SMU vs Syracuse Prediction 3/4/25 College Basketball Picks Today

The SMU Mustangs and Syracuse Orange meet on Tuesday in college basketball action at Moody Coliseum. Here’s an SMU vs Syracuse Prediction. This article will include an SMU vs Syracuse Pick.

Syracuse Orange Betting Preview

The Syracuse Orange (12-17, 14-13-2 ATS) are going through a tough sequence of results after losing eight of the previous 11 games. Syracuse suffered three consecutive losses to Miami, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh. The Orange managed to avoid the fourth straight loss with a win over NC State but returned to losing ways against Virginia Tech. In that one, the Orange allowed a season-high 101 points.  Syracuse is 14th in the ACC Standings with the same record as California and Notre Dame.

Syracuse is averaging 75.4 PPG (142nd) and is allowing 78.8 PPG (336th). The Orange are getting 37.6 RPG (85th) and dish out 13.5 APG (219th). J.J. Starling is the team’s top scorer with 18.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 2.7 APG. Donnie Freeman adds 13.4 PPG and 7.9 RPG, while Eddie Lampkin Jr. contributes 11.2, PPG, a team-high 9.6 RPG, and 2.3 APG.

SMU Mustangs Betting Preview

The SMU Mustangs  (21-8, 14-14-1 ATS) lost three of the last five games, which is their weakest period of the campaign. Prior to this span, SMU was on a five-game winning streak, but then losses to Wake Forest, Clemson, and Stanford came, two of which were at home. SMU is 4th in the ACC Standings with the same record as North Carolina. The Mustangs can go down if they lose the remaining two games or one of them, but they cannot move up, so the No. 4 seed is what they are looking after.

SMU averages 81.5 PPG (25th) and allows 71.9 PPG (183rd). The Mustangs are 31st in rebounds (39.3) and 60th in assists (16.0). Boopie Miller leads the team with 13.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, a team-high 5.7 APG, and a team-high 1.6 SPG. Chuck Harris follows him with 13.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 2.4 APG, while Matt Cross contributes 11.9 PPG, a team-high 7.9 RPG, and 1.0 SPG.

Why Syracuse will cover

• Syracuse has won each of its last four night games following an overtime loss.
• Syracuse has won the first half in each of its last three games against the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Total Points Facts

• Each of SMU’s last five home games against Conference opponents has produced a total of 148 or fewer points.
• Three of Syracuse’s last four road night games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 149 or fewer points.

Matchup/League Facts

• SMU ranks 18th among Division 1 teams for a three-point percentage this season (38.4%).
• SMU ranks 22nd among Division 1 teams for rebound percentage this season (54.4%).

SMU vs Syracuse Prediction

SMU is a better team, no doubt about it, but its recent struggles and the fact the Mustangs lost the last two home games are surely not encouraging. Syracuse has only one away win in six games, and even though I don’t think they will come up with a W here, I am backing the Orange to cover. The pressure will be on SMU to get a win and stay in 4th place in the conference, so the visitors will have a chance to relax and stay close. Syracuse has covered the Spread in 7 of its last 15 away games, while SMU has only covered the Spread in 15 of its last 33 games. Back Syracuse to cover.