Virginia vs Syracuse Prediction 3/8/25 College Basketball Picks

The Virginia Cavaliers and Syracuse Orange meet on Saturday in college basketball action at JMA Wireless Dome. Here’s a Virginia vs Syracuse prediction. This article will include a Virginia vs Syracuse Pick.

Virginia Cavaliers Betting Preview

The Virginia Cavaliers (15-15, 13-17 ATS) connected three wins from early to mid-February, and that was just the second time this season the Cavs recorded three wins in a row. Virginia then lost three of the next five after falling to Duke, North Carolina, and Clemson, and defeating Wake Forest and Florida State. Virginia is 9th in the ACC Standings with the same record as Virginia Tech and is ten games behind the No. 1 seed Duke.

Virginia averages 64.8 PPG (404th) and allows 66.2 PPG (34th). The Cavaliers are 446th in rebounds (29.8) and 99th in assists (15.1). Isaac McKneely leads the team with 14.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, and 3.0 APG. Elijah Saunders follows him with 10.6 PPG and 5.1 RPG, while Andrew Rohde has 9.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, a team-high 4.4 APG, and a team-high 1.0 SPG. 

Syracuse Orange Betting Preview

The Syracuse Orange (12-18, 15-13-2 ATS) are struggling right now and I believe they just want this season to be over. Syracuse lost five of the previous six games and is coming home from a pair of road defeats to Virginia Tech and SMU. The Orange recorded only three wins since January 18 and it’s not surprising to see them in 15th place in the ACC Standings with 12 games behind the leaders Duke Blue Devils.

Syracuse is averaging 75.4 PPG (142nd) and is allowing 78.7 PPG (334th). The Orange are getting 37.4 RPG (84th) and dish out 13.7 APG (203rd). J.J. Starling is the team’s top performer with 18.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 2.8 APG. Donnie Freeman adds 13.4 PPG and 7.9 RPG, while Eddie Lampkin Jr. contributes 11.1 PPG, a team-high 9.6 RPG, and 2.2 APG.

Why Virginia will beat Syracuse

• Virginia has won each of its last six games against Syracuse.
• Syracuse has lost five of its last six games.
• Virginia has won the first half in four of its last five road games against the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Matchup/League Facts

• Virginia ranks 362nd among Division 1 teams for pace this season (60.8).
• Virginia ranks 359th among Division 1 teams for field goal attempts per game this season (51.5).

Virginia vs Syracuse Prediction

Virginia has dominated this fixture in recent years; the Cavaliers won nine of the previous ten H2H meetings. Virginia won each of the last six encounters and was victorious in the past five visits to Syracuse. The Cavaliers are in better form at the moment and they even won four of the previous five road games, while the Orange lost three of the last four home games. I just don’t like how Syracuse is playing this year, and although I am not impressed with Virginia as well, I do lean toward the Cavaliers here. I am backing the visitors.

Oliver Zivic's Pick: Virginia ML