Syracuse Basketball: Predictions for Old Dominion Monarchs clash

Neil Adler (6-3)

Prediction: Syracuse wins 74-68

Two hoops programs each possessing five-contest winning streaks will collide this Saturday afternoon, as the Syracuse basketball squad welcomes Old Dominion to the Carrier Dome. SU (7-2), newly slotted at No. 25 in the most-recent AP top-25 poll, is coming off a gut-wrenching one-point defeat of Georgetown this past Saturday in Central New York.

The Monarchs (7-3), meanwhile, out of Conference USA, remained unbeaten at home after conquering Fairfield, 79-69, last Sunday. ODU is a talented bunch and a formidable opponent. A season ago, the Monarchs finished with a stellar mark of 25-7, including a 15-3 record in league play.

In its duel with the ‘Cuse, Old Dominion is seeking its first true road success of the 2018-19 campaign. The Orange, on the other hand, is a perfect 6-0 on the Hill so far in the current term. Statistically speaking, Syracuse scores about a half-dozen more points per game than the Monarchs, but ODU also allows roughly six fewer points each time out on defense.

ESPN.com’s match-up predictor says that SU has an 86.7 percent chance of prevailing. I foresee a tight battle, with the ‘Cuse ultimately able to secure a small bit of separation and collect a 74-68 victory.