Syracuse vs Maryland CBB Picks
The Orange are searching for answers after 2 losses in a row. They had been playing with fire all season long but still losing against Boston College at home in overtime was a bit of a shocker. [ad-4468020]
Syracuse Orange (25-2) vs. Maryland Terrapins (15-12)
Monday February 24
Comcast Center – College Park, Maryland
7:00PM
Moneyline: No moneyline currently listed
Spread: Syracuse -3
O/U: No total currently listed
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Syracuse
Losing at Duke in a rematch was less of a surprise as they played another close game.
The more you see Syracuse the more you realize that they do not have the quality depth of some of the other elite programs.
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One of the reasons the Orange have struggled lately is that their opponents have bottled up SG Trevor Cooney.
The sophomore is averaging 13ppg but has scored just 9 total points over the two losses. That puts a lot more pressure on C.J. Fair and Tyler Ennis to score. The former can certainly handle it but Ennis is really good about not forcing the action and when his backcourt mate is getting stifled he has to push more.
Syracuse is a very good team and it looks like a gift to get them as such a small favourite. Further they are 5-1-1 ATS in road games this season.
I think the obituaries might be a little premature and Maryland is a good matchup for the Orange. Especially on defense as the Terps lack elite shooters.
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Maryland
Even though Syracuse is slumping this would still be a huge get for Maryland.
We are getting to the end of the season and the Terps are running out of chances to impress the Selection Committee but with Syracuse and then Virginia, the top two teams in the ACC visiting College Park they kind of control their own destiny. It won’t be easy but this team has been so close on many occasions this season.
Maryland has been active in the transfer market, which is where they found top scorer Dez Wells. Wells is one of 5 players averaging between 10 and 15ppg, a group that also includes Michigan transfer forward Evan Smotrycz, who is second on the Terps in rebounds.
Maryland has had some good bigs cycle though, most recently Alex Len, but right now they are very perimeter oriented.
Desperation is a powerful force but I think the Orange are going to be desperate too just in a different kind of way. If they hadn’t lost back to back the Terps might have been able to catch them off guard but now they will be getting their full attention.
Unless this noses over a single possession I would go with the visiting favourites.
Spread Pick: Syracuse -3
O/U Pick: N/A
Score Prediction: Syracuse 68 – Maryland 61
