Oregon vs. South Carolina NCAA Tournament Round 1: How to watch, odds, and predictions for March Madness

March Madness is upon us.

The Ducks dominated the Pac-12 Tournament for the eternal conference title and now they’re going dancing.

For the first time since 2021, Oregon has marched (get it?) its way to the NCAA Tournament for a chance at the ultimate prize: a national championship. This year, the Ducks have the No. 11 seed and an uphill battle ahead of them.

How to watch Oregon vs. South Carolina in NCAA Tournament Round 1

Date: Thursday, March 21
Time: 1 p.m. PT
Channel: TNT
Streaming: NCAA March Madness Live, fuboTV
Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, and Evan Washburn

Team vs. Team NCAA Tournament Round 1 odds

South Carolina is favored by just a point and a half. With how Oregon has been playing lately, I’m not sure the Gamecocks can cover that spread.

The over/under is sitting at 133 as the teams prepare to take the court. Both squads have fairly impressive defensive units but I’m not sure they’ll be able to hold each other under that point total.

Wagering on either team doesn’t have a massive payout, especially since it’s just the First Round. Putting $100 on the Ducks would pay a measly $105 if Oregon wins and placing the same bets on the Gamecocks would lead to a $15 profit.

Oregon vs. South Carolina NCAA Tournament Round 1 prediction

The Ducks are on a hot streak. With four wins in a row and one of the best head coaches in the nation, Oregon has a great chance of upsetting the Gamecocks.

If N’Faly Dante can remain healthy for the entire 40 minutes, he’ll be bodying up against SC’s B.J. Mack. The Gamecock forward is shorter than Dante but has 60 pounds on the Ducks’ center.

In the backcourt, Jackson Shelstad and Jermaine Couisnard will be busy with Carolina’s star guard Meechie Johnson who is currently averaging 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.

To add fuel to Oregon's fire, Couisnard will be playing against his former team. The Duck guard spent his first three collegiate seasons playing for South Carolina before transferring to Oregon in 2022.

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