Closest to the Pin Round 28: Syracuse (Rivalry Game Bonus Points)
Update: Monday, February 21 (Game Results). With the Cat’s 64-69 loss at home to Syracuse in this rivalry game (with bonus points), we congratulate four VU Hoops readers who took medals in this round. Gold Medal: regred (63-67), earning 7.5 points each; Silver Medal: dom (70-69), earning 4.5 points; Bronze Medals: Ed’77 (66-64) and Rick’09 (67-65) earning 1.5 points each.  Our updated leader board is provided below.
VUHoops vs. Vegas: Based on the average predicted scores of the VUHoops Crowd and the posted Vegas line, we would have lost $200 by betting ‘Nova -4 (loss) and the Over (loss). The details follow. With the double-loss, we drop to +$300 for the season.
| VU Hoops | Vegas | Bet | Actual | Result | |
| Spread | ‘Nova -5.0 | ‘Nova -4.0 | ‘Nova -4.0 | ‘Cuse by 5 | LOSS |
| Total | 137.0 | 136.0 | OVER | 133 | LOSS |
Leader Board After 28 Rounds
| Reader | Points |
| regred | 25.0 |
| BarneyRubble | 21.0 |
| Hugh Jass | 21.0 |
| Beardog | 18.5 |
| Mouph Man | 15.5 |
| Pat’12 | 15.0 |
| chuck st.petersburg | 14.5 |
| Joe | 14.5 |
| TC’87 | 13.5 |
| novafan95 | 12.5 |
| mj | 12.0 |
| Robertrise | 11.0 |
| hit the bid | 10.5 |
| Joey | 10.5 |
| Nervous Nelly | 10.5 |
| NovaFlyer | 10.0 |
| Palsgraf | 10.0 |
| TK87 | 9.5 |
| dom | 8.5 |
| Old School | 8.0 |
| Pena Power | 8.0 |
| Simple’07 | 8.0 |
| Two in the Pinkston | 8.0 |
| Chicken Dinner | 7.5 |
| NovaCat94 | 7.5 |
| Dj pizzle | 7.0 |
| mfc4293 | 7.0 |
| REPRESENT804 | 7.0 |
| DP5 | 6.5 |
| friartownmayor | 6.5 |
| Kittlesfan95 | 6.5 |
| Steph | 6.5 |
| mattymo | 5.5 |
| Clarkkell | 5.0 |
| honey badger | 5.0 |
| Jmac’09 | 5.0 |
| Kait’08 | 5.0 |
| marty1029 | 5.0 |
| SeanDon | 5.0 |
| Ed’77 | 4.5 |
| gaparch | 4.5 |
| Stevie V | 4.5 |
| Andy’06 | 4.0 |
| Colt | 4.0 |
| Ed’08 | 4.0 |
| doctor feelgoodes | 3.5 |
| Jimmy | 3.5 |
| Arctic Cat | 3.0 |
| Bill ’77 | 3.0 |
| CJ | 3.0 |
| DMC | 3.0 |
| Mark Anderson | 3.0 |
| miles’88 | 3.0 |
| Novachamps22 | 3.0 |
| Schitzengigles | 3.0 |
| Tommyboy | 3.0 |
| cdtoffers | 2.5 |
| Pete (Aliti 13) | 2.5 |
| super nova | 2.5 |
| David ’06 | 2.0 |
| Lou ’06 | 2.0 |
| pttam7yanks | 2.0 |
| Bri’13 | 1.5 |
| CMM | 1.5 |
| EG’77 | 1.5 |
| Esto | 1.5 |
| FLM’33 | 1.5 |
| Mark A | 1.5 |
| mprams | 1.5 |
| Rick19 | 1.5 |
| Johnnyb1 | 1.0 |
| Loser Cruiser | 1.0 |
| MarkA | 1.0 |
| Matt | 1.0 |
| Muhley | 1.0 |
| Rich’09 | 1.0 |
| The Chameleon | 1.0 |
| Vinny’06 | 1.0 |
| bgunn | 0.5 |
| Brendan ’10 | 0.5 |
| Christopher Coggins | 0.5 |
| David | 0.5 |
| FishersTalent13 | 0.5 |
Update: Monday, February 21 (Game Time). A total of 54 VUHoops readers posted predictions, three picking the Orange to win. As a group, the readers see ‘Nova winning by a score of 71-66 (a margin of 5.0 points and implied over/under of 137). The Vegas odds makers are picking ‘Nova to win by 4.0 points and set the over/under higher at 136.0 points, implying a final score of 70-66. KenPom.com’s model is predicting Nova to win by 5.0 points by a score of 71-66.
Scatter Plot of Predicted Scores
Window Opening: Saturday , February 20 (2:30 PM). The window is now open for readers to post their predicted final scores for ‘Nova’s game at Syracuse on Monday at 7:00 PM (Wells Fargo Center) in our Closest to the Pin Contest. After twenty-seven rounds, Barney Rubble and Hugh Jass remain tied for the lead with 21.0 points. Click here to see our current leader board. In our VUHoops vs. Vegas competition, VUHoops is up $500 for the season.
Note: This is the fourth and last in our series of Rivalry Games. Points increased as follows: Bulls-eye = 15 points; Gold (non-bulls-eye) =7.5 pts; Silver = 4.5 pts; Bronze = 1.5 pts. The final three games of the contest will return to normal points.
The #15 Cats (21-6, 9-5) have an RPI of 24, a SOS of 39. The #17 Orange (22-6, 9-6) have an RPI of 22, a SOS of 26, and are scoring an average of 73.0 PPG while giving up an average of 63.1. In their first head-to-head contest on January 22 in Syracuse, the Cat’s prevailed 83-72. The margins of victory / defeat for all of Syracuse’s Big East games so far this season are as follows:
| SYRACUSE WINS | MARGIN | |
| Cincinnati | 15 | |
| Connecticut | 8 | |
| Notre Dame | 12 | |
| Providence | 7 | |
| Rutgers | 4 | |
| Seton Hall | 5 | |
| South Florida | 23 | |
| St. John’s | 17 | |
| West Virginia | 11 | |
| SYRACUSE LOSSES | MARGIN | |
| Georgetown | -8 | |
| Louisville | -4 | |
| Marquette | -6 | |
| Pittsburgh | -8 | |
| Seton Hall | -22 | |
| Villanova | -11 |
More statistical information about Syracuse is available at Statsheet.com.
KenPom.com’s model is predicting Nova to win by 5.0 points by a score of 71-66.
Be sure to check out Brian’s game preview, ‘Cuse Preview, for more insight on this contest.
Special Note: When posting scores, please remember to list your predicted score for Villanova first, followed by the opponent’s score (e.g., ‘Nova 70 – Syracuse 65).
