Orange host Bearcats in Big East betting matchup

Rick Jackson’s 11.8 rebounds per game rank fourth-best in the country.

The No. 4 Syracuse Orange have begun their season winning 17 straight games, with a 3-2 spread record in their last five ‘board’ battles.  Jim Boeheim’s squad looks to extend its streak in Saturday afternoon’s home duel against the Cincinnati Bearcats, who are 1-3 ATS in their four contests against Big East Conference foes.

Syracuse notched its latest victory with Wednesday’s 76-59 win as a three-point road favorite against the St. John’s Red Storm.  The Orange held St. John’s to 36.8 percent field shooting, allowing only 2-for-12 to connect from three-point land.

Orange forward Kris Joseph logged a team-high 18 points, hitting 8-of-11 from the field.  The junior finished with two steals for a third straight game, while adding five boards.

Joseph’s mate Rick Jackson piled in 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.  The Philadelphia native notched his first double-double in four games, while recording two of his team’s five blocks.

The lopsided affair’s combined 135 points leaped above the ‘total’ of 132, ending a 3-0 ‘under’ streak from Syracuse’s prior three games.  Jackson and Co. edged out the Red Storm in boards, 32-26, while finishing with 20 turnovers.

Syracuse is 3-6 ATS in its last nine home ‘board’ dates, with the ‘under’ going 6-3.  The Orange have put up 76.1 PPG in that span.

Cincinnati picked up a 74-66 win as a 13-point home favorite in Wednesday’s battle against the South Florida Bulls.  The Bearcats prevailed despite South Florida sinking 45.7 percent of its field buckets and 21-of-24 free throws.

Bearcats guard Sean Kilpatrick notched a team-high 18 points, playing 23 minutes off the bench.  The freshman drained 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, while adding three assists.

Cincinnati’s Dion Dixon grabbed a team-high six boards en route to finishing with 11 points.  The Bearcats’ leading scorer (12.5 PPG) failed to log a steal for the first time in three games.

The contest’s combined 140 points soared above the ‘total’ of 121 ½, dropping the ‘under’ to 6-1 in Cincy’s last seven NCAA odds duels.  Dixon and Co. logged a sparse seven turnovers, while South Florida committed 18 of them.

Cincinnati is 2-1 ATS in its first three road games, with the ‘under’ also going 2-1.  The Bearcats have allowed a stingy 55.7 PPG in that stretch.

Syracuse won last February’s matchup against the Bearcats, 71-54, covering ATS as a four-point road favorite.  The Orange went 8-for-16 from three-point range, while Cincy’s Yancy Gates hit 5-of-5 from the field.  Both squads struggled to connect from the foul line, uniting to sink a meager 24-of-44.

Saturday’s tip is scheduled for 9 a.m. (PT), with ESPN3.com providing television coverage.

The Orange are in a potential look-ahead situation, visiting the No. 5 Pittsburgh Panthers as part of Monday’s college hoops schedule.  Cincinnati will be off for three days, resuming action with Wednesday’s road matchup against the No. 11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.