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Virginia vs Syracuse Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds and Picks

Orange Trying to Snap Losing Streak

Virginia Going for Seventh Consecutive Win

Since the last meeting between Virginia and Syracuse on Jan. 11, the teams have gone in different directions. The Cavaliers are 5-0 with Syracuse 3-3.

The Orange and Cavaliers rank first and third in conference play in 3-point percentage, so don’t be surprised to see plenty of shots going up from the perimeter. Both teams have negative rebounding margins, which could also be a determining factor in the rematch.

Reece Beekman #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers
Reece Beekman #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers | Ryan m. Kelly/getty images/afp

This is the sixth time in the last seven meetings that Virginia is favored on the road against Syracuse. Nine of Syracuse’s 13 wins have come at home, while Virginia is 4-2 on the road.

Defense is Virginia’s calling card and once again the Cavaliers are in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense.

Virginia is one of the best teams at taking care of the ball, averaging just 9.2 turnovers per game. Somehow the Cavaliers rank outside the top 200 in points per game but inside the top 25 in assists per game.

Syracuse is in the top 50 in 3-point percentage, connecting on 37.1% of its shots from distance.

Syracuse freshman center Peter Carey is out for the season as a result of a knee injury. He hasn’t played since a Nov. 26 loss to Bryant and will be able to recapture his season of eligibility.

Virginia keeps moving up in the national rankings. Two weeks ago, Virginia was 10th in both polls. The Cavaliers moved up to No. 7 last week and then to No. 6 this week in the Associated Press Top 25 poll

According to the college basketball odds, Virginia (+3000) is 14th in the odds to win the national title. Syracuse is well back at +30000. Virginia (-125) is favored to win the Big 12 title, while Syracuse (+925) is tied for eighth.

Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports and college basketball lines for Virginia vs Syracuse. We’ve got plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.

Cavaliers Dialing Long Distance

Typically, defense is the first thing people think about when the topic of the Virginia men’s basketball team comes up.

However, during the current six-game winning streak, the offense has been getting the job done – especially from the perimeter.

Virginia is shooting 40% from 3-point range during the winning streak.

Top scorer Armaan Franklin has led the way connecting on multiple 3-pointers five times during the winning streak. Even with Franklin missing all five of his 3-pointers in the win over Florida State, he is connecting on 41% of his 3-pointers over the last six games. Counting his two seasons, he is four 3-pointers shy of 100 in his college career. He just passed the 1,000-point mark.

Freshman Isaac McKneely is 14-of-25 on 3-pointers during that stretch.

Virginia has covered against the college basketball betting lines in four of its last five games as well as in five of its last six road games against Syracuse.

Orange Need To Get Defensive

Syracuse is not heading into this matchup with that much confidence after losing three of its last four games.

The Orange allowed a season-high 85 points to Virginia Tech on Saturday. It was the first time all season that an opponent shot better than 50% from the field, with the 13 3-pointers allowed tied for the third most allowed by Syracuse this season.

Virginia connected for 12 3-pointers when the teams met on Jan. 7, so limiting the open looks on the perimeter will be a point of emphasis.

In ACC play, Syracuse ranks 11th in 3-point field goal percentage defense, while only Wake Forest has allowed more 3-pointers than the 105 given up by the Orange.

Syracuse has covered against the Las Vegas odds in five of its last seven games.

Virginia vs Syracuse Game Injuries

Virginia vs Syracuse Head-to-Head

Virginia has won the last four games against Syracuse and eight of the last nine. However, the Orange have covered in two of those four meetings.

The Cavaliers have won each of the last four games played at Syracuse, with the last win by the Orange at home in the series coming in 2017.

Each of the last five games between the teams went over the total. That includes Virginia’s 73-66 win on Jan. 7 when the squads combined to go 20-of-40 from 3-point range.

Virginia vs Syracuse Game Information

  • Game: Virginia (16-3, 8-2 ACC) vs Syracuse (13-9, 6-5)
  • Location: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY
  • Day/Time: Monday, Jan. 30, 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Virginia vs Syracuse Live Stream: TBS.com

Virginia vs Syracuse Betting Lines


Virginia vs Syracuse Piks and Prediction

One big difference when the teams met for the first time this season was that freshman Judah Mintz was the only Syracuse player to play for more than 30 minutes. For Virginia, three starters topped the 30-minute mark. Despite Syracuse’s reserves playing 37 more minutes than the non-starters for Virginia, bench scoring was nearly even, which could be key in this matchup.

Syracuse has topped 20 bench points in each of its last three wins and will look to do the same against a Virginia team with a shorter rotation.

The total has gone over in 25 of the 41 games played between Syracuse and Virginia, so the 132 total certainly seems to be within reach.

Syracuse has covered in eight of its 13 home games, while Virginia is only 2-4 against the spread in true road games.

Virginia is 14-2 when listed by the sportsbook as the favorite. Syracuse is just 2-6 as an underdog.

Virginia is listed at -235 in our Las Vegas college basketball lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Cavaliers, you have a chance to win $43. Syracuse is +195, offering a chance to win $195 on a $100 wager.

The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Virginia a 70.15% chance to win, with Syracuse at 33.90%.

Virginia vs Syracuse Edge

Virginia vs Syracuse Results

Virginia vs Syracuse Game Summary

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