The Syracuse Orange (13-10, 4-6) are on the road for their second straight game against a top-20 team. Tomorrow the Orange will take on the #18 Virginia Cavaliers (19-3, 8-2). The game tips at Noon on ESPN with Roy Philpott and Jon Crispin on the call.

Here’s our predictions for tomorrow:

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Kevin: Virginia 77, Syracuse 68

I think this is another one that’s ugly in the first half and then the Orange close to make the final score more respectable. Thijs De Ridder is going to be tough for Syracuse to contain inside and his ability to force the defense to try and help is going to open up more shots for Virginia. Syracuse probably has one more upset in them, but I don’t think this is the game we’ll see it.

Dom: Virginia 74, Syracuse 60

Virginia is 11-1 at home, continues to roll despite a few scores, has talent from guard to center. Did I mention Virginia is at home? Jokes aside, ‘Cuse has had its moments historically in Charlottesville. I think there will be some fight from the Orange defense. That said, the other side of the court really concerns me for Syracuse. Play all the hits: side-to-side action with no cutting, contested looks over multiple players, one-shot possessions, etc. Offense is a major worry, and that ultimately caps off the chances of an upset.

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Max: Virginia 80, Syracuse 62

I really don’t see how the Orange can compete with the Cavaliers, who have the advantage in basically every statistical category. While the final score looks respectable against North Carolina, it was really anything but for the first 30 minutes. Syracuse won’t be able to hide from an ugly score this time around, as UVA will feast on the glass and play defense like the Hoos of old in a Charlottesville rout.

Szuba: Virginia 81, Syracuse 70

Tough one for Syracuse as Virginia isn’t a team with an exploitable weakness. This is a balanced Virginia squad, one that I think the Orange will have trouble slowing down from a defensive standpoint. The Orange should get offensive production behind Donnie Freeman and JJ Starling, but it’s not hard to envision Odom’s group shutting down Syracuse’s perimeter players and the Orange struggling with the two 7-footers inside (Grunloh, Onyenso). Virginia by double-digits as the Orange slide against ranked opponents on ESPN continues.

*********************************************************************************************************Now it’s your turn. What is your prediction?