College Hoops Picks 1/28/09: Syracuse Orange @ Providence Friars

Syracuse Orange @ Providence Friars
Wednesday, Jan. 28—7:00 PM EST

Preview

The Orange (No. 15 AP, No. 15 Coaches, 5-3, 17-4) are on a definite slide. After playing nearly flawless basketball during its non-conference schedule, Syracuse began Big East play against the lower-caliber teams.

This, unfortunately, did not prepare them for what the Big East really had to offer, and they have gone 1-3 against ranked Big East opponents in the last four games. Syracuse players get a break from ranked Big East play for one game Wednesday as they travel to Providence to take on the Friars (5-2, 13-6).

Providence's two conference losses have come at the hands of the only two ranked Big East opponents they have faced, Georgetown and Marquette. Most recently, they played Seton Hall and won in overtime in a game that we predicted correctly.

This game against the Orange kicks off three games in a row against ranked opponents, the other two being Connecticut and Villanova.

Providence has three players averaging double-digit points (Weyinmi Efejuku, Marshon Brooks, and Jonathan Kale) and one more that can be very dangerous inside (Jeff Xavier). Junior guard Sharaud Curry is still trying to get back into the swing of things this season after playing only eight minutes last season because of a broken foot.

Syracuse has an arsenal of scoring machines with five players averaging double-digit points per game—Jonny Flynn (G, 15.9 PPG, 5.9 APG), Eric Devendof (G, 14.2 PPG), Paul Harris (F, 13.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG), Arinze Onuaku (12.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG), and Andy Rautins (G, 10.5 PPG, 3.2 APG).

They played a very tough, close game against Louisville, but in the end the Orange fell short by ten points after a 13-2 run by the Cardinals to end the game.

Stats

	Record	Conf	ATS	RPI	SOS	PF	PA
Syracuse	17-4	5-3	8-9	17	23	79.3	68.8
Providence	13-6	5-2	6-7-1	65	67	79.6	72.4

	FG%	D. FG%	3P%	D. 3P%	FT%	RPG	SPG	APG	TPG
Syracuse	49.8	40.0	34.4	28.7	62.9	43.5	7.6	17.4	15.3
Providence	46.0	44.2	32.1	32.0	67.9	41.8	7.8	15.3	14.3

Prediction

Current Line: Pick

Syracuse ATS: 8-9, 5-7 when favored
Providence ATS: 6-7-1, 2-2 when underdog

Providence has exceeded expectations this season, but they still are going to finish in the middle of the pack in the Big East. Despite recent shortfalls, Syracuse is a very deep team that has potential to finish toward the top of the Big East.

The Orange are too deep for the Friars to overcome.

Pick: Syracuse

*All statistics for this article have come from StatSheet.com*

*This article is also featured on CFBPlace.com—and soon to be featured on CBBPlace.com*