Syracuse ships up to Boston College, in search of their second conference win. Keep reading for a full Syracuse vs Boston College prediction.
Syracuse basketball is coming off their first win in conference play after defeating Georgia Tech in the JMA Wireless Dome 62-55. Syracuse leads the all-time series 58-27. But last season, a loss in Conte Forum ended Syracuse’s 11-game win streak over the Eagles.
General Information:
Teams: Syracuse (7-8, 1-3 ACC) and Boston College (9-6, 1-3 ACC)
Tip Time: 3 p.m. EST
Watch: The CW
Listen: Syracuse Sports Network
Latest on Boston College basketball:
Boston College enters Saturday’s matchup at 1-3 in the ACC. Two of those losses have come by more than 20 points. However, the Eagles’ lone conference win came over Miami in historic fashion, as they overcame a 19-point deficit to defeat the Hurricanes.
Boston College is led by Donald Hand Jr., averaging 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He is also Boston College’s best weapon from behind the arc, with 24 triples on the season. Chad Venning has also been a force in the paint for the Eagles this season. The 6-foot-9 forward shoots 55% from the field while averaging 1.5 blocks per game.
To this point in the season, the Eagles have struggled on the offensive end. The team’s field goal percentage sits at 42.9%, which is the lowest in the ACC and ranks them outside the top 275 in the country. Also, Boston College’s opponents this season have strived from behind the arc, shooting an efficient 36%. With Syracuse basketball’s recent improvement from behind the arc, this will be where the game is won or lost.
If the Eagles can limit clean looks from behind the arc and control the tempo, Boston College will have a great opportunity to pick up their second win in ACC play.
Latest on Syracuse basketball:
The Orange are coming off of their first conference win of the season, after defeating Georgia Tech in the JMA Wireless Dome. JJ Starling’s return to the floor seems to have energized the team and the fanbase to an extent.
In Tuesday’s win, Starling had 21 points while going 9-16 from the field. The junior guard has also scored in double-figures in every game that he has played this season. Eddie Lampkin Jr. also had a solid performance in the win, notching his fourth double-double of the season, with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
During Starling’s absence, the Orange had to rely on a few new faces to score the ball. Lucas Taylor saw a jump in his minutes and has carried the momentum in the last five games. Over that stretch, the Georgia State transfer has averaged 10.2 points and is shooting 50% from behind the arc.
The Orange have also seen a slight improvement in their three-point shooting, led by Chris Bell. After starting the first 13 games of the season, Bell has stepped back into a new role from the bench. But it has seemed to help the junior’s efficiency from behind the arc. In the previous two games, Bell has gone 5-9 from deep including a 4-4 performance in the loss to Florida State.
While Boston College plays at a much slower pace than the Orange, if Syracuse basketball can control the pace and be efficient from behind the arc, the Orange may leave Conte Forum with their second win in ACC play.
Syracuse vs Boston College Prediction: Orange by 3
The methodical pace of Boston College could force early struggles for the Orange. However, the Syracuse basketball will shift the tempo to match their style and win a close one in Chestnut Hill.