Oregon Ducks (23-11) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (26-7)
March 21, 2024 4:00 pm EDT
The Line: South Carolina Gamecocks +1; Over/Under: +133.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Oregon Ducks and the South Carolina Gamecocks meet Thursday in the college basketball NCAA Tournament First Round at the PPG Paints Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Oregon vs. South Carolina Prediction.
Oregon Team Preview
The Oregon Ducks come into the NCAA tournament as the Pac-12 champions, finishing with a record of 23-11 up to this point. N’Faly Dante has 16.2 PPG and 8.8 RPG in 20 games so far this season and Jermaine Couisnard has 15.4 PPG with 4.5 RPG and 3.3 APG while Jackson Shelstad has 13.1 PPG with 2.8 APG this season. Kwame Evans Jr. has 4.9 RPG as well this season. As a team, Oregon is averaging 75.3 PPG on 45.7% shooting from the field, 33.6% from three and 71.5% from the foul line this season.
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South Carolina Team Preview
The South Carolina Gamecocks come into the NCAA tournament on behalf of the SEC after finishing the year 26-7 overall. Meechie Johnson leads the Gamecocks in scoring with 13.8 PPG along with 4.2 RPG and 2.9 APG while B.J. Mack has 13.6 PPG with 4.7 RPG this season. Collin Murray-Boyles has 10.6 PPG and a team-high 5.9 RPG to lead the Gamecocks in rebounding while capping off the trio of double-digit scorers for South Carolina so far this season. Ta’Lon Cooper also has 9.7 PPG with 4.3 RPG and a team-high 4.2 APG to lead the Gamecocks in assists this season. As a team, South Carolina is averaging 72 PPG on 43.9% shooting from the field, 33.5% from three and 71.4% from the foul line this season.
Oregon vs. South Carolina Prediction
I’m leaning towards Oregon here. I love South Carolina, but my love aside, I have to face facts that I don’t think the Gamecocks have anyone that can slow down N’Faly Dante inside. Dante was a beast in the Pac-12 tournament, shooting 25 of 30, including 12 for 12 in the Pac-12 title game. I think that’s going to be the difference in what I think is an otherwise tight affair. Give me the Ducks.
