This 13 vs 12 second-round game features teams that took very different routes to get to this point. UC Irvine is 20-1 straight up in 2019 and hasn’t lost since mid-January. Oregon scuffled at the beginning of conference play but has won nine straight, including the Pac-12 championship and an 18-point thrashing of Wisconsin in the first round. The Ducks are a 5-point favorite heading into this game with the total quite low at 123.5.
This is a tough one. The teams are very similar in terms of their makeup and statistics. They’re both playing their best basketball of the season coming into this game. The determining factor for me is that Oregon, as a school, has been in this spot before and has a history of success.
This is uncharted territory for the Anteaters and I expect that to be the difference. Additionally, the UC Irvine historical record vs Pac-12 teams must be considered.
Bettors should note: I’ll probably stay away from this game myself. I don’t see a real quantifiable edge here and the spread is big enough to raise doubt.
Oregon is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS all-time in this matchup. home Both teams have a +14 scoring margin over their last three games. UC Irvine is 0-10 SU and 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games vs the Pac-12.away