The 28-9 Syracuse Orange from the Big East conference will battle the 29-6 Indiana Hoosiers from the Big Ten conference in a Sweet Sixteen NCAA Tournament game on Thursday night. Tip off time from the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. is scheduled for 9:45PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by CBS.
The college basketball odds from this NCAA Tournament game has the Indiana Hoosiers favored by -5 ½ points with the total lined at 135 ½ points.
Syracuse began play in the NCAA Tournament with an 81-34 victory against the Montana Grizzlies as a -13 point betting favorite. They come off the Round of 32 66-60 victory on Saturday against the California Golden Bears as a -7 ½ point betting favorite. The game ended over 125 ½ points. The Orange survived a 39.1% shooting performance and made 4 of 10 three pointers. They hold the Golden Bears to 39.3% from the floor and only 4 of 21 coming from three point range. Syracuse forced 19 turnovers and shot 22 more free throws than their PAC 12 conference opponent. C.J. Fair for Syracuse led the team with 18 points and six rebounds on 6 of 14 shooting. The Orange has defended very well this season ranking 3rd in defensive field goal percentage by allowing 37.3% shooting. They rank in the top ten of college basketball in scoring and three point defending. Syracuse gives up 59.4 points a game as well as 28.9% from the three point line.
Indiana started play in the NCAA Tournament with an 83-62 victory against James Madison as a -21 point betting favorite. In the Round of 32 on Sunday the Hoosiers get by the Temple Owls 58-52 as a -12 point betting favorite. The game came under 147 ½ points. A late 10-0 run allowed Indiana to take control of the game. They shot 42.2% from the field and made 4 of 13 three pointers. Indiana held the Owls to 33.9% shooting and a miserable 3 of 24 coming from the three point line. Victor Oladipo led the Hoosiers with 16 points and 8 rebounds as he made 7 of his 12 shot attempts. Indiana is the third best scoring and three point shooting team in basketball as they average 79.5 points a game and make 40.8% from three. On defense they are in the top ten percent of college basketball in field goal defense by giving up just 38.9% shooting to their opponents.
