The Syracuse Orange (4-2) get a chance to bounce back this afternoon with another Q1 game against #15 Iowa State (6-0) in the final game of the Players Era Invitational. Iowa State has wins over St. John’s and Creighton in Vegas and played yesterday without top score Tamin Lipsey, so his status is something to watch for today.
The game tips at 1:00 on TNT and here’s what we’re predicting:
Kevin: Syracuse 78, Iowa State 77
I’m on the road today and that’s often when something good happens for the Orange,
so here’s the homer pick. Syracuse stops hesitating on open looks and knocks down 40% of their 3s today. The foul shooting is only slightly better, but Kingz gets the ball down the stretch and makes enough for Syracuse to get an upset win. That group of Syracuse fans you know and love, flip their “Fire Autry” shirts to the “Rank us Cowards” side for the night.
Szuba: Iowa State 71, Syracuse 61
Oh you thought Syracuse would be given an easier opponent in the third game of the Player’s Era? Think again. Syracuse is down to its last chip at the blackjack table and the dealer just showed king on its upcard. Iowa State has been one of the premier programs in the country under TJ Otzelberger in recent years. Syracuse might catch a break if Cyclone’s four-year guard Tamin Lipsey can’t go after sustaining an injury versus St. John’s. But I don’t think Syracuse will have enough to slow Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic. On the other end, the offense has been understandably challenged in the halfcourt against good defensive teams. Tough hand for Syracuse, but sometimes that’s how the chips fall in Vegas.
Dom: Iowa State 70, Syracuse 63
The challenge for Syracuse is stopping Iowa State’s frontcourt. Momcilovic especially is a deadly shooter and multi-level scorer and really poses a difficult matchup for the Orange’s forwards. Assuming he can be held in check, this will come down to whether Syracuse leaves points on the board (especially at the foul line) and can the Orange’s guards knife through and attack the Cyclones’ elite defense. This plays out similar to its last two games where Syracuse hangs around, but ultimately doesn’t have enough offensive juice to eek out with a win.
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Now it’s your turn, what are you predicting?
