Syracuse Orange at Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Preview
29 November 2022
The 2022 ACC/Big Ten Challenge is underway, and there are some big games set to take place throughout the country. One of those games will take place in Champaign, Illinois, as the Fighting Illini are set to host the Syracuse Orange.
Syracuse comes into this game having lost two straight, and they are just 3-3 overall on the year. The Orange are typically a team that you can count on to be great, but that just hasn’t been the case this season.
Illinois comes into this game with a 5-1 record on the year, and they have picked up some impressive wins along the way. The Fighting Illini are all the way up to number 16 in the most recent poll, and they are looking for another signature win.
The Illinois Fighting Illini are massive 12.5-point betting favorites over the Syracuse Orange in this showdown on Tuesday night.
Syracuse Struggling to Get Stops
The Syracuse Orange are going to play a 2-3 zone in this matchup, but that style of defense hasn’t been as dominant this season as it has in years past. Syracuse is giving up 70 points per game, and they need to find a way to create some more turnovers in this one.
The Orange come into this game averaging 75 points per game, but they are struggling to shoot the basketball. Syracuse doesn’t have a ton of depth either, and it’s going to take a great performance to win this one.
Guard Judah Mintz is leading the team with 16.2 points per game, but he is going to need some help to win this one.
Fighting Illini Flying Around
The Fighting Illini have been a team that has had some big men in the middle of the lane over the past few seasons. That isn’t necessarily the case this season, and Illinois comes into this game scoring 85 points per game.
Terrence Shannon Jr. is leading the way with over 20 points per game, and he leads the charge on the fast break. Illinois is also a team that has a ton of freshmen talent, and that includes some players that can score the basketball.
The defense has been sharp for Illinois as well this season, as they are giving up just 61.5 points per game.
Syracuse Battles in Loss to Illinois
It might take Illinois some time to figure out the 2-3 zone from Syracuse, and Illinois doesn’t have a ton of great shooters. Ultimately though, the Fighting Illini are going to be able to get out on the fast break, and they will find a way to get some easy scores.
Syracuse just hasn’t proven that they can find enough offense to pick up a win in this game or any game against a great team. The Orange are a team that is going to battle, but that isn’t always good enough to get the job done.
Take the 12.5 points and bet on the Syracuse Orange, but it will be the Illinois Fighting Illini that come up with a win in this game.
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All Media on this page by Associated Press.
