Beat writers unanimously pick Buffalo to beat Syracuse
Molly Bolan | Staff Photographer
Syracuse (7-3) and No. 14 Buffalo (10-0) enter Tuesday’s game in the Carrier Dome moving in different directions. The Orange were just upset by Old Dominion on Saturday, while the Bulls are off to their best start since 1930-31. The Interstate 90 battle will tip off at 8 p.m. on Tuesday and be televised on ESPN2.
Here’s what our beat writers expect to happen.
Billy Heyen (8-2)
A new New York’s college team
Buffalo 74, Syracuse 67
This Buffalo team is no fluke. The Bulls proved that with an overtime win in a then-ranked West Virginia’s building behind CJ Massinburg’s 43 points. They gave Syracuse all the Orange could handle last year in the Dome, and if anything, UB has gotten better. Even though this game is a must-win for SU, that won’t matter. The Bulls are too hot as a team and too sound defensively to let Syracuse get any sort of edge, and they’ll hand the Orange a second-straight loss.
Charlie DiSturco (7-3)
Mess with the Bulls …
Buffalo 80, Syracuse 66
Syracuse’s second-half collapse against Old Dominion proved that SU’s offense is mediocre, and they rely on the 3 ball too heavily. Buffalo is not an easy win by any means. In fact, the Bulls may be the best team the Orange has faced all season. UB is a team that is as experienced as it gets, smart with the ball and defensively sound. Expect a big road win for Buffalo, which will hand Syracuse its fourth nonconference loss.
Matthew Gutierrez (6-4)
Western New York reigns
Buffalo 68, Syracuse 58
It’s easy to get carried away and overreact after an upset loss — see: fire Boeheim tweets, etc. — but Saturday’s loss to Old Dominion underscored an issue. Even at Ohio State and home against Georgetown, SU played several bouts of inefficient, poor basketball. That may or may not continue Tuesday. What’s probable to continue is this identity-less brand of hoops.
Published on December 17, 2018 at 2:09 pm