Big East Betting Battle – Villanova vs. Syracuse
by Tim Furious
The Big East championship is a tight race between these two teams, and the Wildcats weren’t giving themselves any favors by losing to UConn and Pittsburgh. Villanova avoided a three-game losing streak by mopping the floor with South Florida to the tune of 74-49. The picked a great time get their act together as they visit the Syracuse Orange on Saturday.
With these two teams showcasing some of the best basketball in the country, this is the big game of the weekend to watch and it will be plenty exciting. Villanova Wildcats has owned Syracuse in the past, and in the past five games they’re 4-1 ATS while winning 4-of-5 meetings. Yet this is a brand new look we’re getting from Syracuse, and this is the matchup the Orangemen have been waiting for the entire season. Playing at home against a top-ranked opponents with just two losses on their record may have insurmountable pressure attached to it, but both teams are laying themselves on the line in this one.
Villanova Wildcats top scorer, Scottie Reynolds poured in 21-opints against South Florida to maintain his sick averages of 19.0 points per game. Yet Reynolds isn’t the one I’m worried about. The guy I’m nervous about is junior Corey Fisher, who’s 13.8 points per game average has been shriveling with each passing game.
Fisher had just 7-points in the win over South Florida and has just 12 and 14 point outings in the losses to Pittsburgh and UConn. Reynolds needs a consistent second fiddle, and thus far Fisher’s stock has bee plummeting late in the season. Expecting a sudden turnaround for him in such an enormous matchup is almost unthinkable.
Villanova Wildcats (23-4) vs. Syracuse Orange (26-2)
Saturday, February 27 th --- Carrier Dome --- 9:00pm EST
NCAA Betting Record: Villanova 7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS Against Syracuse
The glaring loss to Syracuse has seriously hurt their public betting image, but that hasn’t stopped them from being an insanely difficult team to take at home. They’re 3-2 ATS in the past 5 games overall and are a lowly 2-3 ATS when playing the role of host. That doesn’t mean I’m scared of Villanova.
The Wildcats have been fumbling and bumbling (and sometime stumbling) against the basketball betting line in recent week and failure to get steady and pleasing production out of the cast behind Reynolds is the reason. Unless you expect Scottie to go bananas against a stiff Syracuse defense, the bet this weekend is with the Orange. Villanova’s second ranked road offense will come to play, but Syracuse is one of the most dangerous shooting teams at home.
When the dust settles in the Big East, all you’ll see is a big, orange “S”.
Furious Free Pick: Syracuse 84 Villanova 78
