Wisconsin vs. Syracuse Spread at Orange -4
Carrie Stroup here with your Wisconsin vs. Syracuse spread, which was coming in at Orange -4. You can find all the latest NCAA Basketball Tournament betting odds here at Sportsbook.com, which was offering up to $250 in FREE CASH. The bonus code is CARRIE STROUP (restrictions do apply).
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Syracuse -3.5 & 120.5
Opening Line & Total: Orange -4 & 121
No. 1 seed Syracuse tries to move to the Elite Eight on Thursday, but it first has to beat the nation’s best defensive team in fourth-seeded Wisconsin.
The Badgers lead the country with 52.9 PPG allowed, and gave up just 53.0 PPG in their first two wins of the NCAA Tournament over Montana and Vanderbilt. Wisconsin also ranks second in the nation in fewest turnovers committed (9.0 per game) and fifth in personal fouls (14.3 per game), so this is a team that doesn’t beat itself. Syracuse struggled for the first three halves of the NCAAs before outscoring Kansas State 50-35 in the second half of Saturday’s Round of 32 game. Much of the Orange’s success comes from steals (9.4 SPG, 3rd in nation) and blocks (7.1 BPG, 3rd in nation), but with the Badgers great ball-handling and the absence of Syracuse seven-footer Fab Melo, these two strengths will be nullified on Thursday.
The Badgers are led by do-it-all senior G Jordan Taylor (14.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.0 APG), who has 15.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 4.5 APG so far in the NCAAs. But this is far from a one-man team, as four other Wisconsin players scored in double-figures in the 60-57 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday. Junior F Ryan Evans (10.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG) had 11 points, five rebounds and four assists against the Commodores, marking his 14th straight game of 10+ points. Evans also had 18 points and eight assists in the Round of 64 win over Montana. Junior C Jared Berggren scored 12 points with six boards versus Vandy, but was just 1-of-6 from three-point range. He’ll need to bust out of his long-range shooting slump (7-for-26 threes in past eight games) to help combat Syracuse’s 2-3 zone. The Badgers make 36.2% of their three-point tries, but the Orange hold opponents to a mere 30.7% shooting from behind the arc.
The Orange have been a losing bet recently, going 2-7 ATS in their past nine games. However, Syracuse still ranks second in the nation in turnover margin (+5.8) and is also great defensively, allowing just 60.5 PPG on 38.3% FG (7th in nation). The offensive balance is a sight to behold as the team averages 74.5 PPG, but only two players score in double-figures, senior F Kris Joseph (13.7 PPG) and sophomore G Dion Waiters (12.7 PPG). Joseph has really struggled to shoot the ball in the postseason, averaging just 10.5 PPG on 8-of-31 shooting (26%) in four tournament games (2 Big East, 2 NCAA). Waiters has been tremendous in the four postseason games though, averaging 19.0 PPG on 25-of-45 FG (56%). Senior G Scoop Jardine (8.3 PPG, 4.7 APG) had a shaky Big East Tournament (4.0 PPG), but has come up big in the two NCAA tourney wins with 13.5 PPG and 7.5 APG. He did commit six turnovers against KSU though, and the Orange can’t afford to waste possessions in a game that figures to be a defensive struggle with the Badgers milking the shot clock virtually every trip down the floor.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
