Syracuse vs Georgetown Betting Odds – Monroe lifts Hoyas to top-10 win over Syracuse
NCAA Basketball Odds: Pick Georgetown |
Online betting players always have a tough time picking in the Big East, and this year is no exception as they have four teams in the top 10. Two of those squads will face off on Thursday in the nation’s capital as Georgetown hosts Syracuse, and both teams are coming off disappointing losses as they may have been looking ahead to this showdown. Look for Georgetown’s monster in the middle to be the deciding factor in this game.
| WHAT: NCAA basketball betting |
| WHEN: Thursday, February 18, 7:00 PM ET |
| WHERE: Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. |
| KEY STAT: Syracuse has lost six of their last eight at Georgetown |
The Storyline: Syracuse vs Georgetown Betting Odds
The No.5 Orangemen (24-2, 11-2) fell back into a tie for the Big East lead with Villanova with a 66-60 loss at home to Louisville last Sunday, and the potent Syracuse offense couldn’t break down the Cardinals. The No.10 Hoyas (18-6, 8-5) were upset 71-68 at Rutgers on the same day, and it’s been an inconsistent stretch for Georgetown, who perform well against the big teams, but falter against lower competition. The Hoyas are also out to avenge a 73-56 loss to the Carrier Dome at Syracuse on January 25th.
Offensive Matchups: Syracuse vs Georgetown Betting Odds
The Orangemen are tops in the country in field-goal percentage, but they shot just 41.4% against Louisville. Wes Johnson was the biggest culprit, going 5-of-20, and you have to wonder if he is fully healthy after hurting his back a couple of weeks ago. Syracuse also ranks second in the country in assists, but they still turn the ball over a lot at 15.5 per game, and they’re 255th in the country from the foul line at 65.9%.
The Hoyas are also efficient, coming in third in field-goal percentage, and they still shot a decent 50.9% from the floor against Rutgers. But they had 14 turnovers, a problem they’ve had all season, and outside of the duo of Austin Freeman and Greg Monroe, they got little production from the rest of the team. Jason Clark and Chris Wright get open looks due to the attention that Freeman and Monroe receive, and they have to hit their shots.
Betting Edge: Syracuse
Defensive Matchups: Syracuse vs Georgetown Betting Odds
Syracuse is 16th in the nation in field-goal defense, and with their 2-3 zone, they’re fifth in steals in seventh blocks. The Orangemen are very athletic, almost too athletic to run this zone, and with Johnson and Kris Joseph on the wings, Syracuse extends their defense very well.
The Hoyas allow just 0.6 points per game more than the Orangemen at 64.9 points, and they have an excellent anchor in the middle in Monroe, who averages 9.5 boards and 1.8 blocks. This allows the Hoyas to be aggressive on the perimeter, and Wright leads the Hoyas in steals with 1.6 per game, but he has to be careful as he fouled out of a win over Villanova earlier this month.
Betting Edge: Draw
Coaching Matchup: Syracuse vs Georgetown Betting Odds
Jim Boeheim has to keep his team on track after a disappointing loss at home, and he has to be worried about Johnson’s back. Boeheim has had this team ready to go on the road this year, where they are 7-0, and he’ll have his hands full getting them ready for what will surely be a hostile environment.
The jury is out this year on John Thompson III, as he gets the Hoyas ready for games against the likes of Duke and Villanova, but then they’ll lose to Rutgers and South Florida prior to these games, which shows a lack of focus. This week, Georgetown figures to be prepared for the Orangemen.
Betting Edge: Draw
Betting Prediction: Syracuse vs Georgetown Betting Odds
Georgetown should be the sportsbook favorites at home, where they are 11-2 and have played some very good basketball against great teams. The Orangemen have dropped six of their last eight trips to Georgetown, but they have big road wins at North Carolina, West Virginia and Notre Dame. The Hoyas raced out to a 14-0 lead in the first meeting between these two before faltering, and they’ll need more out of Monroe, who had four points and four boards with six turnovers before fouling out. Georgetown also needs to be more aggressive as they attempted just 11 free throws to Syracuse, and that will definitely change at home. Ultimately though, the Hoyas’ winning chances rest with Monroe, who has the ability to dominate this game at both ends of the floor.
Washington’s Pick: Georgetown
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