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BYU vs. Oregon Free Pick – Odds & NCAA Tournament Predictions

BYU vs Oregon West Region Handicapping

A pair of teams coming of disappointing losses and getting at-large bids to this year’s NCAA tournament, will go head-to-head on Thursday, when No. 10 seed Brigham Young takes on No. 7 seed Oregon in the West Regional in Milwaukee. [ad-4468020]

2014 NCAA Tournament Free Picks
West Bracket – Round 2
No. 7 Oregon vs. No. 10 BYU Preview
Date/Time: 3:10 p.m. EST, Thursday, March 20, 2014
Venue: : BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Broadcast: truTV
Spread: -5.5 Oregon
Over/Under: 158
Odds From [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

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The Ducks (23-9), who rank 11th in the country in scoring (81.8 points per game), were held to just 63 points in a loss to UCLA in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament.

It was Oregon’s worst loss of the season as it gave up 82 points to the Bruins, who snapped the Ducks’ eight-game winning streak.

Oregon is making its 12th NCAA tournament appearance and second straight, and appears ready to make a deep run this time, behind a trio of players that are averaging double figures in scoring.

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They are redshirt junior guard Joseph Young (18.6), redshirt senior forward 6-foot-8, 211-pound Mike Moser (13.5) and redshirt senior guard Jason Calliste (12.4), who has started only one game but played in all 32 this season.

The three have played an important role in defeating Brigham Young 100-96 in overtime back on Dec. 21.
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Meanwhile, the Cougars (23-11) are back in the Tournament for the first time, after appearing in a First Four game in Dayton two years ago when they beat Iona 78-72, before losing 88-68, to No. 3 seed Marquette.

Last season BYU only did well enough to receive an invite to the NIT, where it reached the semifinals before losing to eventual tournament champion Baylor 76-70.

Brigham Young is coming off a 75-64 loss to Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference championship game, a defeat that snapped the Cougars’ season-best six-game winning streak.

Boasting just a 15-30 record in NCAA tournament games and making its 28th NCAA tournament appearance, the Cougars finally looked like they may be ready to make a serious run at championship title this time around. But then disaster struck.

And while they are third in the country in scoring (84.2), the Cougars will be without sophomore point guard Kyle Collinsworth, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Gonzaga.

That is a serious blow, as Collinsworth leads the Cougars in rebounding (8.1) and assists (4.6) per game, and was BYU’s second-leading scorer (14).

Free Pick: Oregon

Brigham Young will need to fill a huge gap left by Collinsworth and will need to rely more on junior guard Tyler Haws, who averages a team-high 23.4 points and scored a game-high 32 against Oregon.

However, alone, Haws is not going to be enough to keep pace with the Ducks high-flying offensive attack.

By Matt Martz

Matt has returned to CappersPicks.com. The pull was too great. He missed providing his free picks and insider sports gambling analysis to his loyal readers. Please take it easy on him till he gets back into his groove. Cheers!