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The No. 6 seed USC Trojans face a familiar foe, albeit with much higher stakes, when they collide with the seventh-seeded Oregon Ducks in the Sweet 16 of the 2021 NCAA Tournament on Sunday in Indianapolis. The Trojans finished percentage points behind the Ducks in the Pac-12 for first place and seeding in the conference tournament, where both teams lost in the semifinal round. Oregon (21-6) steamrolled No. 2 seed Iowa, while USC (24-7) dismantled No. 3 seed Kansas in the Round of 32.

Tip-off is at 9:45 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The winner will advance to face the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Elite Eight. William Hill Sportsbook lists the Trojans as two-point favorites, while the over-under for total points scored is 138 in the latest USC vs. Oregon odds. Before making any Oregon vs. USC picks, check out the March Madness college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past four-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of $2,200 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Southern Cal vs. Oregon in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament 2021. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Oregon vs. Southern Cal:

  • USC vs. Oregon spread: USC -2
  • USC vs. Oregon over-under: 138 points
  • USC vs. Oregon money line: USC -135; Oregon +115
  • USC: The Trojans are 5-2 in their last seven vs. Oregon
  • ORE: The Ducks are 4-0 ATS in he Sweet 16 under coach Dana Altman

Why USC can cover 

Center Evan Mobley has been as good as advertised for the Trojans, leading the team in scoring (16.5 points per game) rebounding (8.8) and blocked shots (3.0) while shooting 58 percent from the floor. He made conference history by becoming the first to be named Pac-12 Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the same season. He's also the only player in the country averaging at least 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.0  assists.

The 7-foot Mobley is the primary reason why USC ranks fifth overall in adjusted defensive efficiency with 88.0 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Trojans also are in the top five nationally in defensive field goal percentage (38.7) and blocked shots with 5.3 per game. Isaiah Mobley has not taken a back seat to his brother in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 16.0 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 12-of-21 overall and 5-of-7 from behind the arc.

Why Oregon can cover

Senior Chris Duarte is among five finalists for the Naismith Jerry West Award, which goes to the top shooting guard in the country. He tops five players in double figures for the Ducks and is one of only two players in the nation who is averaging 17.0 points and 1.8 steals while shooting 50 percent from the field. Duarte is the lone player to rank in the top 10 in the Pac-12 in both field goal percentage (53.3) and 3-point percentage (42.8).

Oregon led the Pac-12 in field goal percentage (47.6) and 3-point field-goal percentage (38.2) and must play to those strengths to counter USC's size advantage. Eugene Omoruyi and LJ Figueroa, the second and third-leading scorers on the team, have each been dialed in offensively down the stretch. Omoruyi is averaging 17.3 points over his last seven games, while Figueroa is averaging 16.9 in the same span while converting 17-of-36 3-point attempts.

How to make Oregon vs. USC picks

The model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 142 points. It also says one side of the spread hits 60 percent of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Oregon vs. USC? And which side of the spread hits 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the computer model that has crushed its college basketball picks.