The Syracuse Orange (15-6, 4-4 ACC) visit Georgia Tech to take on the Yellow Jackets (10-11, 3-5 ACC) in a game that will likely be low scoring. The game begins at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 31, 2018.
The Over/Under (O/U) for the game has been set at 122 points with Syracuse opening as a 1-point favorite.
Syracuse Orange at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets ATS Prediction
The Orange come in on a high note after beating the Pittsburgh Panthers in their last matchup, 60-55. The Orange knocked down 19 of their 26 free throws (73.1 percent) and held the Panthers to an effective field goal percentage of 0.346 (below their season average of 0.502). Syracuse received a boost from Bourama Sidibe, who was the team’s leading scorer with 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting.
The last time the Yellow Jackets played, they lost a tough one against the No. 18 Clemson Tigers, 72-70. Clemson out-rebounded Georgia Tech. The Tigers had 13 offensive rebounds and 33 total rebounds, while the Yellow Jackets had eight and 28, respectively. Josh Okogie put together a solid performance for Georgia Tech, leading both teams in scoring with 26 points on 7-for-10 shooting.
Georgia Tech might have difficulty finding the bottom of the net as they face off against one of the nation’s best defenses. Syracuse currently ranks 29th in defensive efficiency while the Yellow Jackets rank 265th in offensive efficiency. Moreover, the Orange rank sixth in offensive rebounding percentage (37.4 percent), while the Yellow Jackets rank 254th in defensive rebounding percentage (69.6 percent).
Syracuse has a superb 15-6 straight up (SU) record, but they have difficulty covering the spread (8-11 against the spread (ATS)). Vegas has a tendency to set the total high when the Orange are involved, as 11 of their 19 games have ended under the total.
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech is 10-11 SU and 9-7-1 ATS. Games involving the Yellow Jackets also tend to go under the projected point total (58.8 percent).
After splitting two games last season, these teams will battle for the first time this year. In the most recent matchup, the Orange won 90-61. The Orange knocked down 17 of their 22 free throws (77.3 percent) and had a much better effective field goal percentage (0.676 vs. 0.482).
Syracuse Orange at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets ATS Pick
Free College Basketball Pick: SU Winner – Syracuse, ATS Winner – Syracuse, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes:
Syracuse is 3-4 ATS on the road with 5 overs and 2 unders.
At home, Georgia Tech is 6-4 ATS with 6 unders and 4 overs.
Georgia Tech ranks 46th in three pointers allowed per game (19.4) while Syracuse ranks 250th (25.1).
The Orange rank 30th in rebounds per game (39.6) while the Yellow Jackets rank 213th (34.0).
Syracuse averages 6.1 blocks per game, which ranks seventh in the nation. Georgia Tech ranks 76th in blocks allowed per game (3.1).
The Orange average 8.3 steals per game, which ranks 17th in the nation. The Yellow Jackets rank 85th in steals allowed per game (6.0).
Georgia Tech ranks 192nd in assists per game (12.6) while Syracuse ranks 238th (11.4).
Betting Trends:
In their last five games, Syracuse is 2-3 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders.
Georgia Tech is 2-2-1 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders over their last five games.
The Orange’s average margin of victory in their last five games has been 3.8, down from 6.9 for the season.
During their last five games, the Yellow Jackets have scored an average of 66.0 points per game (0.3 below their season average) and allowed an average of 71.6 points per game (6.3 above their season average).
