NCAA Basketball Matchup: Eastern Michigan Eagles vs Syracuse Orange
Syracuse has been getting media coverage for all the wrong reasons lately. Assistant coach Bernie Fine was fired Sunday, and the investigation continues into the alleged sexual crimes.
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College Basketball Gambling Odds from BetOnline
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Syracuse -28.5
Over/Under: 129
On the court, the Orange have been terrific so far this year.
Syracuse is 6-0 and ranked third in the nation.
Eastern Michigan is 4-2, but they were blown out of the water on Sunday by Michigan State. What should you expect in tonight’s matchup?
Eastern Michigan lost Brandon Bowdry from last year’s squad, and that was a major loss.
Bowdry was the team’s heart and soul. The Eagles offense is searching for a leader this year, but they have struggled mightily thus far.
Eastern Michigan ranks 323rd out of 345 teams in points per game at 57.8.
The defense is only giving up 58.8 points per game, but that is largely due to the fact that Eastern Michigan slows the tempo down quite a bit. Can the Eagles hold down a much improved Syracuse offense? [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Syracuse struggled in half-court offensive sets last year. It seems the team has made a bit of an adjustment this year.
This year’s team is getting out in transition much more often than they have in the past. Syracuse has plenty of athleticism all over the floor, so I believe the change to a faster pace is a positive for this group.
Syracuse is scoring 83 points per game so far this year. The team has five players averaging 9 points or more per contest. Kris Joseph gives the team a versatile forward who is a matchup problem for just about anyone. Dion Waiters has stepped up and become an offensive force in the backcourt.
I don’t like laying big numbers too often, but this is a massive mismatch. Look for Syracuse to thump Eastern Michigan and cover the spread.
Prediction: Syracuse 84 Eastern Michigan 51
