The set-up: Virginia is the defending national champion, so clearly Syracuse will be out to push the pace and get the Cavs "out of their comfort zone." The Orange actually enter the season "firing on all cylindres," winning two exhibition games and then going to Italy and winning all four games over there as well. This early chemistry in my opinion is going to help in pushing this total over the number.

The pick: Virginia has new faces, with six players missing from last year's suffocating defensive squad. The Cavs got the job done last year by slowing things down, but I have a hard time seeing this group duplicating that feat this season. And especially on Opening night vs. this Orange side which is playing at an extremely high level before the season has even started. When you add it all up, this one has "over" written all over it.

10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the OVER Virginia/Syracuse.