Beat writers predict Syracuse to blow out Texas Southern in final nonconference game
Syracuse will close out its nonconference slate against Texas Southern on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Logan Reidsma | Staff Photographer
Syracuse (9-3) faces Texas Southern (1-9) in its final nonconference game of the season on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. The second-ever meeting between these two teams will be broadcast on ESPNU.
Read what our beat writers predict will happen in the game:
Sam Blum (8-4)
Syracuse 78, Texas Southern 52
Holiday Leftovers
Syracuse practiced on Christmas and enjoys a nice feast at the expense of Texas Southern on Sunday. The Orange finishes the nonconference season as it should, by picking apart a team that has won just one game this season. TSU has one of the worst defenses in college basketball, and lost by 20 to Clemson, the only other Atlantic Coast Conference foe on its schedule. Happy holidays.
Jesse Dougherty (8-4)
Syracuse 76, Texas Southern 57
Southern comfort
Syracuse hasn’t blown many teams out this season, but it collects its third straight lopsided win in the Carrier Dome on Sunday. The Tigers are a rare undersized, not-so-talented team that doesn’t hoist 3-pointers, making them an outside candidate to be effective against the Orange zone. Because of that, SU is stingy on defense and literally runs Texas Southern out of the stadium before turning its focus to Pittsburgh and the start of ACC play.
Matt Schneidman (8-4)
Syracuse 76, Texas Southern 54
Mess with Texas
There’s a formula to beat the zone but Texas Southern doesn’t have it. The Tigers are a physically inferior team and one not exactly keen on hoisting from beyond the arc. Syracuse gets to double-digit wins with ease and it may be a bit misleading. But before a daunting ACC slate begins with Pittsburgh, the Orange will take a win however it comes.
