Syracuse vs Clemson Odds, Picks and Predictions: Girard Flexes Range on Senior Night

The fourth seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament and a two-round bye is still up for grabs in the final week of conference play, with the Syracuse Orange and Clemson Tigers fighting for that spot Tuesday night.

The Tigers are sizable home favorites on the college basketball odds board and beat the Orange 68-77 inside the Carrier Dome back on February 10. However, that shook something alive in SU, which has won five of its following six games (4-2 ATS) and pushed past Clemson in the standings.

I dissect the spread and Over/Under total for this crucial ACC contest and give my best college basketball picks for Syracuse at Clemson on March 5.

Syracuse vs Clemson best odds

Syracuse vs Clemson picks and predictions

Tuesday night will be a special one for Clemson Tigers guard Joe Girard III. Not only is it Senior Night inside Littlejohn Coliseum but Girard will be playing his final home game against his former team. 

“You can’t script this type of stuff,” Girard’s father, Joe Jr. told The Post and Courier. “There has to be some kind of divine intervention with how the world works sometimes.”

Girard, who played four seasons with the Syracuse Orange, is the Tigers’ second-leading scorer and their top threat from beyond the arc. He averages 15.6 points with the bulk of those buckets coming from deep. On the season, Girard’s shooting 42.6% from 3-point range and knocking down an average of three triples on seven attempts. 

Logo Joe made three or more 3-pointers in seven of his last nine outings, with those two outliers coming on the road. And the last time he took on the Orange, he made 4 of 5 from distance and finished with 18 points. The 6-foot-2 native of Glen Falls, New York is set up for another big night from downtown against Syracuse. 

Not only do the Orange play a frenetic pace that produces more possessions for opponents, but they also give up close to eight triples on 22.6 attempts and have allowed ACC foes to fire at better than 38% from outside — second worst in the conference.

In terms of SU matching up with Clemson’s playbook, the Tigers rank Top 75 in points per play on both catch-and-shoot and off-the-dribble 3-pointers, according to ShotQualityBets. The Orange’s defense sits 305th and 311th in points per play allowed to those play sets.

Player projections for Girard are calling for 17.5 points and forecast 3.3 makes from beyond the 3-point arc tonight. Given the matchup, the extra motivation, and Girard’s recent outside output, he’s going to take and make plenty from the perimeter.

My best bet: Joe Girard Over 2.5 made threes (-115 at bet365)

Syracuse vs Clemson same-game parlay

Joe Girard 15+ points

Joe Girard 3+ made threes

Clemson moneyline

+135 at bet365

Girard hung 18 on his former team last time out and is projected for 17+ tonight. He's made 3+ triples in five straight home games and averages 3.1 makes from deep at home on the season.

Clemson should take care of business against a surging Syracuse team, chasing down the No. 4 seed in the ACC Tournament.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Syracuse vs Clemson spread and Over/Under analysis

Clemson opened as big as a 9.5-point home favorite and this spread has trimmed a touch to -9 at some books. According to Covers Consensus, 64% of picks are taking the points with the visitor as of Tuesday morning.

The Tigers’ win over SU was part of a three-game winning streak to kick off the month, with Clemson going 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS since upsetting UNC on Feb. 6. The 9.5-point spread for this clash with Syracuse is the biggest line the Tigers have tackled during conference play, going 10-12-1 ATS as a favorite and 7-7-1 ATS as home chalk.

The Tigers hope to have an important piece of the puzzle back against the Orange tonight. Forward Jack Clark missed this weekend’s loss at Notre Dame due to an illness, taking away Clemson’s best body on the boards. The 6-foot-10 senior averages more than five rebounds per game.

Syracuse has seen a significant uptick in offense since that loss to the Tigers. The Orange have scored 82+ points in each of those last five wins, leaning into an up-tempo attack to overwhelm opponents. 

The Orange have won and covered in their last two road games — at UL and NC State — improving to 4-6 ATS as a visitor this season. Syracuse hasn’t been this big of a road underdog since closing +11.5 at UNC back on Jan. 13. The Orange are just 5-8 ATS when catching points this season.

Tonight’s total opened at 153 points and has bounced between 152.5 and 153.5 at some books. As of Tuesday morning, Covers Consensus shows 59% of picks taking the Over.

Clemson is 15-14 Over/Under overall, including an 8-7 O/U record at home. The Tigers ride a four-game Under streak into Tuesday and are 2-6 O/U going back to their last matchup with SU, which finished Under the closing total of 153.5 points.

As for Syracuse, this current offensive renaissance has birthed a 5-1 O/U count in the six games since losing to Clemson at home. On the season, the Orange are 17-12-1 O/U with a 7-3 O/U mark as visitors. 

Syracuse vs Clemson betting trend to know

Joe Girard has made three or more 3-pointers in seven of his last nine games overall, including four triples against SU on the road on Feb. 10. Find more college basketball betting trends for Syracuse vs. Clemson.

Syracuse vs Clemson game info

Syracuse vs Clemson key injuries

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