CBB: Notre Dame at Syracuse (12:00 PM ET, ESPN)

The race for the Big East Conference title figures to be a barnburner over the course of the next month and a half. From top to bottom


2009-01-19

The race for the Big East Conference title figures to be a barnburner over the course of the next month and a half. From top to bottom, most experts believe that it is the top league on the college basketball landscape. Two of the title hopefuls will square off on Saturday at noon eastern to tip-off a mega-betting board of hoops action when Syracuse hosts Notre Dame. With 98 games in all, make sure you get a jump on all the key info you’ll need by visiting the LIVE ODDS, TEAM STATISTICS, and BETTING TRENDS pages.

Like all teams in the Big East will face, Notre Dame (12-4, 5-6 ATS) is in the heart of a toilsome stretch of conference games and has to look to survive and wait until the schedule lightens up to thrive. Luke Harangody continues to be the same force that led him to Big East player of the year a season ago, but will need more help on the boards as recent games have shown. “There was a stretch (of games) there when they (opposing teams) were playing volleyball on us,” said guard Kyle McAlarney. Opposing teams are guarding the Irish differently, applying more ball pressure; they have had periods of shooting droughts because of it.

Syracuse (16-2, 7-7 ATS) is also in the midst of series of daunting conferences challenges. The Orangemen are playing as well as any team in the Big East, with exceptional contributions from their backcourt of Jonny Flynn, Andy Rautins and Eric Devendorf. The frontcourt players like Paul Harris and Arinze Onuaku provide enough a spark to help carry Syracuse. The Orange will have chances to score and are 41-23 ATS when they score 75 to 80 points. Notre Dame is never easy for coach Boeheim’s bunch. Syracuse is 6-2 at the Carrier Dome, with 2-6 ATS record versus the Irish.

Both teams are coming off losses earlier in the week, with Notre Dame 7-1 (2-3 ATS) playing with three or more days rest and Syracuse 12-1 (4-5 ATS) at the Carrier Dome.

StatFox Power Line – Syracuse by 1

CBB: Notre Dame at Syracuse (12:00 PM ET, ESPN) News

Click here to read latest College Basketball news