Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Syracuse basketball team is a 9.5-point favorite over UConn heading into Thursday night's game at Madison Square Garden, according to the website VegasInsider.com.
The game will tip-off at 7 p.m. and is part of the 2K Empire Classic. The winner of that game will meet the winner of a game between Iowa and Oregon the following day. The losers will also face each other.
Both teams are 2-0 entering the game. UConn has wins over Morehead State (80-70) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City (94-66). Syracuse also has a win over Morehead State (84-70), along with Eastern Washington (66-34).