USC vs Oregon Odds, Picks and Predictions: Trojans Give Ducks a Scare

Following a disappointing start to the year in non-conference play, the USC Trojans hope to turn things around in Eugene on Thursday night for the start of conference play against the Oregon Ducks. 

The much-hyped return of Bronny James hasn’t been a cure-all just yet, but all eyes are on the starlet as he continues to work his way back to the court. 

Despite battling a myriad of injuries, the Ducks have won four of their last five games and enter Pac-12 play with confidence. Looking at college basketball odds, the Ducks are short 2.5-point favorites while the total has been set at 148.5. 

Is it time to buy low on the Trojans or give up hope? Check out my free college basketball picks for USC vs. Oregon on Thursday, December 28 to find out. 

USC vs Oregon best odds

USC vs Oregon picks and predictions

The USC Trojans enter this contest having lost three of their last four games, and Enfield’s squad desperately needs a win to begin conference play on better ground. There’s still plenty of talent on the roster, including a loaded backcourt of Boogie Ellis and freshman Isaiah Collier.

The talent has not coalesced into a cohesive whole. Losses against Oklahoma, Gonzaga, and Auburn are all excusable. Losses to UC Irvine and Long Beach State...not so much.

Now for the Oregon Ducks, who defeated Kent State 84-70 in their last contest to mark a fourth victory in their last five games. They’ve stayed afloat despite injuries to many key pieces. Star big man N’Faly Dante remains out for at least another week while five-star freshman forward Mookie Cook also won’t make his appearance yet Thursday either. The good news is guard Keeshawn Barthelemy will make his return soon, and perhaps against the Trojans. 

A few players have stepped up in place of the regulars who have been absent due to injury. Freshman guard Jackson Shelstad has proven to be one of the top first-year players in the sport while transfers Kario Oquendo and Jadarian Tracey have played pivotal roles in the backcourt as well. 

Despite two very different starts to the year, the two teams check in just two spots apart in KenPom’s overall efficiency rankings. The Trojans rank 46th while the Ducks rank 48th.

I think this is a decent time to buy low on USC. The start of the year hasn’t been great, but this team still checks out at a similar level to the Ducks from an analytics perspective. The perceptions are different, but the play on the court hasn’t been.

The Trojans have played a somewhat difficult schedule, whereas Oregon has played only two teams (Michigan and Alabama) ranked within KenPom’s Top 50. It lost 99-90 to the Crimson Tide and needed overtime to beat the Wolverines 86-83. 

The perception is this is a difficult road stretch for the Trojans as it's the third of four straight road games. This is the first time in over 20 years USC has played four straight true road games so that scheduling dynamic certainly stands out. What lessens the concern for me is the Trojans haven't played since December 19 (a 20-point win), so there has been plenty of time to recoup. 

USC is too talented to keep on losing so many games. Maybe it takes longer for Enfield to turn the ship around, but I’d rather be early than late to the eventual comeback. Oregon simply isn’t a very impressive team with so many of its better players out of the lineup, so this is a decent spot for the Trojans to pick up a big road win to turn things around.

I’ll bet on the star backcourt duo of Ellis and Collier keeping this one within the short spread. 

My best bet: USC +2.5 (-108 at DraftKings)

USC vs Oregon same-game parlay

USC +2.5

Isaiah Collier Over 14.5 points

Collier Over 2.5 assists

No-sweat promo available

+260 at DraftKings

Here’s a three-leg SGP centered around my best bet on the Trojans against the spread and featuring two Isaiah Collier props. The star freshman is likely to be taken within the first few picks of the NBA Draft and is an immense talent, so I’m always happy to target his Overs. 

The 6-foot-5 bucket-getter has eclipsed 14.5 points in seven of 11 games this season. He’s been trusted with a huge role by Enflied, leading the team with a 29.9% usage rate. There’s no reason why that’d change here as he’ll be required to step up in a big way if this team has any hope of a brighter future. 

I’ll also take Collier to notch at least three assists — something that he’s done in 9 of 11 games. This game should have a decent pace as both teams look to get out and run a fair amount to generate offense, and that style of play should complement Collier’s game. The Trojans check in at 93rd in adjusted tempo while the Ducks aren’t far behind at 130th. 

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

USC vs Oregon spread and Over/Under analysis

Oregon is currently -2.5 across the board while the total has been bet up from 148.5 at open to 149.5 at current. There are even some 150s showing, so the total may continue to rise until kick. 

The Ducks are undefeated at home this season, posting a 6-0 record at Matthew Knight Arena. The Trojans have played in just two true road games, falling 91-76 to Auburn and defeating Alabama State 79-59 in their most recent game. 

If you’re checking into this preview for words on Bronny James, then know that there isn’t much to say. His name carries more weight than his game currently as he’s averaging five points and 2.7 rebounds in 16 minutes per game. He should continue to improve as he works his way back from cardiac arrest suffered in the offseason, and he’s a 3-and-D piece that will help USC going forward. 

As for the total, I agree with the upward movement. Both teams have been slightly better offensively than defensively and like to play with tempo, so there’s a solid recipe for points Thursday night. Ellis is a veteran scorer who isn’t fazed by much anymore whereas Collier is one of the brightest talents in the country, and this guard-centric attack will create a lot of fun game environments with plenty of points. 

The Trojans are 8-3 O/U this season and I’d expect their totals to stay elevated until that record equalizes a bit more. 

USC vs Oregon betting trend to know

USC is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings between these two schools. Find more college basketball betting trends for USC vs. Oregon.

USC vs Oregon game info

USC vs Oregon key injuries

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