Oregon Ducks Vs USC Trojans Sweet 16 Betting Picks, Lines & Predictions
So far, the PAC 12 schools have dominated the March Madness Sweet 16 betting action. They have 9 wins combined and only one loss. Two of the conference powerhouses will square off on Sunday night as No. 7 seed Oregon takes on No. 6 USC in a battle for Elite Eight. The two teams met only once this season, with the Trojans notching a 72-58 home victory.
Since that loss in February, the Ducks won 8 games out of 9, losing only to Oregon State in PAC 12 Tournament semifinals. Over the season they’re 21-6 SU and 15-12 ATS. Under coach Dana Altman, Oregon has missed the Big Dance only once in the last 8 years. On each of those appearances, they’ve won at least one game and won to Sweet 16 five times.
USC has a 24-7 overall record this season, covering the spread in 15 games. This will be their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2007 and only second for head coach Andy Enfield. They played some superb basketball since the beginning of February going 12-1 before losing to Colorado in the PAC 12 Tournament semifinals.
Oregon Ducks Vs USC Trojans Sweet 16 Betting Line Movement
The opening Sweet 16 betting odds favored USC by -1. A bit of early action going against the Trojans moved the line up a little, to -2 at most sportsbooks. The total was initially set at 138 where it stands now after rising 139 during the week.
Notes On The USC Trojans
After their performances last weekend, the Trojans are seen by many as potential dark horses to go all the Sweet 16 betting way. They opened the tournament easily disposing of the Drake 72-56, but the real statement came in the Second Round. USC pummeled Kansas 85-51 for the third-worst loss in the Jayhawks’ history. Led by the Mobley brothers, USC dominated on both sides of the court. Their length and athleticism on defense were a problem for the opponents all year. Since the middle of January, the Trojans have allowed more than 72 points only once. At the moment they rank fifth in adjusted defensive efficiency. However, Oregon is a tough team to match up with as all members of their starting five shoot over 36% from the deep. The defense at the 3-point line will be the key for the Trojans. In their previous matchup, they kept the Ducks to only seven made threes and won comfortably.
The Trojans are led by a potential to-5 draft pick Evan Mobley. The freshman 7-footer is PAC 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Mobley is averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per contest.
Notes On The Oregon Ducks
The Ducks automatically advanced to the Second Round after VCU was forced to forfeit due to the Covid-19 protocols. However, they were more than impressive in the Second round beating No. 2 seed Iowa by 15. It was a masterclass on offense against one of the best Sweet 16 betting teams in the country. Plenty of assists led to easy points and Oregon shot over 52% for the fifth straight game. Currently, the Ducks rank 10th in adjusted offensive efficiency. Still, there are some worrisome issues on the other end of the court. The squad is undersized and has problems defending inside and protecting the rim. In the Iowa game, Hawkeyes’ star Luka Garza abused Oregon’s interior defense scoring 36 and adding 9 rebounds. It’s easy to see Evan Mobley having a field day under the rim on Sunday night.
Oregon has a well-balanced team with all five starters averaging double-digits. The standout is certainly lead guard Chris Duarte who averages 17.0 ppg. Against Iowa, Duarte scored 23 on only 12 shots.
Oregon Ducks Vs USC Trojans Sweet 16 Betting Pick: Over 138
We can expect a slower Sweet 16 betting game compared to what we’ve seen in the previous round. Still, it’s a duel of two excellent and efficient offenses. Oregon’s guard-dominated lineup could easily get hot from the three while USC will feast under the basket and on second-chance points. In addition, the last 8 of Oregon’s games went OVER.
