PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* Monday MASSACRE >> *HOT* 17-9-1 Run! 2-0 SWEEP in NCAAB Sunday!
(NCAAB) Syracuse vs. North Carolina,
Point Spread: -13.50 | -106.00 North Carolina (Home)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -13.50 | -106.00 North Carolina (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: North Carolina ended FSU's 12-game winning streak with a 96-83 win over the Seminoles on Saturday. North Carolina is now 16-3 (4-1 in ACC play) and is expected to move into the AP's top-10 (currently at No. 11) in Monday's new poll. Syracuse comes to Chapel Hill 11-7 (3-2 in ACC play) for a rematch of last year's national semifinal game, in which the Tar Heels beat the Orange 83-66.
Syracuse: The Orange were a surprise Final Four team last season (actually, most were surprised the Orange even made the NCAA field!) but it seems unlikely Syracuse will get an at-large bid this season. We are almost 20 games into the current season and Syracuse is still looking for its first win away from home this season. The 6-7 White, a Nebraska transfer, leads the team in scoring at 15.8 PPG and 6-9 sophomore Lydon is the team's top rebounder at 7.6 per game. Lydon is also the team's only other double digit scorer, averaging 13.0 PPG. However, freshman guard Tyus Battle (9.7) appears to be hitting his stride. He has scored at least 13 in each of the past three games, including a career-high 21 against Boston College on Saturday, after reaching double digits in points in just three of the first 15 games.Syracuse averages 76.3 PPG (13th) and will have a difficult time trading points with the high-scoring Tar Heels.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels' offense rarely takes a backseat to any team, as North Carolina is averaging 89.6 PPG (4th) and has scored at least 90 points 11 times this season, after scoring 93 in Saturday's 12-point win over FSU. 6-10 freshman Tony Bradley (8.1 & 5.9) suffered a concussion Wednesday and did not play on Saturday. He may be out again here and is a loss but a frontcourt of Jackson (17.9 & 4.8), Hicks (12.7 & 5.3) and Meeks (12.5 & 9.5) plus a backcourt of Berry (16.2 & 4.4 APG) and Williams (7.1) should be just fine. Help was received Saturday from versatile 6-6 junior swingman Theo Pinson, who gave the Tar Heels a big boost off the bench with 12 points and 10 rebounds against Florida State in his first major contribution since returning from October foot surgery.
The pick: Syracuse has lost all five of its road or neutral-court games this season, including its only contest against a ranked team, a 77-60 defeat at No. 17 Wisconsin on Nov. 29. That margin seems about right in this one. Make North Carolina a 10* play.
Syracuse: The Orange were a surprise Final Four team last season (actually, most were surprised the Orange even made the NCAA field!) but it seems unlikely Syracuse will get an at-large bid this season. We are almost 20 games into the current season and Syracuse is still looking for its first win away from home this season. The 6-7 White, a Nebraska transfer, leads the team in scoring at 15.8 PPG and 6-9 sophomore Lydon is the team's top rebounder at 7.6 per game. Lydon is also the team's only other double digit scorer, averaging 13.0 PPG. However, freshman guard Tyus Battle (9.7) appears to be hitting his stride. He has scored at least 13 in each of the past three games, including a career-high 21 against Boston College on Saturday, after reaching double digits in points in just three of the first 15 games.Syracuse averages 76.3 PPG (13th) and will have a difficult time trading points with the high-scoring Tar Heels.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels' offense rarely takes a backseat to any team, as North Carolina is averaging 89.6 PPG (4th) and has scored at least 90 points 11 times this season, after scoring 93 in Saturday's 12-point win over FSU. 6-10 freshman Tony Bradley (8.1 & 5.9) suffered a concussion Wednesday and did not play on Saturday. He may be out again here and is a loss but a frontcourt of Jackson (17.9 & 4.8), Hicks (12.7 & 5.3) and Meeks (12.5 & 9.5) plus a backcourt of Berry (16.2 & 4.4 APG) and Williams (7.1) should be just fine. Help was received Saturday from versatile 6-6 junior swingman Theo Pinson, who gave the Tar Heels a big boost off the bench with 12 points and 10 rebounds against Florida State in his first major contribution since returning from October foot surgery.
The pick: Syracuse has lost all five of its road or neutral-court games this season, including its only contest against a ranked team, a 77-60 defeat at No. 17 Wisconsin on Nov. 29. That margin seems about right in this one. Make North Carolina a 10* play.
