World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Syracuse vs. St. John’s prediction: Kiyan Anthony faces biggest test at MSG
Syracuse and St John’s will renew their basketball rivalry at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, meeting there for the first time since 2015. The game gives Syracuse an early-season test against the 13th-ranked team and a chance to end a four-game losing run against the Red Storm.
The article’s featured bet is Syracuse guard Kiyan Anthony to score over 13.5 points, at odds of -114 with FanDuel. Anthony, the son of Carmelo Anthony, has averaged 15.7 points off the bench and exceeded the line in each of his first three games, but St John’s presents a tougher test: it is an 11.5-point favourite and ranks 15th in adjusted defensive efficiency.
In short
- Syracuse and St John’s meet at Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2015.
- St John’s is favoured by 11.5 points.
- The featured bet is Kiyan Anthony over 13.5 points.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Backing Anthony to score over 13.5 points is supported by his early form: he is averaging 15.7 points and has cleared the line in each of his first three games. Syracuse may also need his scoring in a high-profile rivalry match that offers a chance to end its recent losing run against St John’s.
The case against
St John’s presents a substantially tougher defensive test than Anthony’s opening opponents, ranking 15th in adjusted defensive efficiency, and is favoured by 11.5 points. His scoring average comes from only three games, so it may not reliably predict his output against a stronger opponent, particularly if Syracuse struggles to keep the game close.
Explained simply
Syracuse and St John’s are university basketball teams whose rivalry dates back decades. Madison Square Garden, an arena in New York City, has often hosted games between them, though they have not met there since 2015.
Kiyan Anthony is a guard in his first season playing for Syracuse and the son of former Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony. A points line is a bookmaker’s estimate of how many points a player will score; bets can be placed on whether he finishes above or below it.
St John’s is ranked among the country’s leading teams and is known for its strong defence. The matchup matters as an early measure of how Syracuse compares with a highly rated opponent and because the teams have a long-running local rivalry.