Syracuse vs. Clemson prediction and odds for Wednesday, February 22 (Value on total)

Clemson, who was once atop the ACC standings at 10-1 in league play, has dropped four of five games, including most recently to lowly Louisville on the road.

The Tigers now find themselves on the NCAA Tournament bubble with a loss like that and need to rebound quickly against Syracuse, a team that hung 91 on Clemson last season. The Orange are off a blowout loss at home against Duke, will they respond with a few matchup advantages in this game?

Here are the odds for Wednesday’s matchup:

Syracuse vs. Clemson odds, spread and total

Syracuse vs. Clemson prediction and pick

Syracuse tore up Clemson’s under screen defensive scheme last season en route to 91 points, and I expect a similar outcome here.

While the Orange don’t shoot from deep as much this season, the team has lethal shooters like Joe Girard (38%) and Justin Taylor (41%).

However, Clemson should be able to pick apart the Syracuse zone defense that is leaving open shooters along the perimeter and paying for it big time.

Cuse is allowing the highest 3-point rate in the ACC and allowing opponents to shoot 35% from deep. Clemson hasn’t shot that great from the perimeter in ACC play, but there should be plenty of clean looks with PJ Hall in the middle of the Orange zone.

The big man isn’t a natural passer, but he’s a double-double threat and can stick in the middle of the zone and more than capable of kicking out to the likes of of Chase Hunter or Hunter Tyson beyond the arc.

After losing to a listless Louisville team, the Orange zone defense is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Clemson offense.

However, Syracuse is going to be able to keep up on the scoreboard in what should be a high-scoring affair.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.