Syracuse Orange vs SMU Mustangs Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 03/10/2026

Game Time: 4:30 pm ET, Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Venue:  Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC

Where to Watch:  ACC Network

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Syracuse +4.5, SMU -4.5; Over/Under:  157.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Syracuse +4.5, SMU -4.5; Over/Under:  157.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Syracuse +4.5, SMU -4.5; Over/Under:  157.5 points

Syracuse Orange:  15-16 (6-12) (14th place, ACC)

SMU Mustangs:  19-12 (8-10) (11th place, ACC)

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Syracuse Orange:  0-5  last 5

SMU Mustangs:  1-4  last 5

Syracuse is entering this game with a 15-16 record overall, a 6-12 record in conference games, and they are 1-3 in their neutral site games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Pittsburgh Panthers in their last game. Naithan George led the team in points in that game with 26 while Donnie Freeman was next on the team with 18. Naithan George led the team in assists with 4 in that game while Donnie Freeman led the team in rebounds with 13. They were 39% from the field, 29.2% from 3-point range, and 94.1% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 75.2 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 73.9 PPG against them. Syracuse has an ATS record of 14-17 this season and their O/U record is 16-14-1.

SMU is entering this game with a 19-12 record overall, an 8-10 conference record, and they are 1-1 in their neutral site games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Florida State Seminoles in their last game. Kevin Miller led the team in points in that game with 32 while Samet Yigitoglu was next on the team with 15. Jaron Pierre Jr. led the team in assists with 6 in that game while Samet Yigitoglu led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 42.4% from the field, 38.7% from 3-point range, and 58.8% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 85 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 78.4 PPG against them. SMU has an ATS record of 12-18-1 this season and their O/U record is 19-11-1.

The current betting odds have SMU listed as a 4.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. SMU has looked good in their games this season with their 19-12 record overall, but their 8-10 conference record has them in the bottom half of the ACC. They are only 1-1 in their neutral site games this season too. Meanwhile, Syracuse hasn't looked great in their games this season with their 15-16 record overall and their 6-12 conference record which has them near the bottom of the ACC. They haven't looked good in their neutral site games either with their 1-3 record in those this year. SMU really fell off the rails over the last 2 weeks, but they had a strong start to the conference schedule and have held their own in the ACC this year. Syracuse has had trouble in the ACC all season though and they never really had a hot stretch. As bad as SMU has looked lately, Syracuse has still been worse lately somehow. SMU is off a double digit loss to Florida State in their last one and they ended the season losing 4 games in a row, but Syracuse has lost 5 games in a row now and they ended their season with a crushing OT loss at home to Pitt. Both teams will be looking to bounce back in this ACC Tournament and go on a run, but Syracuse has consistently had trouble in the ACC all year while SMU has picked up some really good wins and is the more talented team here. SMU also lost the only game against Syracuse on the road by 1 point in a game that they were in control of for most of the time, blowing a double digit lead near the end, so this game does mean a little bit more for SMU and they will be looking to get that one back. The best way to place a bet here is on SMU to cover the spread in this game. 

Syracuse SMU Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Tuesday, March 10, 2026 (4:30 pm ET start time) is SMU 80 Syracuse 72.

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Syracuse Orange: 21-11 ATS off a loss against a conference rival. 10-5 ATS versus up-tempo teams averaging 62 or more shots/game. 26-16 ATS after 1 or more consecutive losses. 10-4 UNDER in all neutral court games. 8-3 UNDER as a neutral court underdog or pick. 

SMU Mustangs: 14-25 ATS when the total is 150 to 159.5. 5-10 ATS off a road loss against a conference rival. 3-9 ATS revenging a road loss vs opponent. 5-1 UNDER as a neutral court favorite or pick. 7-3 UNDER in all tournament games.

Syracuse Orange:  S. White Jr. (F) Questionable - Undisclosed. K. Anthony (G) Questionable - Undisclosed. A. Womack (G) Out - Redshirt.

SMU Mustangs:  S. Walters (F) Questionable - Undisclosed. B. Edwards (G) Questionable - Ankle.

“To be honest with you, I was trying to win a game today. This is college athletics. This is sports. I was worried about today. I can’t get ahead. The speculation, that’s part of it. The speculation, the rumors, this and that, that’s part of it.” - Adrian Autry after his team’s loss against Pitt in their regular season finale. 

“They deserved to win this game, they shot the lights out. They were outstanding moving the ball. Wiggins caught fire. [McCray] was spectacular; his passing to get guys involved.” - Andy Enfield after his team’s loss against FSU in their regular season finale. 

D. Freeman 

N. George 

N. Kingz 

W. Kyle 

J. Starling

B. Edwards 

K. Miller 

J. Pierre 

C. Washington 

S. Yigitoglu

PPG: Donnie Freeman (17)

APG: Naithan George (5.3)

Reb/G: Donnie Freeman (7.4)

PPG: Boopie Miller (19.4)

APG: Boopie Miller (6.6)

Reb/G: Samet Yigitoglu (7.8)

Coaches:

Syracuse Orange: Adrian Autry (3rd season)

SMU Mustangs: Andy Enfield (2nd season)