Syracuse men’s basketball: predictions versus North Carolina

Coming off a blowout loss to Duke, the Syracuse Orange return to the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday looking to fare better against its second straight game against a ranked opponent. Syracuse will face the No. 16 North Carolina Tar Heels for the second time this season in a nationally-televised game.

Tip-off is at 1 p.m. EST and here are our predictions:

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Kevin: Syracuse 83, UNC 80

Yeah this just feels like the inexplicable win that gets the fanbase further divided. On one hand, people will celebrate a good win, others will fret that this confuses the coaching decision and most will be disappointed that this team couldn’t put forth a more consistent effort. Caleb Wilson was a matchup nightmare in the first meeting and without him, the Orange can focus on the perimeter players and find more room inside the paint on offense. Big games from Donnie Freeman and JJ Starling allow Syracuse to get a 3rd straight home win.

Dom: Syracuse 79, UNC 73

Considering how close the game ended up getting last time around after trailing almost 30, it would be so Syracuse this year to beat them after falling to the Blue Devils the game prior. As Kevin noted, Wilson being out just puts so much pressure on the other UNC players to make shots. Syracuse’s defense has been anything but perfect in conference play, but that should make life easier there. Sticking at the power forward spot, predicting a Freeman 20-point game will lead to Syracuse doing enough offensively to squeak by.

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Sam: Syracuse 74, UNC 71

Syracuse will probably beat a shorthanded Carolina team. But the teams that it will mean the most for are not the Orange or the Tar Heels – it’s teams that are currently holding quadrant 1 road results against SU, or quadrant 2 home results. Syracuse is 72nd in the NET and winning against North Carolina holds them firm in the top 75, and could even move them into the top 70. The committee will have to decide what to do with North Carolina based on what their resume looks…

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Publish date : 2026-02-20 14:51:00

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