Syracuse Orange vs. Wisconsin Badgers Preview
Where: Kohl Center — Madison, Wisconsin
When: Tuesday, November 29, 7:30 PM ET
Line: Syracuse Orange (+6) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (-6) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN / WatchESPN
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Betting on the Syracuse Orange (+6)
Syracuse, as expected, dropped a few spots in the latest AP poll after being served its first loss of the season against South Carolina last Saturday, 64-50.
It was an ugly offensive outing for the Orange, who collectively shot 31.8 percent from the floor and never got a taste of the lead. A big credit also goes to the Gamecocks’ defense for making the necessary stops with 12 steals and forcing 17 turnovers on the ‘Cuse.
Sophomore Tyler Lydon led Syracuse in scoring with a season-best 18 points, while the pair of Andrew White III and Frank Howard added 10 points apiece.
Now the Orange turn their focus on No. 17 Wisconsin tonight—their first game versus a ranked opponent. The Badgers bested the Syracuse in overtime in last season’s meeting, 66-58, a game in which Jim Boeheim’s troops struggled to buy any baskets (36 FG%).
Saturday’s loss was a good lesson for the Orange, though. They should be able to correct all, if not some their mistakes this time and, most importantly, drain shots. White III, who played for Nebraska last year, scored 10 points in each of his two games against Wisconsin last season.
Betting on the Wisconsin Badgers (-6)
Wisconsin’s two losses this season have come against Creighton and North Carolina; a pair of games that could have turned into signature wins for them. The Badgers have another chance to get one—and finally impress voters—with a win versus No. 22 Syracuse later tonight.
Bronson Koenig, Ethan Happ and Nigel Hayes have turned into a fearsome trio that second-year head coach Greg Gard expected them to be. Koenig has led the way thus far with nearly 15 points per contest, while the other two are pitching in at least 11 points apiece.
Sophomore guard Khalil Iverson, meanwhile, has become an essential contributor for a Wisconsin offense that accumulates 73.3 points per game this season. He’s scored 10 or more points off the bench in three of the team’s first seven games.
Defensively, the Badgers should be able to force Syracuse to a lot of contested and low-percentage shots. They’ve given up no more than 62 points in three of their last five games, including just 50 points on 37.3 percent shooting in Sunday’s blowout victory over Prairie View A&M.
Writer’s Prediction
Wisconsin (-6) wins it, 74-65.
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