The Saint Joe's Hawks take on the Syracuse Orange in Syracuse, New York. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
Syracuse is favored by -12 points on the spread with a moneyline of -1100. The total is set at 145.5 points.
Here’s my Saint Joe's vs. Syracuse predictions and college basketball picks for December 11, 2025.
Saint Joe's vs Syracuse Prediction
My Pick: Under 145.5 (Play to 143)
My Saint Joe's vs Syracuse best bet is on the under. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Saint Joe's vs. Syracuse Odds
| Saint Joe's Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+12 -110 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | +700 |
| Syracuse Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-12 -110 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | -1100 |
- Saint Joe's vs Syracuse spread: Syracuse -12
- Saint Joe's vs Syracuse over/under: 145.5 points
- Saint Joe's vs Syracuse moneyline: Saint Joe's +700, Syracuse -1100
Saint Joe's vs Syracuse College Basketball Betting Preview
Saint Joe's Basketball
Saint Joseph's had to adjust quickly when Billy Lange abruptly left for an NBA gig, thus elevating long-time Penn head coach Steve Donahue to the lead chair.
The Hawks are dealing with an identity crisis on the offensive end. They attempt 3s at a 42% clip but are shooting just 28% on them. On nights when the shots aren't falling, a low-scoring game feels inevitable. That's even more so the case when facing a stout defense like Syracuse.
Deuce Jones, Jaiden Glover-Toscano and Derek Simpson — the backcourt trio — are the three leading scorers for the Hawks. Jones and Simpson are more drivers than shooters, which could render them ineffective in this matchup.
Glover-Toscano is a marksman from deep, connecting on 37% from outside. He'll need to step up in the Carrier Dome.
I'd also expect Saint Joe's to slow the game down. It ranks 172nd in adjusted tempo, but the Hawks don't have the pieces to battle in a high-scoring game. In five of their six wins, they held the opposition to fewer than 70 points. That's the sweet spot for this Hawks team, a game in the 60-70 range.
Saint Joe's sits 160th in defensive efficiency. The Hawks hold teams to 49% shooting from inside the arc, largely thanks to rim-protecting stud Justice Ajogbor, who's a 6-foot-10, 260-pound monster at the hoop.
Syracuse Basketball
The Red Autry era has been bumpy, to say the least. The turbulence is beginning to taper off, as Syracuse is 5-3 with its highest KenPom ranking (63rd) in the past three seasons.
Syracuse has found an identity via the defensive end of the floor, as it ranks 34th in KenPom's defensive efficiency. Autry has a different defensive philosophy from his mentor, Jim Boeheim. The days of the Syracuse 2-3 zone are a thing of the past; now, it's about forcing turnovers and tough 2s.
The Orange forces turnovers at a 21.7% rate (24th nationally) and holds teams to 41.7% shooting on 2s (sixth nationally).
Last season, Syracuse struggled to both defend the rim and switch onto guards, especially with the slower Eddie Lampkin Jr. and Naheem McLeod at the five. That's changed with William Kyle III, who boasts a 40+ inch vertical. He can switch onto guards and is an elite rim-protector, swatting 2.8 shots per game.
Offensively, it's a bit of a different story. For one, leading scorer Donnie Freeman will miss this game. He's been out for a while, but he'd help boost Syracuse up from the 102nd-most efficient offense, per KenPom.
They're one of the worst shooting teams in college hoops, hitting 27% from 29% from 3 and 56% from the foul line.
Percentage-wise, guard J.J. Starling is their best shooter at 35%. And if Starling is your best shooter, you have some real issues.
In the half-court, Syracuse struggles to score. Neither Starling, nor Naithan George, is a reliable scorer, and Carmelo Anthony's son — Kiyan Anthony — is the team's active leading scorer with 11.5 points per game. Anthony still has a way to go to match his father's shooting, as Kiyan is drilling just 33% from deep.
Someone will have to step up for Syracuse with Freeman out.
Saint Joe's vs. Syracuse Betting Analysis
I'm expecting a low-scoring game here. Syracuse is very used to rock fights. It scored 80+ points in three buy games to begin the season, and then it scored fewer than 70+ points in three of four games against top-25 caliber squads.
This game is somewhere in the middle. The Hawks are better than Monmouth, Binghamton and Drexel, but it still should be a sweat-free win for Cuse.
Why will it be low scoring? Saint Joe's has adequate ball-handlers and doesn't turn it over much. That'll force Cuse to operate in the half-court, which is slower and a struggle.
On the other hand, the Hawks struggle to crack 60+ when the shots don't fall, so I don't expect them to score a ton.
My Pick: Under 145.5 (Play to 143)
