The Connecticut Huskies and Oregon Ducks are both unbeaten to start the young college basketball season, but they have both played cupcake-level opponents and have generally taken it easy over the first week and a half of play. On Thursday, that period of the season will come to an end. Each side will participate in the first PK80 Invitational Tournament, celebrating Nike founder Phil Knight’s 80th birthday in the large city closest to his base of power, Portland, Oregon. Being able to test themselves against each other will give Connecticut and Oregon a much clearer picture of where they stand and how they need to improve as the season continues. The Ducks are a 7.5-point favorite for this contest.
Details
Odds: Oregon -7.5
Date & Time: Thursday, November 23, 10:00 PM ET
Location: Moda Center, Portland, OR
Broadcast: ESPNU
Reasons To Bet On The Connecticut Huskies
The Huskies were not healthy last season, and they are healthy now. Their most important players, Alterique Gilbert and especially Terry Larrier, were not able to play as much as they wanted to or needed to last season. Now coach Kevin Ollie has his best players, fresh and at full strength. These teams met a year ago in November at the Maui Invitational, and Connecticut did not have the horses to stay with Oregon. This season the outcome could be different. UConn could have been blown out a year ago, but even when shorthanded, it stayed close and mounted a late rally before losing by 10. This game has a much better chance of staying close.
The other big reason to pick UConn here is that Oregon is adjusting to a roster without proven veteran stars who led a Final Four run last season. Dillon Brooks, Dylan Ennis, Tyler Dorsey, and Jordan Bell were all excellent players, and they are all gone. Oregon isn’t replacing one key player or even two, but four. That’s a lot to replace, and early in the season, it figures to be hard for Oregon to immediately get up to speed with its new lineup configuration. Oregon might become a very good team as the season moves along, but in the early stages of the process, it could get rough for the Ducks.
Reasons To Bet On The Oregon Ducks
The Ducks are playing in Portland, very close to home, where they will have a heavily partisan crowd on their side. UConn having to travel across the country for a game played at 10 p.m. Eastern will mess with the body clocks of the boys from New England. The other key point is that Oregon has the better coach. Dana Altman might not have Kevin Ollie’s national title, but he has been consistently good for several seasons, which is something Ollie has not yet demonstrated at Connecticut. Altman took Oregon to the Final Four for the first time since the original Final Four in 1939. He has greatly exceeded any and all expectations which accompanied him when he got to Oregon. If anyone can maneuver with a new lineup after the loss of a lot of key starters and reserves, it’s Altman. Oregon also has New Mexico transfer Elijah Brown as an added incoming piece to supplement freshman Troy Brown and veteran point guard Payton Pritchard. Oregon will be okay.
Outlook
We’ve seen a little bit of movement on this betting line as the Ducks opened up at -8 but have since come down to -7.5. The total has also moved a little bit as it opened up at 145.5 but has now inched down to 144.5.
UConn might have the slightly better team, but Oregon playing what amounts to a home game late at night will be very tough for Connecticut to overcome. UConn has more power in the paint, but Oregon can match the Huskies in the backcourt and make the game close enough that the crowd can make the difference in the end. Look for them to get the win and cover in this spot.
Prediction: Ducks -7.5
The 2018 March Madness futures are out. There has been plenty of news to keep up with in the offseason but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest college basketball betting lines right here.
