Teams hoping to make a deep ACC Tournament run clash when the eighth-seeded Syracuse Orange battle the ninth-seeded Wake Forest Demon Deacons in a second-round matchup in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Demon Deacons (18-13, 10-10 ACC), who went just 4-4 in their final eight regular-season games, last won the ACC Tournament in 1996. The Orange (17-14, 10-10), who are just 4-7 in their past 11 games, defeated the Demon Deacons 72-63 on Saturday. Syracuse has won five of the last six meetings with Wake Forest.
Tip-off is set for noon ET. The Demon Deacons are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Wake Forest vs. Syracuse odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 153.5. Before making any Wake Forest vs. Syracuse picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters conference tournament week 76-51 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,200 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Wake Forest vs. Syracuse and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball lines and trends for Wake Forest vs. Syracuse:
- Wake Forest vs. Syracuse spread: Wake Forest -3.5
- Wake Forest vs. Syracuse over/under: 153.5 points
- Wake Forest vs. Syracuse money line: Wake Forest -170, Syracuse +143
- WF: The Over is 4-0 in the Demon Deacons' last four Wednesday games
- SYR: The Orange are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games following a straight-up win
- Wake Forest vs. Syracuse picks: See picks here
Why Wake Forest can cover
Junior forward Andrew Carr is one of four Demon Deacons averaging double-figure scoring. The Delaware transfer started all 31 games for Wake Forest, averaging 10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He has scored 10 or more points 18 times, including three with 20 or more. He also has three double-doubles, including a 21-point and 13-rebound effort at Boston College in an 85-63 win on Jan. 14.
Senior guard Daivien Williamson has been red hot. He scored 20 points in the 71-69 loss to Boston College on Feb. 28, and had 11 in Saturday's setback at Syracuse. For the season, he is averaging 8.3 points and 1.8 rebounds. He has reached double-figure scoring in 12 games, including a season-high 24 in an 81-71 win over Georgia on Nov. 11.
Why Syracuse can cover
Senior guard Joseph Girard III has been solid this season, averaging 16.7 points, 2.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds. He is connecting on 40.6% of his field goal attempts, including 38.1% from 3-point range, and 85.3% from the foul line. He is coming off a 16-point and four-assist effort in Saturday's win over the Demon Deacons. Girard has reached double-digit scoring in each of the last eight games and in 25 games this year. He scored a season-high 31 points in a 74-71 overtime win over Richmond on Nov. 21.
Also powering the Orange is freshman guard Judah Mintz, who poured in 17 points, dished out five assists and grabbed three rebounds and three steals in Saturday's win over Wake Forest. It was his 12th consecutive double-digit scoring game. For the season, he has reached double-figure scoring 27 times, including one double-double – a 16-point, 10-assist performance in an 83-64 win over Georgetown on Dec. 10. He is averaging 16.2 points, 4.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.
How to make Wake Forest vs. Syracuse picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the point total, projecting 153 combined points. It has also generated an against the spread pick that hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Wake Forest vs. Syracuse? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Wake Forest vs. Syracuse spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned nearly $1,200 on its college basketball picks this season, and find out.
