Syracuse (9-4) opens its Atlantic Coast Conference slate on Saturday in South Bend, Indiana at Notre Dame (10-4, 0-1 ACC). The Orange closed out the nonconference portion of the schedule with wins over Arkansas State and St. Bonaventure. The Fighting Irish already began ACC play with a loss at Virginia Tech on Tuesday. SU looks to avenge a last-second loss in the Carrier Dome a season ago.

Here’s what our beat writers expect to happen.

Billy Heyen (11-2)
Down on their Irish luck
Syracuse 67, Notre Dame 64

A road game to open ACC play might tell us a lot about this Syracuse team after an up-and-down nonconference season. This Notre Dame group isn’t the toughest test, though, as it has battled injuries and dressed just seven scholarship players on Tuesday. SU rarely finds a way to blow teams out, especially on the road, so expect this to come down to the wire. But coming off an 8 for 8 shooting game should have Tyus Battle in fine form, along with Elijah Hughes, who’s scored 15 in six-straight games. Those scorers will be enough.

Charlie DiSturco (10-3)
Taking the pot of gold
Syracuse 66, Notre Dame 61

After turbulent nonconference results this year and blowing their matchup against Notre Dame a year ago, the Orange will be hungry to come out of the ACC gate strong. It is on the road, but the Fighting Irish aren’t the team they were a few years ago. Syracuse will need Oshae Brissett to find his groove to pull away, but expect Tyus Battle to carry the brunt of the work once again. It’ll be a close one in South Bend, but SU will walk away with its first of many conference wins.

Matthew Gutierrez (9-4)
Around the Bend
Syracuse 61, Notre Dame 55

This game was ugly a season ago. Not sure it’ll be prettier as two teams without identities square off in South Bend. The Irish looked OK at Virginia Tech Tuesday, playing with a reduced rotation and staying in the game until a late Hokies run. UND entered league play dead last in the ACC in field-goal percentage: 42.6 percent, a figure that doesn’t bode well against the zone. The way Notre Dame could win is to pound the ball inside, SU’s weakest spot. It’s imperative Syracuse gets off to a strong start in conference play on Saturday afternoon.

Published on January 3, 2019 at 5:41 pm