Villanova Wildcats vs. Syracuse Orange
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For one of the first times this season, two teams that simultaneously are in the AP’s Top-10 crack skulls in a college basketball betting battle when the Syracuse Orange (26-2, 17-7 ATS) play host to the Villanova Wildcats (23-4, 17-9 ATS) at the Carrier Dome. Villanova’s rough stretch of losses to UConn and Pitt were quickly erased on Wednesday when it thumped South Florida 74-49. The Orange rumbled to a 99-85 win at Providence on Tuesday to gain momentum coming into this one.

If that win against the Bulls was any indicator, the Wildcats are ready to give it a run for their money at the Carrier Dome. They held South Florida to just 38.1% shooting from the field and 23.1% from downtown. Leading scorer G Scottie Reynolds poured in 21 points, while both F Antonio Pena and G Corey Stokes reached double digits in scoring. Stokes may not be in the lineup for some, if not all of the game against the Cuse after he was arrested and cited for urinating in public early on Thursday morning. If Stokes is suspended by HC Jay Wright, an offense that is averaging the most points per game in the Big East and the second most in the country will be missing one of its starting five.

Offense was the name of the game for the Orange against the Friars. Only seven different players were used by HC Jim Boeheim, which is why G Andy Rautins and F Rick Jackson both had a chance to shine. Both scored 28 points on the night, as they combined to shooting 23/33 from the field. Rautins shot a blistering 8/12 from behind the arc. It was a rare off day for G Wesley Johnson, who played all 40 minutes but shot only 4/14 from the floor. The Orange won the rebounding battle 37-24.

Villanova has to be beaming with confidence. Not only do the Cats have victories in Louisville, Marquette, and West Virginia to their credit, but they also took down the Orange in the Dome last season. Syracuse isn’t unbeatable either on its home court. Both Louisville and Pittsburgh have figured out how to do it, and one would like to think that the Wildcats have that ability as well.

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