Oregon Ducks vs Usc Trojans Picks and Predictions March 1st 2025

Oregon Out to Continue Surge vs. Fading USC

Big Ten Conference counterparts on opposite trajectories meet Saturday in Eugene, Ore., as Oregon looks to extend its winning streak against a struggling USC team.

Oregon Aiming for Fifth Straight Win

Oregon (20-8, 9-8 Big Ten) returns to action after a week off, riding a four-game winning streak. The Ducks secured an impressive 77-73 overtime victory at then-No. 11 Wisconsin last Saturday, following an 80-78 win at Iowa and home victories over Rutgers and Northwestern.

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This recent surge has helped Oregon climb from three games below .500 in conference play to eighth place in the standings. The top nine teams in the Big Ten avoid the opening round of the conference tournament, making each win crucial.

Nathan Bittle has been a key force for the Ducks, averaging 13.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. His 23-point performance against Wisconsin helped fuel the victory. Oregon’s backcourt trio of Jackson Shelstad (13.3 ppg), TJ Bamba (10.2 ppg), and Keeshawn Barthelemy (9.9 ppg) provide additional scoring punch.

“When (Kwame Evans Jr.) plays and goes to the boards, he’s just a different player,” Ducks coach Dana Altman said. Evans had 10 points and nine rebounds at Wisconsin but struggled against USC earlier in the season.

USC Struggling to Stay in Big Ten Tournament Picture

USC (14-14, 6-11 Big Ten) is heading in the opposite direction, losing four straight games, including an 87-82 home setback to Ohio State on Wednesday. The Trojans now find themselves in a four-way tie for 13th place with Iowa, Minnesota, and Northwestern. Only the top 15 teams in the conference qualify for the Big Ten Tournament, adding urgency to their remaining schedule.

One bright spot for USC has been the emergence of redshirt freshman Wesley Yates III, who has scored at least 21 points in each of the last three games, including a 27-point outing against Ohio State.

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“Wesley is a big part of what we are trying to do,” Trojans coach Eric Musselman said. “He’s taken the opportunity and ran with it. He’s one of the best freshmen in the Big Ten and I hope he is a big piece for us next year.”

The Trojans’ backcourt is led by Desmond Claude (16.0 ppg), Yates (13.9 ppg), and Chibuzo Agbo (11.7 ppg), but their lack of consistency has been a major issue.

Ducks Took First Meeting

Oregon defeated USC 68-60 in Los Angeles on Dec. 4. With the Trojans desperate for a win to keep their postseason hopes alive, expect them to fight hard, but the Ducks’ momentum may be too much to overcome

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