Syracuse Orange (14-7) vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (13-7)
February 3, 2024 7:45 pm EDT
The Line: Wake Forest Demon Deacons -8.5 ; Over/Under: 150.5
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The Syracuse Orange and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons meet Saturday in college basketball action from LJVM Coliseum. Syracuse is 14-7 overall this year. The Orange lost to Boston College in their last outing. As for Wake Forest, they’re fresh off a Wednesday matchup versus Pittsburgh. In that one the 13-7 Deacons took a tough loss. Let’s get into our Syracuse vs. Wake Forest prediction. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Syracuse Orange
The Orange began their year with a 10-3 run featuring losses to only Tennessee, Gonzaga and Virginia. Syracuse is 4-4 in their last eight games with wins over Boston College, Pittsburgh, Miami and NC State paired with losses to Duke, North Carolina, Florida State and Boston College.
Back on Tuesday in the Boston College game, the Orange faced a 37-30 deficit at the break. Syracuse got better from there on a 45-43 second half but still lost 80-75. Judah Mintz (six assists) and JJ Starling (three rebounds) each led the team with 18 points apiece in the defeat.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Over on the Demon Deacons’ side, they got off to a rocky 2-3 start before posting wins over Charleston Southern, Florida, Rutgers, NJIT, Delaware State, Presbyterian, Virginia Tech, Boston College and Miami. Wake Forest would lose to Florida State, NC State and North Carolina in their next five.
On Wednesday versus Pittsburgh, he Demon Deacons went into halftime with a comfortable 10-point lead. Wake Forest fell apart after that though, giving up 50 points in a tough loss 77-72. Leading scorer Hunter Sallis posted 22 points with six boards and three assists.
ANDREW’S FREE SYRACUSE VS WAKE FOREST PREDICTION
I’ll stay with Wake Forest. The Deacons need to rebound from their tough loss to Pitt on Wednesday, though. Wake shot a nice 46.7 percent in that one with a 35-29 rebounding edge but also coughed up 15 turnovers and had just nine assists. The Deacons are just 2-4 in their last six, but they’ve scored 72 or more points in three of their last four.
As for Syracuse, they’ve been spotty during this current 3-2 run but they’ve also scored 69 or more points in all five of those games. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Orange follow right along here, but in the end I like Wake a little better cover-wise at home.
