Virginia Tech at Syracuse College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/31/2017

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Carrier Dome

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Virginia Tech Hokies head to Carrier Dome to take on the Syracuse Orange on Sunday, December 31, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Syracuse as 2 point favorites.

Virginia Tech heads into this matchup with a mark of 11-2. They currently have a point differential of 21.0 as they are averaging 91.3 points per contest while giving up 70.3 per game. Syracuse has an overall mark of 11-2. They are averaging 72.0 points per contest and giving up 62.7, which is a point differential of 9.3.

Valuable Virginia Tech Hokies Betting Trends

The Virginia Tech Hokies are 7-2 against the spread this season

The Virginia Tech Hokies are 7-2 against the over/under this year

Important Syracuse Orange Betting Trends

The Syracuse Orange are 5-6 against the spread this season

The Syracuse Orange are 4-7 against the over/under this year

Key Virginia Tech Hokies Injuries

11/10/17 G Ty Outlaw ACL is out for season

Key Syracuse Orange Injuries

12/01/17 G Geno Thorpe Left Team is out for season

Player Spotlight

Ahmed Hill averages 16.3 points per contest while playing 28.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is 76%. Justin Bibbs averages 15 points per contest in 30.5 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.4 assists per game and 2.3 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 58% for the season while his free throw percentage is 95%.

Player Spotlight

Tyus Battle scores 20.1 points per contest while playing 37.2 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 2.8 rebounds per contest and has 1.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. Oshae Brissett averages 15.2 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 37 minutes per game. He also brings in 10 rebounds per game and has 1.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 34% and his free throw percentage is 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

Virginia Tech averages 91.3 points per contest this year, which is 6th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 21.0 and their shooting percentage is 55% as a unit, which has them ranked 1st. From 3-point territory they shoot 44%, which is good for 4th in Division 1. They average 37.5 boards per contest and 18.8 assists per game, which ranks them 128th and 12th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 201st with 13.2 per game. The Hokies allow 70.3 points per contest, which is 137th in the country. They also surrender a 40% shooting percentage and a 29% average from 3-point range, ranking them 58th and 21st in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 32.1 rebounds a game which ranks 62nd, and they allow 13.6 assists per game which puts them in 201st place in college basketball. They force 13.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 129th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Syracuse is 241st in the country with 72.0 points per contest this season. They are 267th in the nation in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 9.3. They shoot 30% from beyond the arc, which is good for 324th in Division 1. They are 10th in the country in rebounding with 41.9 boards per contest and 266th in assists per game with 12.6. The Orange are 224th in turnovers per contest with 12.8. The Orange give up 62.7 points per game, which ranks them 21st in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 38% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 22nd and 115th in those defensive statistics. They rank 305th with 15.8 dimes allowed per game and 52nd with 31.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Orange are 213th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Hokies are 58th in the country in defensive rating with 93.8, and their offensive rating of 121.9 is ranked 6th. They are 55th in college basketball in pace with 74.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 63% is 1st. As a unit they are 1st in the nation in true shooting percentage with 65% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 171st in D-1. Virginia Tech is 221st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 46%, which is 40th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Syracuse is 247th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 46%, which is 41st in the nation. The Orange are 156th in the country in offensive rating with 106.1, and their defensive rating of 92.4 is ranked 40th. In terms of pace they are 336th in Division 1 with 66.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 306th. As a team they are 281st in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 303rd in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Virginia Tech/Syracuse college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Virginia Tech +2

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