their opponents are only 87-for-269 overall (32.3 percent).
On offense, Sindarius Thornwell has answered the call to be the new go-to guy. He’s leading the way in scoring with a 20.8 ppg average, while also being one of the best rebounding guards today (7.2 rpg). The senior has led in points in each of their five games this season.
In the 61-46 win against Michigan this past Wednesday, Thornwell filled it up from everywhere, going for 21 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and three blocks, and shot 67-percent from the field. It will be hard to assume that he’ll be as productive over a sturdy Syracuse D, but he is sure to pose a big challenge.
Betting on the Syracuse Orange (TBA)
Despite losing their top three scorers from last year, Syracuse has raced into a 4-0 card, and even appear to be better than last year’s talent-filled team (not that the current roster isn’t talented).
What Jim Boehim and his boys are building on is their balanced play on both sides of the floor. With an offensive and defensive rating that ranks inside the top 10, the group is slowly putting everyone on notice.
Through four games, the Orange are putting up 86.3 points on the board, while limiting opponents to the 52.5 mark, obliterating their foes by an average of 33 points per game. Their field goal percentage is also way up there, as they are making 57.1-percent of their shots from two, and 44.6-percent from downtown.
Like South Carolina, they are also defending the shots of their opponents impressively. No one is yet surpass the 31-percent mark this season.
As they go up against a D that’s on their level Saturday, leading scorers Andrew White III (17.3 ppg) and Tyler Roberson (12.3 ppg) will have to be extra aggressive. Expect a Syracuse team that’s eager for another all-around game, as they are coming off a game where six guys scored in double figures.
Syracuse has won four straight games as favorites (4-0 ATS).
Writer’s Prediction
Syracuse wins, 91-82.
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