Syracuse basketball welcomes Wake Forest into the JMA Wireless Dome, searching for their first conference win. Keep reading for the Syracuse vs Wake Forest prediction.
Syracuse basketball leads the all-time series 11-4, but the Demon Deacons have won the last two meetings. However, one bright spot for the Syracuse fanbase is that they are perfect in the Loud House when Wake Forest basketball comes to town.
General information:
Teams: Syracuse (6-6, 0-1) and Wake Forest (9-4, 1-1)
Tip-off: 2 p.m. EST
Watch: ESPN2
Listen: Syracuse Sports Network/ Wake Forest Sports Network
Latest on Wake Forest basketball:
Wake Forest basketball entered the season with high hopes. But after four early losses, the Demon Deacons are ranked 100th in the NET rankings. With the ACC struggling as a whole, they are running out of opportunities for resume-boosting wins.
The Demon Deacons are coming off a 73-62 loss to #25 Clemson. In the loss, they were led by Hunter Sallis who had 26 points, while shooting an effective 73% from the floor. On the season, Sallis and Cameron Hildreth are the only two Wake Forest players averaging double figures. Sallis is averaging 17.8 points, while Hildreth is averaging 12.6.
Similar to the Orange, Wake Forest struggles from behind the arc. On the season the Demon Deacons are shooting 26.5% from three, which ranks them as the fifth worst in the NCAA. If the three-point struggles continue, look for the seven-footer Efton Reid III to be the difference maker for Wake Forest.
Latest on Syracuse basketball:
Syracuse basketball started their brief two-game home stand with a 75-63 win over Bucknell. The Orange were led by Eddie Lampkin and Donnie Freeman who both notched double-doubles. Both of them will need to continue to play well, as the Orange will once again be without their star JJ Starling who has not played since late November.
Early in the season, Syracuse basketball struggled on the glass. But as the season continued they are averaging 38.4 rebounds per game, which is the fifth best in the ACC. The other early season struggle for the Orange came from behind the arc, but unlike rebounding, this stat has not improved. The Orange are shooting under 30% from three, and are only averaging just over five triples per game. Both of these numbers place Syracuse basketball outside of the top 300 in the country.
With both Syracuse and Wake Forest’s struggles from behind the arc, the inside game will be the key for the Orange to find their first conference win of the season.
Syracuse vs Wake Forest Prediction: Demon Deacons by 5
If the painted area becomes the area of attack for both sides, foul trouble could play a factor. But with the Demon Deacons’ slim size advantage, Wake Forest will ultimately pull out a close one over the Orange.