Adam Patrick (5-3)
Prediction: Syracuse wins 64-56
Saturday’s matchup between the Orange and the Georgetown Hoyas won’t have the vibe of a classic Big East showdown between the two schools. But it should still be an entertaining game inside the Carrier Dome.
Both teams come into Saturday having won four games in a row and Georgetown has only one loss on their record this season.
The Syracuse defense will have to do their best to contain the Hoyas’ senior center Jessie Govan. In eight contests this year, Govan is leading Georgetown with 19.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Stopping the Hoyas’ pair of freshman guards James Akinjo and Mac McClung on will be a big key in the Orange getting a win on Saturday as well. Syracuse fans may be familiar with a number of McClung’s highlight dunks that seem to show up on just about every basketball fan’s Instagram feed.
Ultimately, it will be the Orange’s defense that leads them to a victory over Georgetown on Saturday. Syracuse is holding their opponents to just 61.1 points per game this season and their success on the defensive end of the court should continue against the Hoyas.
Just consider the victory as an early Christmas present to the Orange’s fans from head coach Jim Boeheim.