Florida Gators vs. Syracuse Orange Line for December 2 at -6.5
The Florida Gators vs. Syracuse Orange line for the December 2 game was listed at -6.5 at Sportsbook.com. Be sure to claim your FREE CASH up to $250 on your initial deposit here.
Syracuse and Florida go head-to-head as top-10 teams for the second time in three years when the schools meet in Upstate New York on Friday night.
In December 2009, with both teams undefeated, Syracuse scored a SU and ATS (technically) neutral court win in Tampa, 85-73. Both teams have earned their early-season rankings (No. 4 for Syracuse, No. 10 for the Gators), and Florida was able to hang tough and cover the spread in their other difficult early-season road test, at No. 2 Ohio State. But they were aided by 11-for-22 shooting from three in that game, and they lead the nation in threes per game (12.0). The length in Syracuse’s zone and unusual site lines at the Carrier Dome always cause problems for opponents’ long-range shooting, as non-conference visitors to Syracuse have shot 28.6% from three over the past three seasons. The four ranked opponents who have visited since 1997-98 shot 28.7%.
In the 2009 game, the Gators shot well from three but were unable to draw fouls and get to the line against the Orange zone (7-for-13 FT, 12 fouls for Syracuse). Drawing fouls was an issue last year for the Gators (18.2 fouls drawn per game, 209th in the nation). It’s a bad sign against a Syracuse zone that must be attacked aggressively.
Florida can do plenty of damage on the perimeter thanks to its four-guard lineup. Kenny Boynton (18.5 PPG, 49% from three), freshman Bradley Beal (17.0 PPG, 50% FG) and Erving Walker (13.7 PPG, 46% FG) all belong in the All-America discussion. Sixth man Mike Rosario (12.0 PPG) is the team’s fourth leading scorer while playing just 20.2 minutes off the bench. A Rutgers transfer, Rosario has experience against the Syracuse zone, but not good experience. In three matchups with SU, he scored 16.0 PPG but needed 20.7 FGA per game to get there, shooting just 9-for-37 (24%) from three.
Syracuse has yet to leave New York state this year, which is how coach Jim Boeheim usually likes it. The Orange are 5-1 ATS in their lined games, including 4-0 ATS at the Carrier Dome. They won the preseason N.I.T. without having to beat a ranked team, but topped two BCS schools at Madison Square Garden (Virginia Tech and Stanford), both in comeback fashion. Star forward Kris Joseph stepped up in both those games, averaging 19.0 PPG, while steady point guard Brandon Triche added 14.5 PPG, 5.0 APG and shot 5-for-9 from three. This team’s X-factor continues to be the play of coop Jardine. The team’s primary ball-handler a year ago, he’s been benched for long stretches in every game so far this year, averaging just 18.4 MPG and 7.0 PPG as a starter.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
