UC Irvine vs Oregon Basketball Prediction & Picks (2023 NIT First Round)

Back in November, UC Irvine stunned a ranked Oregon team in Eugene. Tonight, the Ducks can gain a measure of revenge for that upset as the two teams meet in the first round of the NIT (11:00 pm ET, ESPN2).

On November 11, the Anteaters went on the road and upset the #21 Ducks 69-56.

Early fears that Dana Altman’s squad might be destined for disappointment after entering the season ranked proved to be true. Oregon (19-14) lost too many games to render a fourth-place finish in a lightweight Pac-12 irrelevant and missed out on the NCAA Tournament.

But they have a top seed in the NIT, and that brings a chance for a rematch with UC Irvine, who won the Big West regular season title but lost in the tournament semifinals to Cal State Fullerton.

Will the Ducks get their revenge tonight? Read on for our UC Irvine vs Oregon basketball prediction and picks.

Interested in checking out NIT and March Madness picks from other sources? There are a number of reputable sports handicapping services that we recommend.

One of those sources is Doc’s Sports, which has a great offer going right now.

Doc’s Sports offers a lot of free picks and content, but they also offer $60 worth of premium sports picks free for new premium signups.

UC Irvine vs Oregon Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

Spread

• UC Irvine +7.5 (-115)
• Oregon -7.5 (-105)

Over/Under

• Over 145.5 (-115)
• Under 145.5 (-105)

Moneyline

• UC Irvine +245
• Oregon -310

Will the Over Hit in the Rematch?

When UCI won in Eugene, the Anteaters won with three-point shooting and defense. They made 12 of 28 shots from outside, and they held Oregon to 19% shooting from three and 32.7% overall from the field.

Ups and downs on the offensive end are a big reason why the Ducks aren’t in the March Madness bracket. But trends favor a higher-scoring game than the first meeting.

Entering tonight’s game, the over is 18-14-0 in UC Irvine’s Division I games this season, while it is 18-15-0 in Oregon’s games.

Overs have been more frequent in the Ducks’ games over the second half of the season, which is in line with an uptick in their own offensive production.

In their first 16 games this season, Oregon averaged just 68.3 points per game and was held below 60 points five times. In those 16 games, the over was just 7-9-0.

But in 17 games since, they have averaged 72.9 PPG, and Friday’s 75-56 loss to UCLA in the Pac-12 Tournament semis is the only time they have been held below 60 points. And in those 17 games, the over is 11-6-0.

UC Irvine has had some real ups and downs on the offensive end as well.

When things have been good, they have been good. In 17 games against Division I opposition, they have scored 75 or more points. In those 17 games, the Anteaters are 14-3 SU and 12-5-0 ATS, and the over is 13-4-0.

But when they haven’t scored 75+ points, they are just 7-8 SU and 4-11-0 ATS, and the over is just 5-10-0.

UC Irvine vs Oregon Prediction and Picks

Prediction for UC Irvine vs Oregon: Oregon to win

Picks for UC Irvine vs Oregon: UC/Irvine Oregon over 145.5 (Best Value: BetUS & BetMGM)

I’m not confident enough in either side here, but I do think we will see some points tonight in Eugene.

Other College Basketball Content at Betting News

• UCF vs Florida Prediction & Picks

Other March Madness Content at Betting News

Of course, the big spotlight over the next few weeks will be on the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments.

If you’d like to check out our other March Madness betting content (which you can also find at our March Madness hub), here’s a rundown of what we have put together to help you with your NCAA Tournament betting.

• March Madness 2023 Bracket
• March Madness Odds
• Final Four Odds
• March Madness Sleepers
• March Madness Betting Trends & Stats to Know for 2023
• Where to Find the Best March Madness Betting Picks
• Best March Madness Betting Sites
• Best March Madness Bracket Challenges
• Betting News Bracket Mania (Our FREE March Madness Bracket Challenge!)