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Villanova at Syracuse

This Saturday The No. 3 Syracuse Orange (18-1, 5-1 Big East) will try to bounce back from their first loss of the season when they host the No. 7 Villanova Wildcats (16-2, 4-1 Big East). Tip-off is set for 12:00 ET at the Carrier Dome and will be televised nationally on ESPN.

The odds for this game have not yet been posted, but are sure to be up shortly.

Villanova also comes into the game off a loss, as they lost 61-59 at No. 8 Connecticut on Monday. The Wildcats are now 1-1 on the road in Big East play.

The Wildcats were without sophomore guard Dominic Cheek in their last game against the Huskies. Cheek is recovering from a sprained left knee, and is listed as questionable to play against the Orange. Cheek is averaging 7.1 points on the season

Corey Fisher has really played well since the start of conference play, averaging 19 points a game. Fisher had a season-high 28 points against the Huskies, and is shooting 52% from three-point range over his last four games.

Corey Stokes is second on the team averaging 15.8 a game, but went 0-6 from the field and scored just three points in the loss to Connecticut. In Stokes last six games he has failed to score at least 10 in three of them, but in the other three games he has scored at least 22 points. There is no question that Villanova needs Stokes to be on his game to beat Syracuse on their home court.

Syracuse lost its first game of the season 74-66 at Pittsburgh, but to their defense they were without there leading scorer Kris Joseph, who suffered a head injury and wasn’t cleared to play. Joseph however has been practicing and is more than likely going to start Saturday against Villanova. Joseph is averaging 14.5 points and five rebounds a game this season.

With Joseph out of the lineup, freshman C.J. Fair received 36 minutes of playing time and responded with 16 points and nine rebounds. Fair had played hadn’t played more than 22 minutes all season. Don’t be surprised to see head coach Jim Boeheim starts getting the freshman more involved after that performance.

Scoop Jardine and Rick Jackson average just over 13 points a game, but Jardine dishes out nearly six assists a game and Jackson hauls in nearly 12 boards a game. These two combined for just 22 points with Joseph out of the lineup, and don’t be surprised if they have a big game at home against the Wildcats.

Syracuse rolled the Wildcats 95-77 at home last season, and I think you have to take the Orange to win this game at home. Villanova had won the previous two at Syracuse, and there is no question they have the talent to win this game, but I think the Orange will find a way to win in front of what could be a record crowd.