No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers vs. No. 8 Oregon Ducks Predictions, Pick and Preview – March Madness Round of 32 – March 22, 2015

The Wisconsin Badgers made some history on Friday night as they set a new school record with their 32nd win of the season after defeating the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the round of 64 of the NCAA tournament. They will look to stretch that record even further when they square off with the eighth-seeded Oregon Ducks in a marquee third-round matchup this coming Sunday.

It will be a rematch of their round of 32 clash last year which Wisconsin won in a thriller, 85-77. Can the Badgers duplicate that feat or will the Ducks exact some revenge this time around?  Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this West Regional showdown and while you’re at it, you can check out our third-round previews of Virginia vs. Michigan State and Louisville vs. Northern Iowa.
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March Madness No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers vs. No. 8 Oregon Ducks Preview

Where: CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha

When: Sunday, March 22, 7:45 PM ET

Line: Wisconsin Badgers (-12) vs. Oregon Ducks (+12) – view all March Madness lines

Betting on the Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin displayed its title credentials on Friday night, easing past No. 16 Coastal Carolina, 86-72, in the second round of the national tournament. It was the perfect start to the tourney for the Badgers, who are desperate to win their first NCAA title in 74 years.

[sc:NCAAB240banner ]The Badgers have an outstanding chance of accomplishing that feat because of the excellent play of Frank Kaminsky. The 7-foot star wreaked havoc against the Chanticleers, scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, for his 12th double-double of the season. The Big Ten player of the year has been simply dominant for the Badgers this season, leading the team in points (18.2 PPG), rebounds (8.0 RPG) and blocks (1.6 BPG).

It’s not all Kaminsky, though. Providing support to Kaminsky in the frontcourt are Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes. They are averaging a combined 25.4 PPG this season. Dekker had 20 points while Hayes scored 15 points and grabbed eight boards in the game against Coastal Carolina.

What proved to be the key factor in the victory against the Chanticleers was tremendous outside shooting. The Badgers shot 11 of 27 from beyond the arc as they repeatedly busted Coastal Carolina’s zone. That will serve them in good stead ahead of their showdown with Oregon – a team known for its zone defense.

Oregon took advantage of that defensive formation against Oklahoma State in the round of 64, holding the Cowboys to just 13-of-36 shooting (36.1%) against its zone. It was particularly effective in the final three minutes when they held Oklahoma State to just 1 of 7 shooting from the field.

With that said, Wisconsin’s vaunted trio will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing Oregon’s zone. Kaminsky, Dekker and Hayes lit it up against the Chanticleers, going a combined 8 of 15 from the three-point area.

The Badgers are 9-1 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games.

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Betting on the Oregon Ducks

Oregon advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament with a 79-73 victory over ninth-seeded Oklahoma State on Friday night. To no one’s surprise, it was Joseph Young who provided the scoring cudgels for the Ducks who booked a round-of-32 showdown with top-seeded Wisconsin.

Young erupted for a game-high 27 points on 8 of 15 shooting from the field. He scored 23 of those points in a dazzling nine-minute stretch that bridged the first and second halves. The Pac-12 player of the year was so dominant during that stretch, he outscored the entire Oklahoma State team, 23-13.

It has been that way all season for the Ducks who have relied on the offensive brilliance of Young to get them through this campaign. Young leads Oregon not only in scoring (20.2 PPG) but also in assists (3.7 APG) and steals (1.1 SPG). Thanks to Young, the Ducks have become one of the best offensive teams in the country. According to KenPom, they are 15th in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency, scoring 113.7 points per 100 possessions this season.

Starring alongside Young in Friday’s win were Elgin Cook and Dillon Brooks. Cook had 18 points and five rebounds while Brooks chipped in 17 points on a sizzling 7 of 9 shooting from the field. Cook and Brooks have been crucial to the Ducks’ campaign this season, averaging 13.2 PPG and 11.5 PPG respectively. They are the only players aside from Young who are scoring in double-figures for Oregon.

They have a battle in their hands, though, in the next round as they have to deal with the length and size of No. 1 Wisconsin. The Badgers have used those advantages to the hilt this season, particularly on the defensive end. They are ninth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 56.6 PPG.

The Ducks are 8-2 SU and ATS in their last 10 games.

Writer’s Prediction

Wisconsin (-12) books a place in the Sweet Sixteen with a 76-65 win.
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