College Basketball Odds, Pick for Oregon vs USC (Thursday, Feb. 1)

The Oregon Ducks are just a win away from claiming the lead in the Pac-12. Standing in their way is a USC Trojans team that currently holds last place in the conference and is on the heels of a five-game losing streak.

While these two teams are clearly trending in opposite directions this season, oddsmakers have just two points separating them. Is their opening line correct? Or is their value to be had here?

Here's college basketball odds and a pick for Oregon vs. USC on Thursday, Feb. 1.

The Ducks have come to life offensively since conference play began. They've benefitted from the perfect mix of stars, impact players getting healthy and others stepping up and making an impact of their own.

Oregon has shown it has the ability to score from all three levels.

It all starts on the inside with star big man N'Faly Dante. Dante has been a highly efficient force in his six games this season, averaging nearly 15 points per game on 60% shooting.

However, he's not the only threat on this club now, as Jermaine Couisnard and Jackson Shelstad have solidified the backcourt with their perimeter shooting. The duo has combined to shoot 39% from beyond the arc, and they'll have the opportunity to improve that number as the Trojans have been burned from deep.

USC may have the size to contend in the paint, but this Oregon team will extend the Trojans and thrive offensively in this one.

USC has to be one of the most disappointing teams to date, as it's fallen 74 spots in KenPom's rankings since the beginning of the season. Many of the Trojans' issues stem from the offensive end of the floor.

The Trojans are a two-man band when in possession, as Boogie Ellis and Isaiah Collier account for 33 points per game on average. We've seen their production plummet of late, as Ellis missed three games and looked rusty in his return last Saturday.

While the volume from their backcourt duo is required for the Trojans to have success offensively, their lack of depth is what's hurt them in conference play. Kobe Johnson, the team's third-leading scorer, is a prime example, as he's shooting just 37% from the field.

USC's outlook against Oregon is not too bright, as the Trojans will have to contend with two seven-footers in the paint. Unless they can create foul trouble, that means the majority of their attempts will come from the perimeter, where they've made just 35.7% of their shots from mid-range and beyond.

While projections from KenPom and Bart Torvik have this game much closer, the Trojans haven't shown us anything that warrants backing them in this matchup.

Oregon is a team trending up and will have the edge on both ends in this matchup. The opening number seems short, and while you could lock in any spread under one possession, I prefer taking moneyline.

Pick: Oregon ML (-130)

The must-have app for college basketball bettors

The best NCAAB betting scoreboard

Free picks from proven pros

Live win probabilities for your bets

DOWNLOAD NOW