The Pac-12 continues its tournament dominance as the Oregon Ducks square off against the USC Trojans in the Sweet Sixteen. It’s time to continue the NCAA odds series and make a Oregon-USC prediction and pick.
The conference rivals are fairly even on paper and will provide fireworks for spectators in the last game of the night. Pac 12 teams are 9-1 SU in the tournament this far and have a good chance of having multiple teams represent the conference in the Elite Eight. Which one of these two west coast powerhouses will move on?
Here is how the sportsbooks set the odds for this game.
NCAA Odds: Oregon-USC Odds
Oregon Ducks +2 (-105)
USC Trojans -2 (-115)
Over 137.5 (-110)
Under 137.5 (-110)
Why Oregon Could Cover the Spread
The Oregon Ducks haven't been tested much in the tournament yet. They secured a first-round victory against VCU without stepping onto the court. VCU was disqualified because of COVID, which allowed Oregon to advance automatically. They then took on the second-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes in the round of 32. They absolutely dominated the championship contenders by 15 points. Despite a 36 point outing from Luka Garza, the Ducks absolutely steamrolled the Hawkeyes in a shocking win.
The offensive showing in that game was impressive to say the least. Four Ducks players scored double figures on 55.9% shooting from the field. They held Iowa to 45.6% shooting and 32% from beyond the arc as well. Oregon was scoring at will and had the Hawkeyes pressing on the offensive end to keep up. Oregon has scored at least 80 points in five of their last six games, thanks in large part to the play of standout guard Chris Duarte and forward Eugene Omoruyi. The offense will need to show up in a big way again to pull off an upset victory against the USC Trojans.
Why USC Could Cover the Spread
The USC Trojans have been a dominant force all season long. They possess a two-headed monster in the frontcourt in the Mobley brothers. Evan and Isaiah Mobley have led the Trojans to their first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 2017. USC was especially impressive in their upset win against the Kansas Jayhawks in the second round. They defeated the third-seeded Jayhawks by 34 points and proved why they belong in the championship conversations.
Isaiah led the way in the victory, scoring 17 points on 4-5 shooting from deep. He also added eight rebounds and four assists. Evan Mobley provided another double-double and is a force to be reckoned with on a nightly basis. The two control the paint and stretch the floor, providing elite production that is hard to match. USC collectively shot 57.1% from the floor 61.1% from deep against the Jayhawks. The defense stood tall, holding Kansas to just 29% shooting and 24% from beyond the arc. Rebounding will be the difference maker for the Trojans.
Final Oregon-USC Prediction & Pick
This game is a true tossup. We don't have a large sample size from the Ducks. What we do know about this team is that they score in bunches. USC has also been an offensive juggernaut that has a sustainable recipe for success. I truly believe either one of these teams has what it takes to pull off a victory and it'll come down to who just has a better night. Offense will definitely be present from both teams, which is why I am comfortable backing the over in this highly touted Sweet Sixteen matchup.
FINAL OREGON-USC PICK: Over 137.5 (-110)
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