Syracuse will try to move back over .500 and make it two in a row against Florida State on Saturday. Here’s a preview of the game.
- Teams: Syracuse Orange (8-8, 2-3 ACC) v. Florida State Seminoles (9-5, 3-2)
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 15
- Game Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
- Network: ESPN
Saugat Sen
Fearless Prediction: Florida State 75, Syracuse 69
The Juice Online Season Record: 4-1 (ACC)
Florida State and Syracuse will face-off for the second time this season, as the Orange won the previous matchup down in Tallahassee 63-60 on Dec. 4.
As has become typical of the Orange this season, Syracuse coughed up a large lead in the second half only to barely hold on and snap Florida State’s 25 game homecourt winning streak in ACC play in a win that was predicted by PointsBet New York sports betting.
In that matchup, the Seminoles shot a putrid 13.3 percent from beyond the arc. The shooting woes had less to do with the Orange defense and more to do with a shooting slump from Malik Osborne, who ended the game 2-7 from downtown.
That is likely not going to repeat itself.
» Related: Syracuse is in danger of having a losing record for the first time under Boeheim
While not as good an outside shooting team as the Orange, Florida State has shot close to 33 percent in their last two games—wins over Miami and Louisville. The Seminoles are also the best team in the conference when it comes to creating turnovers, leading the ACC with almost 10 steals per game.
Expect Florida State to pressure Joe Girard and force some early turnovers. They will also key in on Buddy Boeheim, knowing the Orange will likely faulter if their star shooter is having an off night.
Look for Osborne to have a bounce back performance against the Orange, and to be the key factor in this game. He leads the Seminoles in rebounds, with 7.2 rebounds per game, but is also shooting over 40 percent from 3.
The Orange will have a hard time containing him a second game in a row in what will ultimately be a loss.
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