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The Syracuse Orange (10-7, 2-2) were knocked back to reality on Tuesday in a loss to Virginia Tech. Now, they’ll try to right the ship again vs. the Boston College Eagles (9-8, 2-2) at the Carrier Dome. BC’s coming off a quality win over NC State, and as we’ve already seen, they know how to beat us. Saying all of these things in succession in unsettling.
So what’s going to happen when the Orange and Eagles face off at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday? The TNIAAM staff takes some guesses:
Ari Gilberg
Syracuse 78, Boston College 70
Honestly, who even knows what is going to happen with this Syracuse team? One minute they’re betting blown out by St. John’s and the next they pull together back-to-back wins over Miami and Pitt. While the Orange are light years away from fixing the vast number of problems that have haunted them all season, they do appear to be a better team than the one that lost to Boston College by 15 points. With home court advantage and the unlikelihood of Ky Bowman going off for 30 points again, I’m taking Syracuse here.
Kevin Wall
Syracuse 71, Boston College 66
The health of Tyler Lydon's ankle might be the biggest factor in this game. BC has not played well away from home this year, and they won't sneak up on the Orange after the thrashing they delivered two weeks ago. While the Syracuse zone has been better lately, if Lydon can't go, it's going to be up to the rest of the team to pick up the offensive slack. It's time or Tyus Battle to emerge as a consistent offensive weapon the rest of the way. He's got the ability to deliver and Syracuse needs him to do so the rest of the way.
Andrew Godnick
Syracuse 64, Boston College 55
The Orange are out for revenge after a shocking loss to BC earlier in the year. Syracuse is coming off of a tough loss to VT, but this game should be a win for the Orange-well, that's what we thought last time these two met. Look for the teams to struggle out the gate but a bounce back game from Tyler Lydon will be the difference this time around.
James Szuba
Syracuse 71, Boston College 68
In the second go around, Syracuse bounces back with improved defense against BC. I expect both White and Lydon to have big games on the offensive end and Syracuse earns its third win in the conference.
Ben Sigel
Syracuse 78, Boston College 68
Although I don’t have anything to back up my belief, I think Syracuse wins on Saturday. I think SU bounces back. They don’t want to get swept by BC — who is improved, but still mediocre. Boston College hit its ceiling in the first matchup, as I wrote earlier this week, and the Orange will take care of business on Saturday. Look for solid energy and the point guard play to bounce back, too.
John Cassillo
Syracuse 73, Boston College 68
BC played at its highest possible level on January 1, while SU played at its lowest. Syracuse has also tweaked things on both ends to positive results since then, despite what happened against Virginia Tech. Tyler Lydon’s health will be key. But if he’s good to go and can show mobility at center, that should help Syracuse enough on the defensive end. Andrew White and Lydon will once again need to carry the load on offense to outscore the likes of Ky Bowman and Jerome Robinson.
What about you?