Oregon vs UC Irvine NIT March Madness Prediction & Pick 3/15

Photo Credit © Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

The National Invitation Tournament continues with a matchup between the Oregon Ducks and the UC Irvine Anteaters. Both teams are looking to advance in the tournament and make a statement. With March Madness just around the corner, this game could be a preview of what's to come in the NCAA tournament. In this article, we'll analyze both teams and provide expert predictions on the outcome of the game.

Oregon Ducks

The Ducks have had an up-and-down season, but they've shown flashes of brilliance throughout the year. They finished the season with a 19-14 record and were 12-8 in Pac-12 play. Oregon has a solid offense, scoring 70.7 points per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. They're led by Will Richardson, who averages 12.2 points and 1.5 made 3-pointers per game. N'Faly Dante has also been a force for the Ducks, averaging 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds over the past 10 games. Oregon will need both players to be at their best if they want to advance in the tournament.

UC Irvine Anteaters

The Anteaters finished the season with a 23-11 record and were 15-5 in Big West play. They have a solid offense, scoring 73.0 points per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Dawson Baker leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game, while DJ Davis has been hot from beyond the arc, averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. UC Irvine has also been strong in one-possession games, with a 3-3 record.

Betting Trends:

According to Vegas Insider, the Ducks are 5-point favorites over the Anteaters. The total for the game is set at 135.5 points. The Ducks have been inconsistent against the spread this season, going 13-18-1, while the Anteaters have been better, going 19-13-1. Bettors will need to take these trends into account when making their wagers.

Public Betting Data:

The public betting data on Vegas Insider shows that 53% of the bets are on the Ducks to cover the spread, while 58% of the bets are on the over for the total. This could be an indication that the public is expecting a high-scoring game with Oregon coming out on top.

Odds:

The latest March Madness odds of winning on Odds Shark show that the Ducks have -230 odds to win, while the Anteaters have +190 odds. The point spread is set at 5 points, with the total set at 135.5 points.

Injuries:

Both teams appear to be relatively healthy heading into the game, with no major injuries reported.

Prediction:

This should be a close game between two evenly matched teams. While the Ducks are favored to win, the Anteaters have been strong all season and could pull off the upset. Ultimately, we believe that Oregon's offense will be too much for UC Irvine to handle, and they will come out on top. Our pick is the Ducks to win and cover the spread.

Pick: Oregon (-5)