Syracuse basketball has one shot to get into the NCAA Tournament, and that’s by winning the ACC Tournament, which gets going for the Orange on Wednesday afternoon.
Obviously, that’s no easy task for the ‘Cuse. However, the Atlantic Coast Conference, to me, is all over the place in the 2022-23 season. So it wouldn’t surprise me if there are a bunch of upsets in the ACC Tournament, which will transpire in Greensboro, N.C.
In the second round of the 2023 ACC Tournament, No. 8 seed Syracuse basketball will get a rematch with No. 9 seed Wake Forest.
These two league foes went toe to toe this past Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome, as the Orange celebrated its senior day and also commemorated the 20th anniversary of its 2003 national title squad.
On senior day, center Jesse Edwards had a performance for the ages, as he poured in 27 points and 20 rebounds. The ‘Cuse (17-14, 10-10 in the ACC) knocked off the Demon Deacons (18-13, 10-10) by a final count of 72-63 to snap a four-game losing streak.
Syracuse basketball vs. Wake Forest odds
On Tuesday evening, actionnetwork.com had the Orange as a two-point betting underdog in its neutral-court affair with the Demon Deacons. The over/under was set at 154.0 points.
Syracuse basketball vs. Wake Forest prediction
Per cuse.com, the Orange is 11-2 in its all-time series with the Demon Deacons after Syracuse basketball took care of Wake Forest this past Saturday on the Hill.
The Demon Deacons were not good from long distance when they fell to the Orange by nine points over the weekend. I’d expect Wake Forest to shoot better from deep in the ACC Tournament.
Key to the ‘Cuse knocking off the Demon Deacons a few days ago was Syracuse basketball winning the battle on the glass, and the Orange also had a sizable advantage at the charity stripe.
As I previously mentioned, Edwards was great, and the starting guard duo of senior Joe Girard III and freshman Judah Mintz were solid. However, for the ‘Cuse to defeat Wake Forest again, it needs more production from its group of forwards.
I feel like this contest is a toss-up. I’ll be a homer here and forecast Syracuse basketball to squeak by the Demon Deacons in the ACC Tournament.
Injuries, how to watch, live stream, next game
On the injury front, freshman big man Peter Carey is out for the rest of the 2022-23 campaign, Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim has said.
The 6-foot-11 Carey, a power forward/center, has had a surgical procedure done on his right knee and is expected to take a medical redshirt this year, Boeheim has said.
We’ll certainly continue to monitor the injury front for the ‘Cuse in the current stanza.
The Orange and the Demon Deacons will tip off at 12 pm in the ACC Tournament’s second round on Wednesday, March 8, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. ESPN will televise this game.
For Syracuse basketball and Wake Forest fans who want to stream this game, you can check it out on fuboTV.
If the Orange can best the Demon Deacons, the No. 8 seed ‘Cuse would take on No. 1 seed Miami in the ACC Tournament’s quarterfinal round. This encounter would start at noon on Thursday, March 9, with television coverage on either ESPN or ESPN2.
Should Syracuse basketball lose to Wake Forest on Wednesday, I’d imagine that the Orange’s 2022-23 season is over, as the ‘Cuse won’t be in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, and an invite to the NIT seems unlikely, too.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.