Syracuse Basketball: Predictions for pivotal Buffalo Bulls matchup
Neil Adler (6-4)
Prediction: Bulls win 73-68
The Syracuse basketball squad, following a five-contest success streak, looks to get back to its winning ways when the Orange hosts an undefeated Buffalo unit on Tuesday evening inside the Carrier Dome.
SU (7-3), which fell flat in a six-point loss to Old Dominion at home over the weekend, is in danger of adding a fourth loss to its non-conference resume. Now, that doesn’t mean the ‘Cuse can’t make the Big Dance. However, I believe Syracuse is in a bit of desperation mode as it gets set to face the nationally ranked Bulls (10-0) on the Hill.
When ODU bested the Orange this past Saturday, it marked the first time in the 2018-19 campaign that the ‘Cuse has experienced defeat on its home turf. Buffalo, meanwhile, is a perfect 3-0 on the road, and the Bulls are tremendously talented. Buffalo scores about 15 more points per contest than Syracuse, although the Bulls do allow roughly five additional points on the defensive end.
While ESPN.com’s match-up predictor says that the Orange has a 64.5 percent chance of prevailing, I foresee a mighty struggle for the SU hoops outfit in this encounter that will get televised on ESPN2. Buffalo isn’t likely to blow out the ‘Cuse, but, in the end, the Bulls get it done, beating Syracuse by a count of 73-68.