NCAA Basketball Picks: Eastern Michigan vs. Syracuse

The No. 6 Syracuse Orange have reeled off five wins to start the season, while collecting at 3-0 ATS in the span’s ‘board’ battles. Monday’s college basketball betting has Jim Boeheim’s squad slated as heavy ‘chalk’ against the Eastern Michigan Eagles, who visit Carrier Dome with a four-win streak of their own.

Joe Freda’s 2012-13 College Hoops Record: 3-5 (-2.50)

Orange, Southerland hold off Arkansas

Syracuse’s latest triumph came in Friday’s 91-82 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks, cashing by a ‘hook’ as an 8 ½-point NCAA Basketball odds favorite. The Orange connected at 48.5 percent from the field, including an 11-for-26 mark beyond the arc.

Orange forward James Southerland piled in a season-high 35 points, while adding six rebounds in 32 minutes of action. Syracuse’s Michael Carter-Williams finished just shy of a triple-double, notching 17 points, 10 boards and nine assists.

The duel’s 173 points leaped OVER the ‘total’ of 153, despite the Orange holding Arkansas to 38.7 percent field shooting. Syracuse sank just 14-of-24 free throws, while outrebounding the Razorbacks, 43-35.

Eagles stingy in low-octane affairs 

Eastern Michigan logged a 2-1 ATS mark in its last three ‘board’ contests, while capturing the “Ice Man” Classic as hosts, two weeks ago. The tourney finale on Nov. 18 saw the Eagles edge out the Texas-Pan American Broncos, 57-47.

Eastern Michigan has held foes to 52.7 PPG, allowing less than 40 percent field shooting in all of its last five contests. Eagles center DaShonte Riley has led the team in boards (7.2 RPG) and blocks (2.5 BPG), while guard Daylen Harrison has hit 51.9 percent of his field buckets en route to 14.2 PPG. 

The Eagles visited Syracuse last November, falling as 28-point road dogs in an 84-48 defeat. ‘Total’ players pushed with the 132 combined points falling on the closing number, while Eastern Michigan was held to 34.7 percent field shooting.

Back the UNDER at Carrier Dome 

The NCAA Basketball bettling lines makers at Bookmaker.eu opened Syracuse as a 25-point favorite for the 7 p.m. (ET) matchup, remaining unchanged after initial wagers were mixed. The ‘total’ was first listed at 118, with early OVER wagers driving the digits north to 119 ½.

I am adding the UNDER to my NCAA Basketball picks tonight, looking for defense to keep points tight on both ends.

Syracuse logged a season-high scoring mark in Arkansas, but should see some garbage time come up earlier in this ‘cupcake’ clash. The Orange have held visitors to 53.7 PPG in their three home dates, allowing less than 35 percent field shooting in two of the span’s battles.

Eastern Michigan’s sole road game this year saw the Eagles come away with its lowest scoring of the season, dropping a 61-54 decision against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Harrison and Riley logged a pair of blocks each, while holding the Gamecocks to a 3-for-19 day outside the arc.

The UNDER has cashed at 11-4 in Syracuse’s last 15 home contests, while going 11-5-1 in Eastern Michigan’s last 17 road games. Look for the UNDER to get the money again here, adding to a 6-2-1 mark for the wager in the Eagles’ last nine non-conference duels.