Liberty vs. Oregon March Madness Preview and Prediction
In the No. 12 vs. No. 5 matchup in the NCAA Tournament East Region, the Liberty Flames face the Oregon Ducks in first-round action.
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How to Watch Liberty vs. Oregon
When: 10:10 p.m. ET on Friday, March 21st
Where: Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington
Watch: truTV
Odds for Liberty vs. Oregon
(odds current at time of publish)
Spread: Oregon -4.5 (-118), Liberty +4.5 (-102)
Total: Over 139.5 (-110), Under 139.5 (-110)
DraftKings Betting Splits | Live College Basketball Odds | Liberty vs. Oregon Matchup Page
Liberty vs. Oregon Preview & Prediction
Oregon enters the tournament with momentum, having won eight of their last nine games before a quarterfinal exit in the Big Ten Tournament. The Ducks, led by head coach Dana Altman, are making their second consecutive NCAA appearance after missing out in 2022 and 2023. Altman’s tournament pedigree is impressive, having never lost a first-round game at Oregon and boasting multiple Sweet 16 appearances along with a Final Four run in 2017.
The Ducks’ balanced attack is spearheaded by Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad, both Third-Team All-Big Ten selections. Bittle, along with TJ Bamba, also earned All-Defensive team honors, highlighting Oregon’s two-way capabilities. While Oregon doesn’t particularly excel in any one statistical category, their adjusted metrics are bolstered by a challenging schedule, ranking in the top 55 in both offensive and defensive efficiency according to multiple analytics sites.
Liberty, the Conference USA regular season and tournament champion, also comes into the Big Dance red-hot, having won 11 of their last 12 games. The Flames, making their first NCAA appearance since 2021, are led by guards Kaden Metheny and Taelon Peter, who were instrumental in their conference tournament victory.
What makes Liberty particularly dangerous is their proficiency from beyond the arc. The Flames boast the sixth-best 3-point percentage in the country at 39%, making them a threat to catch fire at any moment. Additionally, Liberty’s defense can be stifling, and the team was undefeated in 25 games where they held opponents under 70 points.
The 5-12 matchup has historically been ripe for upsets, with 12-seeds holding a 55-101 record against 5-seeds since 1985. Liberty’s efficient offense and strong perimeter defense make them a prime candidate for a potential upset, fitting the profile of successful 12-seeds in the past.
As the teams prepare to battle in Seattle, Oregon will look to leverage their size advantage and tournament experience, while Liberty aims to ride their hot shooting and defensive prowess to an upset victory. With both teams entering on strong runs of form, this matchup has all the ingredients for a classic March Madness showdown.
Estimated Score: Oregon 73.7, Liberty 66.7
For expert predictions, go to our college basketball best bets page.
The post NCAA Tournament East Region: No. 12 Liberty vs. No. 5 Oregon March Madness Preview and Prediction appeared first on VSiN.
