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This is an 11/6 matchup that is almost a pick’em game. Oregon has been red-hot as of late while the Gamecocks fizzled out in their conference tournament. This looks to be a slow-paced, low-scoring game.
These odds were updated at 9 pm EST on 03/20/24; the odds came from Draft Kings.
In this matchup, I took an in-depth look at Oregon and South Carolina’s guard play strengths compared to each other. Jackson Shelstad and Chris Couisnard from Oregon could easily combine for 40-plus points; by comparison, Meechie Johnson and Ta’Lon Cooper from South Carolina don’t provide as much scoring punch.
The Gamecocks attempt 3s on 41% of their field-goal attempts and will rely heavily on making these shots as their offense has one of the slowest tempos (354th).
Oregon was stellar defensively during the Pac-12 tourney, holding all three opponents under 70 points – Arizona specifically recorded just 59! Oregon can adapt its pace based on who its opponent is; for this matchup, it might be advantageous to go faster.
N’Faly Dante has proven himself an effective threat on the interior. He scored 25 points on 12-for-12 shooting against Colorado and showed no sign of slowing down against South Carolina. South Carolina could struggle to contain this 6-foot-11, 230-pound beast!
South Carolina holds an edge here by only 1.5 points. Oregon could make the most of its momentum going into this matchup, and I recommend backing it. Check out our top March Madness parlay picks.
Prediction: Oregon 68 South Carolina 61
You get an excellent moneyline for betting on either team in this game, the Oregon moneyline is the bet in this game because Oregon will win this game comfortably.
The over/under aligns with where I think it should be. I believe the under hits in this one. This is a game destined for the 60s or even 50s.
I honestly think the wrong team is favored in this game as the Ducks have played better as of late and have better guard play. The point spread to me is because the Gamecocks are in the SEC, which, as a conference, gets more respect than the PAC 12. Check out our other March Madness first round upsets.
Dante has been instrumental in leading Oregon to an an NCAA Tournament berth. He averages 16.2 points per game and scores at least 14.5 in 14 of 20 games played this year.
Dante Dante stands out as Oregon’s go-to guy when big games need to be won. He averaged 20.3 points across three Pac-12 Tournament games and was eventually honored as its Most Valuable Player.
South Carolina prides itself on an impressive three-point defense. Dante has yet to attempt a three-pointer in college but should make the most of his position inside in this game.
Did not play this season
This game will be played at a slow pace. The Gamecocks are having a great year, but the Ducks are peaking at the right time and will win a slow-scoring game in the 60s.
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