David Wilson: Syracuse 70, Wake Forest 52
Wake me up when January ends…
…And the Orange welcomes Duke to the Carrier Dome on Feb. 1. Maybe this is a trap game, but it’s more likely that this is just the next hurdle on the way to matching the best start in school history. SU has managed to survive lately despite some struggles from C.J. Fair. He’s due for a full 40 minutes to complement Syracuse’s plethora of improving offensive weapons.

Stephen Bailey: Syracuse 69, Wake Forest 55
Wake me up inside
Jerami Grant called this game the team’s toughest road test yet this season. But with Wake Forest’s lack of outside shooting threats, Syracuse’s defense will be able to keep the Demon Deacons in check offensively. The Orange handles WFU in Winston-Salem and enters the Duke game playing its best basketball.

Trevor Hass: Syracuse 66, Wake Forest 54
Wide a-Wake
This is a sneakily tough game for Syracuse. Wake’s playing the best it has in years and is undefeated at home. Duke’s coming to the Carrier Dome on Saturday. The game starts at 9 p.m. on a Wednesday night. But Syracuse has proven it can win in difficult circumstances all season. The trend doesn’t stop now. SU handles the Demon Deacons and heads into Duke 20-0.