Syracuse vs Florida | Prediction & Pick

No. 3 Syracuse Hosts No. 9 Florida, Desperate to Up College Basketball Odds

vs.

Friday, December 2, 2011 at 7:00 PM EST on ESPN

Spread: Syracuse -6.5
Money Line: Syracuse -280 / Florida +240
Over/Under: 148.5

A pair of top-ten teams will clash on the college basketball betting board as the Florida Gators and Syracuse Orange each look to climb further up the Associated Press poll. Though Syracuse will be favored at home as the No. 3 seed, the No. 9 Gators aren’t an easy victory.

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A win over the Big East-contending Orange would do wonders for a Florida team desperate for traction heading into SEC play. Though they’ve handled the majority of their schedule with ease so far, a loss to then-No. 3 Ohio State at the beginning of the month served as a blow to their confidence.

The Gators will have their work cut out for them climbing back up the NCAA betting board, but if they hope to improve their odds of winning the March Madness tournament next spring, they’ll need to show that they can contend with the nation’s elite.

While Florida prepares for a regular season in their own competitive conference, Syracuse braces for another year in the Big East, where any number of contenders from Louisville to Connecticut could oust them from the top of the pack.

With distractions aplenty surrounding former Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine and the sexual assault allegations against him, Orange senior Kris Joseph will need to keep his young team moving in the right direction.

Only one can reap the benefits of this non-conference confidence boost, think you know how it will all go down?

The odds makers have the Syracuse Orange as a -6.5 point favorite with an over/under of 148.5

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Syracuse Orange Betting Trends:

• Syracuse is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
• Syracuse 7-0-1 SU in its last 8 games
• Syracuse is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
• Syracuse 7-0-1 SU in its last 8 games at home

Florida Gators Betting Trends:

• Florida 4-0-1 SU in its last 5 games
• Florida is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
• Florida is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games on the road
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Florida’s last 5 games on the road