A game between big time teams takes place tonight in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament when the top seeded Indiana Hoosiers of the East Region and the fourth seeded Syracuse Orange. The game is scheduled for a 9:45 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on CBS. Currently the odds for the game have Indiana as a small favorite.
The Indiana Hoosiers got a serious scare in their last game, trailing the Temple Owls for the majority of the game before going on a run to end the game. Many consider Indiana to be the best overall team in the NCAA Tournament and tonight they'll certainly get pushed by that patented Syracuse zone defense.
The winner of this game will take on the winner from the Marquette/Miami game, which pits the second and third seeded teams in the region. It's only the 15th time since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 — and first since 2009 — that the four highest seeded teams advanced to the regional semifinals, according to STATS LLC.
Victor Oladipo will have a tough time tonight against Syracuse's defense. When Oladipo takes the game over he's always guarded from a man to man standpoint, where he can come off screens and use his athleticism to get pas defenders. Now he and the Hoosiers will have to make adjustments. Cody Zeller will have to battle for space on the interior as well. The Orange have proven in this tournament that they can pack it in down low and they're not going to get beat on the blocks.
James Southerland and Rakeem Christmas are just two of the guys down low that will look to keep Zeller and Indiana at bay.
Michael Carter-Williams has a clear size advantage over anybody that guards him in this game tonight, especially Jordan Hulls. Look for Indiana to switch up some defenses themselves in this one to try and combat the advantage Syracuse will have. Christian Watford will be a major player in the overall outcome of tonight's game. He can stretch the defense out with his perimeter play and against a zone defense that the Orange bring, knocking down open shots will prove to be too much.
Syracuse and Indiana both have great traditions and program but in tonight's game, look for Indiana to come out on top. The Hoosiers have the shooters that can hurt Syracuse's zone defense and if they shoot well tonight, they'll force the Orange to play a more pressure defense. If they do that, it's advantage Indiana.
Free Pick: Indiana 74, Syracuse 68
College Basketball Free Picks: Indiana vs Syracuse Betting
What college basketball bettors need to know about Indiana Hoosiers vs Syracuse Orangemen on Thursday (3/28/13) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Marco D'Angelo, with host Scott Spreitzer.