Can the Orange prevent a sweep?
The Syracuse Orange (8-9, 2-4) will try to get back to .500 on the season when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-9, 2-4) visit the JMA Wireless Dome. Tip-off is tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 pm and here’s what we’re predicting:
Kevin: Notre Dame 79, Syracuse 74
I’m guessing Donnie Freeman doesn’t play in this one and I think the return of Markus Burton gives the Irish more firepower than the Orange. In the last game. Syracuse lost Braeden Shrewsberry down the stretch and with Burton back, I’m not confident that the defense can hold the Burton/Shrewsberry/Tae Davis trio in check. For Syracuse to win this game, they will need to get multiple players in double digits and let a balanced attack combat the Irish stars.
Mike: Notre Dame 77, Syracuse 64
The Irish may not have a great record right now but they’ve gone neck and neck with some of the best in the ACC. It took Cooper Flagg going God Mode to avoid #4 Duke being knocked out at Cameron Indoor, and they’ve also lost games to UNC and NC State by one point each, the former ending on a four-point play. It won’t be as much of a beatdown as Tuesday but ND should still comfortably pull away in the second half against a dysfunctional defense.
Dom: Notre Dame 82, Syracuse 73
Expecting a similar story to play out on Saturday as it did in the first matchup — both teams hang close with each other pretty much until halftime, then the Fighting Irish go on some run with five minutes left in the game and the margin is too much for the Orange to overcome. This prediction comes down to two observations: Notre Dame is a better team on paper than its record and the outside shooting the Fighting Irish have is too much for Syracuse to handle unless it can match that scoring elsewhere… and I don’t think they can.
Max: Syracuse 73, Notre Dame 71
After looking at SU’s upcoming schedule, this is probably the most winnable game until BC comes to the Dome on Feb. 8. I’ll take my shot with the Orange against an Irish team still looking for their first ACC road win (0-3). While both teams were without their leading scorers last month, Starling’s return is a bigger boost for Syracuse than Burton’s is to Notre Dame. There will be opportunities for the Orange offense against a subpar Irish D, and I think Autry’s team does just enough to squeak out with a win.
Szuba: Notre Dame 79, Syracuse 72
Syracuse may have been without JJ Starling in the first meeting, but Notre Dame was also without Burton. With Burton back and Freeman expected to be out, I give an improving Irish team the slight edge in this game. Notre Dame is better than its record suggests, having been competitive in nearly every game even without Burton. Expect the Irish offense to have success against a struggling and limited Syracuse defense
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Now it’s your turn