Indiana Hoosiers vs. Syracuse Orange Prediction & Game Preview - 11/30/2021

by Chuck Sommers

Monday, Nov 29, 2021
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
Where to watch: ESPN2

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Indiana -1.5
BetMGM: Indiana -1.5
Caesars: NL

Season record
Indiana: 6-0
Syracuse: 3-3

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Indiana - Syracuse preview and analysis


Recent form
Indiana: won 90-79 vs. Marshall on Saturday
Syracuse: lost 89-68 vs. Auburn on Friday

The Indiana Hoosiers will look to start 7-0 this season when they face the struggling Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on Tuesday.

Indiana is off to a 6-0 start for the second time in three seasons; the Hoosiers started 8-0 in 2019-20 but went 12-12 the rest of the way and missed the NCAA Tournament. But there’s reason to be excited for the Hoosiers. For the first time in a while, they have a star to build around.

Star big man Trayce Jackson-Davis is coming off a 43-point night in an 11-point victory against the Marshall Thundering Herd. Jackson-Davis became the first Indiana player in 27 years to score 40 points in a game.

Jackson-Davis led the way with five blocks, and Xavier Johnson was the only other Indiana player to score in double figures with 20 points to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists.

The books haven’t been as kind to Indiana as the on-court product has been. Indiana is 4-2 against the spread but have covered the past three. The Hoosiers were 10.5-point favorites against Marshall and covered by a half-point. Indiana has actually been favorites of at least 20 points three times this season.

Normally an Indiana-Syracuse game would generate a ton of buzz, but that part is a tad one-sided. The Orange are coming in losers of three of four, having lost by 21 to the Auburn Tigers over the weekend. Three Syracuse starters scored 17 points each, highlighted by Jesse Edwards going 7 of 8 from the floor and grabbing six rebounds.

Buddy Boeheim, one of the sons of Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, also had 17 points. His other son, Jimmy Boeheim, had 3 points on 1 of 5 shooting.

The Orange have gone 1-4 ATS in the last five with the losing margin by at least 15 points in three of those losses; as 11.5-point favorites they lost by 15 to Colgate; lost as 5.5-point favorites to VCU, and then 5.5-point dogs to Auburn.

In short, it’s been bad.

Prediction


It doesn’t appear to get any easier for Syracuse despite being at home. The Orange don’t have an answer for the starpower that Indiana has at its disposal. The Carrier Dome has proven to be a trap for many opposing teams, but despite the under going 13-6 in the last 19 home games, Syracuse’s talent will be a glaring omission this time around. Indiana by 14

Betting trends


The under is 9-1 in Indiana’s last 10 games.

Indiana is 17-6 ATS in its last 23 non-conference games.

Indiana is 8-2 ATS following three straight home games.

Syracuse is 8-12 ATS in its last 20 following two straight overs.

Projected starting lineup


Indiana:
PG: Xavier Johnson
SG: Parker Stewart
SF:
Miller Kopp
PF:
Race Thompson
C:
Trayce Jackson-Davis

Syracuse:
PG: Joe Girard
SG: Buddy Boeheim
SF:
Cole Swider
PF:
Jimmy Boeheim
C:
Jesse Edwards

Statistical leaders


Indiana:
Points: Trayce Jackson-Davis -- 20.5
Rebounds: Race Thompson -- 8.0
Assists: Xavier Johnson -- 3.8

Syracuse:
Points: Buddy Boeheim -- 20.0 
Rebounds: Cole Swider -- 6.8
Assists: Joe Girard -- 4.7

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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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