Florida State Seminoles vs Syracuse Orange Picks and Predictions January 4th 2025

Florida State, Syracuse Face Off Seeking First ACC Win

Florida State and Syracuse are both searching for their first Atlantic Coast Conference victory of the season, and one team will finally break through on Saturday night when the Orange visit the Seminoles in Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida State Aims to Bounce Back

Florida State (9-4, 0-2 ACC) is coming off a tough 90-76 loss to Louisville on Dec. 21. The Seminoles struggled to defend the perimeter, allowing the Cardinals to hit 15 3-pointers. Despite the loss, Florida State ranks among the top 30 teams in the nation in opponent 3-point percentage, holding teams to 28.7 percent from beyond the arc.

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Jamir Watkins has been a bright spot for the Seminoles, scoring 25 points against Louisville. Watkins has scored 20 or more points in four straight games and has reached double figures in his last 10 outings, leading the team with 19.5 points per game. Malique Ewin has also been consistent, scoring 17 points in the loss to Louisville and averaging 13.2 points per game this season.

Head coach Leonard Hamilton sees the need for his team to learn from its struggles in ACC play.
“I’m hoping that we learn a lot from this game in how you prepare yourself going against any opponent in the ACC,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton also highlighted the importance of contributions from his bench.
“When you think of the kind of team we are this year, we definitely need our rotation players to make major contributions,” he added.

Syracuse Seeks Road Success

The Orange (6-7, 0-2) are also searching for answers after an 81-71 loss to Wake Forest on New Year’s Eve. Syracuse has yet to win a road game this season, and head coach Adrian Autry is exploring lineup changes to spark the team.

Reserves Lucas Taylor and Kyle Cuffe Jr. saw extended minutes against Wake Forest and made the most of their opportunities. Taylor scored 16 points and Cuffe added 14, with each logging 36 minutes of playing time. Autry has not yet revealed if their increased roles will continue on Saturday.
“We can’t continually keep starting and digging ourselves a hole,” Autry said.
“I’ve got to figure this thing out.”

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Key Matchups and Factors

• Watkins’ Scoring Streak: Jamir Watkins is the focal point of Florida State’s offense. Syracuse must find a way to limit his impact.
• Bench Contributions: Both teams need their reserves to step up. Florida State’s rotation players and Syracuse’s Taylor and Cuffe will play crucial roles.
• Syracuse’s Road Woes: The Orange are winless away from home this season, and finding consistency on the road will be critical.

Both teams are eager to turn the page and earn their first ACC win. Florida State will lean on its top scorers and defensive capabilities, while Syracuse hopes lineup adjustments will provide the spark needed for a road victory.