The Oregon Ducks will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in what's set to be a Monday thriller on CBS. It’s time to continue the NCAA odds series and make an Oregon-Iowa prediction and pick.
These two teams have had a completely different start to the 2021 tournament. Iowa took care of their business while Oregon sat around watching. The Ducks won by default as VCU received multiple positive tests and were automatically bounced. Iowa wasn't at its best against Grand Canyon in the first round, but will they have the advantage against a rested Ducks squad?
Here is how the sportsbooks set the odds for this game.
NCAA Odds: Oregon-Iowa Odds
Oregon Ducks +5 (-119)
Iowa Hawkeyes -5 (-101)
Over 148.5 (-115)
Under 148.5 (-105)
Why Oregon Could Cover the Spread
The Oregon Ducks received a historic win in the round of 64 as the VCU Rams were the first team in tournament history to be eliminated before tip-off. The Ducks have the rest advantage in this game for sure. Their last game was a 10-point loss against the Oregon State Beavers in the Pac 12 tournament. Despite the loss, Oregon is 6-1 SU in their last seven and 5-1 ATS in their last six. They are also 5-1 ATS in their last six games against Big 10 opponents and 7-3 ATS in their last ten games as an underdog. This team embraces adversity and has huge upside going into tournament play.
The offense is what has fueled the Ducks success in 2021. Oregon's leading scorers Eugene Omoruyi and Chris Duarte are able to get theirs at will, both averaging 16.7 points per game on the season. The Oregon Ducks are especially good from the outside. They shoot 37.9% from beyond the arc, which is good for 19th in the nation. They will always look to shoot the ball at a high rate as their past seven games have all hit over the total. With notable wins against UCLA, Oregon State, Stanford, and Colorado in 2021, the Oregon Ducks will look to reach their fourth consecutive Sweet Sixteen.
Why Iowa Could Cover the Spread
The Iowa Hawkeyes were tested early against the 15th-seeded Grand Canyon Antelopes. They managed to pull away in the second half to secure a date with Oregon in the round of 32. Big 10 Player of the Year Luka Garza was vital in securing the victory, going for 24 points in the win. Garza and right-hand man Joe Wieskamp are crucial for the Hawkeyes and have shown up on a consistent basis all season. The duo has led Iowa's offense in becoming a top-10 unit in both points scored and offensive rating.
The Hawkeyes thrive on moving the defense by playing unselfish basketball. They averaged 19.1 assists per game in 2021, which led the nation. This is the ultimate recipe for success as they're able to regularly create high percentage looks for their squad. This was shown in the win against Grand Canyon as Iowa shot 53.7% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc. The Hawkeyes will look to continue their recent success as they've gone 9-2 SU in their last eleven and 20-4 SU in their last 24 as the favorites.
Final Oregon-Iowa Prediction & Pick
This game is going to be electrifying on all accounts. The Oregon Ducks are a lethal bunch that possess all of the tools to pull off a second round upset. They will certainly come out the aggressors and will have to play extremely efficient basketball for forty minutes. I just don't see them being able to maintain the offensive productivity that will be necessary to compete with this Hawkeyes team. Iowa will share the ball, find good looks, and hit them at a ridiculously high clip as usual. Iowa has been playing so well all year and will continue their success into the Sweet Sixteen.
FINAL OREGON-IOWA PREDICTION AND PICK: Iowa -5 (-101)
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