No. 9 Florida Gators at No. 3 Syracuse Orange
Friday, 12/2/11, 7:00 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Syracuse -6
Current Betting Line: Syracuse -6
Opening Total: 147
Current Total: 147
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Florida will square off with Syracuse for the fourth time in the Billy Donovan era, looking to even up the score in dropping two of the three games. The Gators are led by junior guard Kenny Boynton offensively, averaging 18.5 points per game. Friday night’s matchup will serve as the second road trip for the program into a top-five opponent’s home arena, dropping an 81-74 decision to the Ohio State Buckeyes as 8.5-point road underdogs on Nov. 15. Florida is 13-6 ATS on the road the last two-plus years, while the ‘over’ is 11-8 in that situation.
The Gators strength through six games has been winning the boards’ battle in each contest, with the closest margin being plus-six against Stetson. Florida is averaging 90.8 points per game and allowing just 65.3 points a contest. From a situational standpoint, the team is 42-30 all-time against current Big East schools, including a 16-8 mark under Donovan’s watch. In games played through Nov. 28, the Gators lead the nation with 72 three-pointers and average 12.0 per game.
Syracuse is set to play in the second evening of the three-day Big East/SEC Challenge, picking up an 85-73 win as 3.5-point road favorites in the last meeting on Dec. 10, 2009. The Orange have been dealing with plenty distractions surrounding the Bernie Fine situation, the former assistant coach that has been accused of potentially molesting three men as minor. “We don’t know what’s going on,” said Orange guard Scoop Jardine. Offensively, the team has four players averaging double figures, with senior forward Kris Joseph leading the way with 14.7 points per game. Syracuse is 19-11 ATs in non-conference action since the start of the 2009 season.
The Orange walked away with a decisive 84-48 win over Eastern Michigan last time out as 28-point home favorites, hitting 32 of 64 shots from the floor. Syracuse has captured its first seven games by an average margin of 26.1 points per game, but also had to overcome halftime deficits in capturing the final two games of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden last week. Defensively, the team is allowing opponents to shooting just 32.1 percent from the field.
Bettors will likely back the Gators due to their 7-2 ATS mark versus Big East opponents, while the Orange are 3-7 ATS when matching up against SEC foes.
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