Oregon takes on USC in a battle of two Pac-12 teams peaking at the right time. I think this will be one of those back-and-forth tournament classics that won’t be decided until the final minutes, with USC getting the win.
The No. 7 seed Ducks advanced to the second round without winning a game. Their first round contest with VCU was voided after the Rams announced there were several positive tests for COVID-19 tests within the program. The Ducks then beat Iowa 95-80 Monday, despite giving up 36 points to Iowa’s star center Luke Garza. Oregon shot 56 percent from the floor and hit 11 3-pointers. Eugene Moruyi had one of his best games of the season, putting up 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks. In all, four Ducks players scored in double-digits, including Moruyi, Chris Duarte (23), LJ Figueroa (21), Will Richardson (19). Oregon had a nine-day break between games, but showed no rust in taking down the No. 2 seed Hawkeyes. The Ducks shot 55.9 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3 in the win. Chris Duarte leads the team in scoring with (17 PPG) and assists (2.5 APG) per game, while shooting 42.8 percent from 3. LJ Figeuroa is their top rebounder (6.2 RPG). No. 6 seed USC destroyed Kansas 85-51 on Sunday to advance. The Tojan’s Mobley brothers tandem led the way on offense, with forward Isiah Mobley scoring 17 points on four-for-five-three point shooting, and younger brother Evan notching a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. As a team the Trojans shot 61.1 percent from 3 in the win. The Tojans have a handful of scoring threats that will make Sunday’s game tough for the Ducks. The 7’ 0’’ Evan Mobley leads the Trojans in points 16.5 (PPG), rebounds 8.8 (RPG) and blocks 3.0 (BPG) all while shooting 58 percent from the field. Mobley finished the season with 93 blocks this year, good for sixth in the nation. Guard Taj Eahddy is averaging 13.5 points per game this season while shooting 44.5 percent from the field. The elder Mobley Isaiah, is shooting 45.7 percent from 3 while averaging 9.5 points per game and 7.3 rebounds. One concerning stat for the Trojan offense: they are shooting only 64.3 percent from the free-throw line. This one is very tough to call. It helps to take a look at the past history between these teams. With both squads being from the Pac-12, they have seen one another plenty of times. In their five games since 2018, USC holds the edge in the series 3-2. The Trojans beat up on Oregon earlier this season 72-58 on 2/22. The Ducks missed on seven of eight three-point shots during one stretch of that game, and were held without a field goal for the final five minutes of play. These are troubling stats if you’re going with Oregon, but I don’t see it happening again. I don’t expect it to be a blowout like February, but I think USC hangs on. I’m going with USC here, giving them the slight edge since they’ve demonstrated recent success against the Ducks. The legal sports betting sites in New Jersey have USC listed as 2.5-point favorites. I like USC to cover in this game. I think it will be close, and since both teams are averaging 75 to 75.1 points per game, taking the over of 139 at -110 odds (BetMGM) is a good bet.
