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NCAA Hoops Predictions: Fighting Irish vs. Orange Preview

Previews of a great college basketball matchup on tap for Saturday night. We’ve got the free winning pick for Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Syracuse Orange. Get the best College Basketball Picks in the industry with CappersPicks.com…

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Syracuse Orange | Free Pick (January 1)

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Fighting Irish vs Orange Matchup

Notre Dame 12-1 (5-3 ATS) vs Syracuse 14-0 (4-8 ATS)
Saturday January 1 – 3:30PM
Recent history: Syracuse won last year 84-71 at Notre Dame
Notre Dame vs. Syracuse Odds
Notre Dame: +6.5
Syracuse: -6.5
Total: 142

They don’t always look it but with a 12-1 record I have to admit this a pretty good Notre Dame team.  After losing leading scorer and rebounder Luke Harangody to graduation they are a much more balanced team that puts out reliable scorers at most of the starting spots.  They are also a team with good size, surrounding guard Ben Hansbrough with four players who are all 6’8″.  

After operating at a slow pace last year this team has upped it this year and with their good shooting they have become one of the higher scoring teams in the nation at just over 80ppg.  

Their one loss was to Kentucky but they have also collected quality wins along the way, most notably a home upset of Georgetown in their Big East opener just a few days ago.  Now they have to travel to Syracuse to play another Big East power.  That is life in the toughest conference in America.

Syracuse is off to a perfect start so far despite losing key pieces from their #1 seeded tournament team of a year ago.  

Their schedule to date has been kind of soft and outside of a win against Michigan State the Orange have struggled some, hence their poor ATS record.  They are getting almost nothing out of highly touted freshman Fab Melo but thankfully senior forward Rick Jackson has increased his production big time, averaging a double-double so far.  

With their trademark 2-3 zone the Orange have been stifling opponents giving up just over 60ppg.  

Facing an ND team full of shooters will test their defensive proficiency but it is very hard for opponents to win at the Carrier Dome which is one of the biggest on campus basketball venues in the country.

Syracuse is also undefeated in league play so far (they beat Providence in their opener) and this game is a big one in determining the league hierarchy in the early going.

Betting Trends:

Fighting Irish are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 vs. Big East.
Fighting Irish are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Fighting Irish are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 road games.
Orange are 19-9 ATS in their last 28 vs. Big East.
Orange are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 home games.

Free Fighting Irish vs Orange CBB Pick

I just don’t see ND storming in and upsetting the Orange but this should be a very tight game.  Syracuse has better depth and has the advantage of waking up in their own beds on New Year’s morning.

Score prediction:  Syracuse 77 – Notre Dame 74

(odds courtesy of BetUS – BET NOW Click Here!)