Providence Friars at Syracuse Orange

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Syracuse Orange (-13)
Game Total Line: (153)
(wagering lines available at 5Dimes)

The Providence Friars open up their Big East schedule with a stern test when they travel to the Carrier Dome this Tuesday night to take on the No. 5 Syracuse Orange. Tip-off for this one is scheduled for 9 p.m. and the game will be broadcast of ESPNU.

Providence did not figure to be one of the favorites to win its conference this season, but an impressive 11-2 start straight-up (5-4 against the spread) has some thinking the Friars might be able to make a little noise in the Big East this year.

Syracuse will be the first ranked opponent they have faced so far, but they do have a 91-64 win over Brown as a 16 ½-point home favorite and an 82-70 victory over Alabama as a 5 ½-point home favorite in their last two games with a posted line. They also came close to upsetting Boston College as a seven-point road underdog in an 88-86 loss in early December.

Senior guard Marshon Brooks has been a stud so far for Providence; averaging 23.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in the first 13 games. Sophomore guard Vincent Council is the team’s second leading scorer with 16 points per game and sophomore forward Bilal Dixon leads the team in rebounds with 9.2 per game. The Friars are averaging 81 points a game and shooting 45.6 percent from the field.

Syracuse is second highest ranked team in the Big East behind No. 4 Connecticut and are one of five teams in the conference currently ranked in the top 10.The Orange come into this game with a perfect 13-0 record SU (4-7 ATS) including a 78-52 win over then-No. 8 Michigan State as a four-point underdog earlier this month. Last time out they rolled over Drexel 93-65 as a 13-point home favorite.

Kris Joseph, Rick Jackson, and Scoop Jardine are a very talented trio of players responsible for much of Syracuse’s success so far. Joseph, a junior forward, is averaging 14 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while Jackson, a senior forward, is averaging 13.9 points and leading the team in rebounds with 11.8 per game. Junior guard Scoop Jardine is averaging 13.3 points per game and leading in assists with 5.9.

The Orange are shooting 47.8 percent from the field and are hitting 33.5 percent of their shots from three-point range. As a team, they are averaging 77 points per game.

Providence is 1-2 ATS in its last three games on the road but 4-0 ATS in its last four games overall. The total has gone ‘over’ in its last seven games with a posted total line.

Syracuse is 3-5 ATS in its last eight home games and 3-2 ATS in its last five games overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in five of its last eight games.

Head-to-head, the Orange have won six out of the last seven games and are 6-1 ATS as well. Last season, Syracuse won 85-68 has a 14 ½-point home favorite in early February and won 99-85 as an eight-point road favorite later the same month.

Against the Spread Game Pick

It's going to be tough for the Friars to stay within 20 points in this road tilt. The current betting line of 13 points gives us enough value to bite on the Orange.
Take Syracuse -13 at 5Dimes where you can get reduced juice on this game!