The Pac 12 is getting interesting down the stretch and USC and Oregon are big reasons why. They aren’t in the top tier with UCLA and Arizona, but USC has beaten UCLA and Oregon has beaten Arizona. At 17-6 and 9-3 in Pac-12 play, the USC Trojans are in third place, the 14-10 (8-5) Oregon Ducks are fifth.
The Trojans have won four-straight conference games, but they’re underdogs on the road up in Eugene tonight. Let’s get into the odds for this crucial game in the Conference of Champions.
USC vs. Oregon odds, spread and total
USC vs. Oregon prediction and pick
Oregon has a very real identity, and that identity is very similar to the design on their court: Trees. Last time out against Arizona State, they got back to starting two centers with N’Faly Dante and Nate Bittle. Then they still can bring Quincy Guerrier and Kel’el Ware off the bench. That’s four guys who are 7-footers or nearly 7-footers and they try to dominate in the paint. The only problem is that’s exactly what USC does, but without the same amount of size.
USC has been dominating their opponents with their two-point defense. Their opponents are shooting 42% from inside the arc, that’s the lowest in the entire country. That’s a problem for Oregon, but USC has a much bigger one. Joshua Morgan, who is averaging 2.4 blocks a game and is their main deterrent in the paint is out indefinitely with an injury. Last game, they had to start a four-guard lineup.
Vincent Iwuchukwu doesn’t strike the same fear in opponents who are driving down the lane that Morgan does. Last game, Washington shot 47.4% from two-point range, the first game without Morgan. That would be 74th in the country, still good, but not elite, and not enough to beat the trees up in Oregon.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change
