Syracuse vs. Louisiana Tech: TNIAAM Score Predictions & Poll

After more than a week off, your Syracuse Orange are playing a basketball game on Sunday. The Orange host Conference USA's Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at 4 p.m. ET at the Carrier Dome. If you're unable to attend in person, ESPNU has you covered. In case you were wondering, Tech's 7-2 right now, and just came off a loss to UL-Lafayette. As you're aware, SU is 5-3 and is trying to avoid a third straight loss.

So what happens on Sunday? Can Syracuse stop the skid and grab their first win this month? The TNIAAM gang weighs in...

Brian Tahmosh

Louisiana Tech 65 - Syracuse 54

Time to panic, ladies and gents. This one's going to feel like the Georgetown loss in the Verizon Center a few years back to end the regular season. For some reason - like that year - I feel like the wheels need to fall completely off for this team to turn it around. This is hopefully the bottom.

Dan Lyons

Syracuse 67 - Louisiana Tech 59

The Bulldogs are a quality team, and I fully expect this one to be close throughout, but I fail to believe that this team is as bad as they've looked recently. Louisiana Tech is not a great rebounding team (241st in the nation), and doesn't have a ton of quality size. Christmas and McCullough should be able to dominate on the inside, and lead Syracuse to a gritty win.

Ben Burrows

Syracuse 65 - Louisiana Tech 60

Louisiana Tech is a good team, but I just don’t believe SU can continue to play so poorly that it loses a third straight game. It’s almost impossible for the Orange to shoot worse from 3, so I expect some regression to the mean to occur here with SU having some solid shooting games getting it back to a realistic number. McCullough and Christmas should continue to dominate and help the Orange get by in this one.

Michael Burke

Syracuse 69 - Louisiana Tech 55

I'll say it: I think we're over-hyping Louisiana Tech. If, at home, Syraucuse can't beat a team that just lost to Louisiana Lafayette, then we're in far worse trouble than we thought. Even at 5-3 and on a two-game slide, this is one that the Orange shouldn't struggle with as much as some might expect them to.

Matt McClusky

Syracuse 64 - Louisiana Tech 61

I'm not at all sold Syracuse can beat the doors off of a mediocre team right now. Yes, the Orange beat Holy Cross, but even that seems like a lifetime ago now. The Bulldogs are heavy on the guards -- Kenneth Smith is a legit deep-ball shooter -- and I'd imagine they'll give Syracuse's zone enough trouble to hang around for far too long. And if Rakeem Christmas gets into early foul trouble?Ruh Roh! Still, I think Christmas and McCullough will eat up the paint and, even with with limited talent to choose from, SU is just better. This will be one of those a closer-than-it-ever-should-be style game.

Jeremy Ryan

Syracuse 65 - Louisiana Tech 60

Louisiana Tech and Syracuse are a study in opposites. Tech is led by a three-headed backcourt monster of Raheem Appleby, Alex Hamilton, and Kenneth "Speedy" Smith. SU's backcourt has been just plain monstrous. SU gets the bulk of its scoring from Rakeem Christmas and Chris McCullough, who are combining for 31.3 points and 8.6 points per game. Tech's interior is softer than tissue paper. The Bulldogs like to press full court and push the tempo, preferring to get their points in transition where their size disadvantage is minimized. I think this could be a great opportunity for the Orange to similarly up their pace and try to jumpstart their offense by being aggressive in the open floor. However, once again it will be up to the guards. If they get rattled and turn the ball over, Christmas and McCullough won't get as many opportunities as they need to be successful. As we have seen lately, SU's guards have the potential to be easily rattled. Let's hope they can keep their poise on Sunday.

John Cassillo

Syracuse 68, Louisiana Tech 64

Louisiana Tech can score a lot of points, but part of that is also a product of their opponents thus far. Against a formidable defense like Syracuse, it's unlikely they still push 75-80 points, but they will try to run, which is where the Orange could run into some trouble over the course of the afternoon. SU finds its advantage in the paint, however, out-rebounding Tech as most teams have. That ultimately makes the difference as Syracuse looks shaky yet again at home.

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So how about you?