Syracuse basketball massive long-shot to win it all, and that works perfectly

Like the bevy of Syracuse basketball fans, I’m ecstatic that the Orange is playing in the Sweet 16 of the 2021 Big Dance, with the ‘Cuse set to battle No. 2 seed Houston on Saturday night.

Naturally, I hope that the Orange can continue its magical run through this March Madness and, ultimately, cut down the nets in early April.

Of course, that is a daunting task, and the ‘Cuse faces extremely slim odds of winning this NCAA Tournament. But the way that the Orange has played of late, I wouldn’t count Syracuse basketball out of any duel that it encounters in the regional semi-finals or beyond.

The ‘Cuse always seems to thrive when it is the underdog. San Diego State, a No. 6 seed, was favored over the Orange in the round of 64. The same goes for No. 3 seed West Virginia in the round of 32. It’s all good. That didn’t faze Syracuse basketball in the least.

In the Sweet 16, Houston is favored by about six points over the ‘Cuse, according to odds-makers. Without question, the Cougars are a really difficult match-up for the Orange.

Syracuse basketball has a tiny chance to capture the national championship, experts say.

Kerry Miller, a national writer for Bleacher Report, has published an article where he provides odds for every squad in the Sweet 16 to claim the grand prize. Miller is giving the ‘Cuse a 1.0 percent chance of winning the NCAA title.

"In a write-up on the Orange, Miller says that Syracuse basketball will be the last group standing if “Buddy Boeheim keeps channeling his inner Buddy Hield. After shooting just 29.5 percent from three-point range through the first 13 games of the season, Boeheim is sitting at 49.5 percent since Feb. 8, averaging 4.4 makes and 22.5 points per game. Syracuse could always have a dud on defense during one of his great games, but this team has championship potential if he remains hotter than the sun.”"

Miller places Gonzaga as the squad with the best chances to prevail in March Madness, followed by Baylor and then Houston (ugh). In a piece by Brad Crawford of 247Sports, the Orange is tied with UCLA for the third-lowest odds to win the national championship.

Syracuse basketball has all the odds-makers, naysayers and doubters right where the Orange wants them.