Syracuse Vs. Virginia Preview And Live Stream Link: Cavaliers Can Clinch Conference And Get First Big Win Of The Year Today
By#12 Virginia (24-5, 15-1) might have the best record for a major conference team with the least number of impressive wins. They've beaten just one team that's currently ranked, #23 SMU (22-6, 11-4) , and one team that was ranked at the time the two played, then #18 Pittsburg (21-7, 9-6). Fortunately (or possibly unfortunately), they play #6 Duke (23-6, 12-4) and #4 Syracuse (26-2, 13-2) once each this year. They've already lost to Duke, 69-65, but the Cavaliers get a chance to add some beef to their resume with a win today (4:00 pm EST ESPN) at home against the Orange. If they do, they'll clinch the regular season conference schedule.
Today's meeting should not only be close (the Orange are 3.5 point underdogs), but low-scoring as Virginia's top ranked defense and 294th ranked offense challenges Syracuse's seventh ranked defense and 242nd ranked offense.
I was contemplating picking Syracuse with a 1-2 point spread. Now that they have 3.5 points to lose by, I obviously won't be able to resist. Maybe I'm behind the times (Vegas seems to think I am), but I've watched the Orange play at least three or four times this year (including the Villanova blowout). As is their M.O., the Orange are as talented as anybody (at least three first round draft picks in the starting five), but, also as usual, they don't have the most complex offensive scheme. Thus, they're vulnerable at times. Still, this is a 26-2 team struggling at either the right or wrong time (meaning perhaps they might learn from their previous two losses and other close games for the upcoming ACC and NCAA tournaments). I won't turn my back on them yet. 'Cuse for the cover.
For live stream, try watchespn
Record: 21-31 (late season push!)
Butler @ Creighton: L (picked Butler, +10.5)
UConn @ Memphis: L (picked Memphis, -7.5)
Depaul @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -17.5)
Pittsburg @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -5.5)
Creighton @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)
Baylor @ Kansas: W (picked Baylor, + 10.5)
Indiana @ Michigan State: L (picked Michigan State, -12)
Iowa @ Michigan: L (picked Iowa, + 1.5)
Colorado @ Arizona: W (picked Colorado, + 14.5)
Illinois @ Ohio State: W (picked Illinois, + 11)
Michigan @ Michigan State: W (picked Michigan, + 4.5)
Villanova @ Marquette: W (picked Villanova, -3)
Utah @ Arizona: W (picked Utah, + 15)
Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State: W (picked Oklahoma, + 4.5)
Villanova @ Georgetown: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)
Michigan State @ Iowa: W (picked Michigan State, + 5)
St. John's @ Creighton: W (picked St. John's, + 12)
Iowa State @ Kansas: L (picked Iowa State, + 8.5)
Syracuse @ Wake Forest: L (picked Syracuse, -10)
Purdue @ Michigan: L (picked Michigan, -12)
Florida @ Mississippi State: W (picked Miss. State, + 15)
Duke @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -3)
Xavier @ Villanova: L (picked Xavier, + 10)
Nebraska @ Michigan: L (picked Nebraska, + 13)
Boston College @ Virginia: L (picked Virginia, -13)
Oregon @ Arizona: L (picked Arizona, -11)
Oklahamo State @ Texas Tech: W (picked Texas Tech, + 6.5)
West Virginia @ Kansas: L (picked WVU, + 14)
Maryland @ Virginia: L (picked Virginia, -11)
Iowa State @ West Virginia: L (picked Iowa State, - 1.5)
Michigan @ Ohio State: L (picked Ohio State, -3.5)
Florida @ Tennessee: W (picked Florida, - 1.5)
Syracuse @ Pittsburg: W (picked Syracuse, + 2.5 -- absurd line)
Villanova @ Depaul: W (picked Villanova, -14)
Creighton @ Butler: L (picked Creighton, -8.5)
West Virginia @ Texas: W (picked Texas, -6)
Florida @ Kentucky: L (picked Kentucy, -2)
VCU @ Saint Louis: W (picked VCU, +4.5)
Villanova @ Creighton: L (picked Villanova, -3.5)
Texas @ Iowa State: L (picked Texas, +6)
Villanova @ Providence: L (picked Villanova, -4.5)
Wichita State @ Loyola: L (picked Loyola, + 13.5)
Creighton @ Marquette: W (picked Creighton, -3)
Gonzaga @ BYU: L (picked Gonzaga, +2)
Duke @ North Carolina: L (picked Duke, -2)
St. John's @ Villanova: W (picked St. John's, + 8.5)
Seton Hall @ Creighton: L (picked Creighton, -13.5)
Syracuse @ Maryland: L (picked Syracuse, -4.5
Indiana @ Wisconsin: W (picked Wisconsin, -10.5)
Butler @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -14.5)
North Carolina @ North Carolina State: L (picked UNC, -4)
Arkansas @ Kentucky: W (picked Arkansas, + 10.5)