Syracuse vs Southern Methodist Picks and Prediction – 3/13/2025

The Syracuse Orange (14-18, 7-13) will face the SMU Mustangs (22-9, 13-7) in the second round of the ACC Tournament. Syracuse is coming off a 66-62 win over Florida State, making it two straight victories. SMU, on the other hand, lost 76-69 to Florida State in its last outing. These teams met recently, with SMU winning a tight 77-75 battle at home. Dominate the college scene with our College Football picks.

Syracuse enters this matchup with some momentum, winning two in a row, including an 84-70 victory over Virginia. J.J. Starling leads the offense with 17.5 points per game on 40.3% shooting. The Orange score 75.6 points per game but struggle on the other end, allowing 78.4 per contest. They shoot 46.1% from the field and average 37.2 rebounds per game.

Defense has been an issue, as Syracuse ranks near the bottom in points allowed. Eddie Lampkin Jr. anchors the inside with 9.6 rebounds per game but lacks shot-blocking presence. Jaquan Carlos adds 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game, but the team averages just 4.8 steals overall. The Orange must tighten up defensively to keep this game close.

SMU has been inconsistent lately, losing three of the last four games, but they edged out Syracuse in the previous meeting. The Mustangs have a strong offensive attack, averaging 81.1 points per game on 48.2% shooting. Boopie Miller leads the team with 13.4 points and 5.7 assists per game, while Matt Cross contributes 7.8 rebounds per game.

Defensively, SMU allows 72.2 points per game, a better mark than Syracuse. They create turnovers well, averaging 8.0 steals per game, led by B.J. Edwards with 2.3. Samet Yigitoglu provides some rim protection with 0.9 blocks per game. 

SMU Mustangs should get the win based on a more efficient offense and better defensive numbers. Syracuse struggles to stop opponents, allowing nearly 80 points per game. SMU also won the last matchup and has a deeper roster. If the Mustangs push the pace, they should come out on top. Final Score Prediction: SMU wins 85-74.