1. (6) San Diego State vs (11) Syracuse
Point Total: 139
Pick: Under
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line
You might have to sweat this out a bit, but it’s going to be okay.
These two programs are known for their suffocating defenses, but this year they haven’t been quite the brick walls of past seasons. The bigger problem is that both can go on scoring runs a bit.
However, for this under pick to work, all you’re asking for is a game played in the 60s. That’s not a big reach here, and there’s a chance that one of the two defenses rises up and holds the other side in the 50s or even worse.
San Diego State held its opponent to under 60 in 13 of the 27 games, and it didn’t allow anyone to get more than 72 – that includes a high-powered Wyoming team a few times.
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The Aztecs are No. 8 in the nation in scoring defense, No. 7 in field goal defense, and they have no problems being in control of games.
Syracuse isn’t quite as nasty statistically, but it’s great at stoping the three, it finished second in the ACC in field goal percentage defense, and while way too many games got out of hand, 14 of the 27 opponents were held to 70 points or fewer.
It’ll be very, very close, but assume that both teams are a bit more careful with their possessions and both ramp up the defensive intensity.
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