North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. Syracuse Orange: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/14/2023

by Chuck Sommers

Monday, Feb 13, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY
Where to watch: ACC Network

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: PK
FanDuel: Syracuse -0.5
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: PK

Season record
No. 23 NC State: 20-6 (10-5 ACC)
Syracuse: 15-10 (8-6 ACC)

February is here and the college basketball season is taking full shape. Conference races still to be determined, the top 25 completely in shambles for what seems like every week, and there's bound to be an upset what seems like every single week. But as the season continues to progress with what seems like exciting action every week, you know our champion handicappers continue to put the work in each and every week to not only make money for them, but to ensure you get money in your pocket. All you need to do is look at the last 30 days. Scott Rickenbach has reeled in a net profit of $14,000 with a 24-9-0 run on the college hardwood. Team Del Genio has killed it with a 13-1-0 run at +$11,900. Will Rogers (28-15-0) and Matt Fargo (40-27-0) have also seen five figures over the last 30 days with college basketball. Surely, you want to get on this winning as well. All you need to do is go to bigal.com, check out our Best Bets page and make sure you are following along on the action. March will be here before you know it! Take advantage of our best best plays and find out what our champion handicappers are doing at bigal.com!

NC State - Syracuse preview, prediction and analysis


Recent form
NC State: won 92-62 at Boston College
Syracuse: won 76-67 at Florida State

The North Carolina State Wolfpack are in the top 25 and suddenly appear to be in the conversation of being in the top half of the ACC. Plenty of basketball to be played between now and the conference tournament, but the Wolfpack will try to make it six wins in seven games when they visit the Syracuse Orange on Tuesday inside the building formerly known as the Carrier Dome.
 
NC State had a four-game winning streak end on Feb. 7 when they lost to the Virginia Cavaliers, a program you should have no shame in losing to, and followed that with a convincing 92-62 win against the Boston College Eagles inside the good ol’ city of Boston on Saturday.
 
Four starters scored in double figures, led by Jarkel Joiner’s game-high 26 points to go with six rebounds and six assists, and Terquavion Smith reached 1,000 career points by scoring 17 as well as dishing out six assists. D.J. Burns Jr. added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Casey Morsell hit five 3-pointers to give him 16 points.
 
“He scores so much, he doesn’t even worry about how many points. I mean, as far as he knows, he might have had 1,000 six games ago,” NC State coach Kevin Keatts said. “But you’re talking about a good kid, who has given everything he could to N.C. State.”
 
NC State covered for just the third time in five games on Saturday, but the books don’t appear to have faith in the Wolfpack going on the road and winning this game. At some books in the early going, this game is listed as a pick. Syracuse is even slightly favored by a half-point at a couple of off-shore books. The Carrier Dome is so hard to win a game, but even that is sort of surprising given NC State’s recent run in conference play.
 
Syracuse has won two straight after losing there in a row, but the opponents aren’t anything to write home about. The Orange are coming off a 76-67 win at Florida State and a 9-point win over Boston College four days prior. Both games saw Syracuse favored by 3.5 and covering in a 9-point win.
 
Joseph Girard III led the way with 26 points and seven rebounds with Syracuse leading the way of shooting 45.2 percent from the floor. Syracuse was able to dictate the game despite shooting just 6 of 21 from 3-point range.
 
Jesse Edwards did big-man things by going for 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Judah Mintz added 16 points on 6 of 12 shooting to go with six assists. There was a lot to like, even if it was against the lowly Seminoles who have just an 8-17 record and have been about as horrendous of a team in this conference as one can be. Remember the days when that wasn’t a thing? I remember, as does Pepperidge Farms.
 
Prediction
 
The underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings, as is the road team. That seems too good to pass up on NC State continuing this run and solidifying a good road win here. NC State 77, Syracuse 70

Betting trends


NC State is 18-35 ATS against conference opponents the last 3 seasons.

NC State is 13-32 ATS off an over the last 3 seasons.

Syracuse is 17-5 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 the past 3 seasons.

Syracuse is 9-2 ATS after a conference game this season.

Projected starting lineup


NC State:
PG: Jarkel Joiner
SG: Casey Morsell
SF: Terquavion Smith
PF: Greg Gantt
C: D.J. Burns Jr.

Syracuse:
PG: Joe Girard III
SG: Judah Mintz
SF: Chris Bell
PF: Maliq Brown
C: Jesse Edwards

Statistical leaders

NC State:
Points: Terquavion Smith -- 18.5
Rebounds: D.J. Burns Jr. -- 5.2
Assists: Terquavion Smith -- 4.6
 
Syracuse:
Points: Joseph Girard III -- 17.0
Rebounds: Jesse Edwards -- 10.2
Assists: Judah Mintz -- 4.4

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this NC State Wolfpack - Syracuse Orange prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily college basketball projections and previews.

Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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