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The Syracuse Orange are set to face the Duke Blue Devils. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our Syracuse Duke prediction, odds, and pick.
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The Syracuse Orange should be in a good mood as they prepare for Duke in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. They crushed Florida State by more than 30 points. They played one of their most complete games of the season and are rounding into form at the perfect time. They have bounced back from some key injuries to improve how they perform. Jim Boeheim has once again managed to reach his team late in the season and bring out its best brand of basketball. College basketball odds experts and ACC Tournament odds analysts are aware of this. Syracuse should be happy.
Yet, the Orange are not, because their best shooter couldn't exercise self control. Buddy Boeheim, the son of Jim Boeheim, punched a Florida State player during the Orange's rout of the Seminoles on Wednesday in the ACC Tournament's second round. He received a suspension for this game. It's true that it's only a one-game suspension, meaning that Boeheim could return to the lineup if the Orange make Friday night's ACC semifinals. However, when making a Syracuse Duke prediction, you have to admit that losing a 19-points-per-game scorer will make it hard for Syracuse to get to Friday night.
What is also working against Syracuse in this game, in addition to the Buddy Boeheim suspension, is the fact that Duke just lost at home to North Carolina in the final home game of coach Mike Krzyzewski's career. This is Coach K's last ACC Tournament as Duke head coach. The idea that Duke will lose consecutive games in a mediocre ACC near the end of Coach K's career is hard to imagine. Duke is a flawed team with a lack of elite defensive players. North Carolina sliced through the Blue Devils' defense like a knife through warm butter. Yet, Duke crushed Syracuse earlier this season and has a level of offensive firepower Syracuse can't match. Duke might stumble against better teams, but Syracuse is not in the same weight class as the Blue Devils. This is part of the landscape when making your Syracuse Duke pick.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Syracuse-Duke odds:
ACC Tournament Odds: Syracuse-Duke Odds
Syracuse: +15 (-110)
Duke: -15 (-110)
Over: 149.5 (-110)
Article Continues Below
Under: 149.5 (-110)
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Why Syracuse Could Cover the Spread
The Orange looked as good as they have all season long in their destruction of Florida State in the second round of this tournament on Wednesday. They also got hammered by Duke the last time these teams met. Surely, Syracuse learned something from that blowout and will be more prepared this time around. That should help the Orange stay reasonably close.
Why Duke Could Cover the Spread
The spread is large, but Duke already beat Syracuse by 25 points in February with Buddy Boeheim playing. Without Boeheim, Syracuse will struggle to score.
Final Syracuse-Duke Prediction & Pick
No Buddy Boeheim puts Syracuse at a massive disadvantage against a Duke team which will be fired up and motivated after failing against North Carolina. The Blue Devils don't want to let Coach K down a second time.
Final Syracuse-Duke Pick: Duke -15
