Oregon Ducks vs. USC Trojans Picks and Prediction for Saturday, February 21, 2026
Use Code WWWC It’s a Big Ten contest on the hardwood as the Oregon Ducks travel to the City of Angels to battle the USC Trojans Saturday afternoon and we have you covered with our Oregon vs. USC prediction. Oregon was drubbed 61-44 at home by Minnesota in their previous contest, losing outright as a 3.5-point favorite, Tuesday night. USC was trounced 101-65 by #10 Illinois at home Wednesday night in their previous game, failing to cover the line as an 8.5-point underdog. In the all-time series between the teams, the Ducks own a 40-23 advantage but the Trojans took the first meeting this season, prevailing 82-77 on the road December 2, 2025. Read more about this Oregon vs. USC prediction! Struggling with handicapping? Get our top NCAAB Betting Picks and increase your bankroll!
Oregon Trying to Stop Recent Slump
Oregon fell for the 11th time in 12 games as they were stifled offensively at home by Minnesota in their previous contest Tuesday night. The Ducks dropped to 9-17 overall and stand 17th in the Big Ten with a 2-13 mark in conference play on the year. Against Minnesota, Oregon took their biggest lead at 2-0 and trailed by as many as nine in the first half before heading to intermission down 22-17. The Ducks took their last lead at 30-29 with 13:24 to play before giving up seven straight points to trail 36-30. Oregon never got even again after that. The Ducks shot 38.8% from the floor, including just two of 20 from three-point range, and lost the rebounding battle 38-28 in the contest. Nate Bittle paced the Ducks with 15 points and seven rebounds in the loss.
The Ducks are 291st in the nation in scoring offense as they average 71.2 points per game this season. Oregon is grabbing 34.7 boards a night while they are handing out 14.1 dimes a night. The Ducks are average defensively, ranking 199th in scoring defense as they allow 74.3 points per game. Nate Bittle is one of four players on the team as he puts up 16.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this season. Jackson Shelstad (15.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists) and Kwame Evans Jr. (12.5 points, 7.2 rebounds) provide reliable secondary scoring punch. Takai Simpkins (12.4 points), Sean Stewart, Dezdrick Lindsay, Devon Pryor, Wei Lin, Ege Demir and Oleksandr Kobzystyi are key contributors for coach Dana Altman’s group. Oregon is shooting 42.6% percent from the field as a team this season. The Ducks are draining 8.1 triples a night while shooting 32.2% from beyond the arc. Oregon is shooting 71.9% from the free throw line as a team this season, putting them 193rd in the nation.
Key Injury Report for Oregon:
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- Guard Jackson Shelstad (hand) is out.
- Forward Devon Pryor (groin) is questionable.
- Center Ege Demir (shoulder) is questionable.
Trojans Looking to Sweep Season Series
USC suffered a second straight loss as they were clobbered at home by #10 Illinois in their previous contest and look to regroup here. The Trojans fell to 18-8 overall and sit 7-8 in Big Ten play as they take the floor at home here. Against Illinois, USC gave up the first eight points and never led in the contest. The Trojans trailed 54-32 at the half and by as many as 39 in the contest as they went down in defeat. USC shot 37.1% from the floor, including seven of 18 from beyond the arc, lost the battle of the boards 41-30 and allowed Illinois to shoot 51.6% from the floor in the contest. Ezra Ausar led the way for the Trojans with 15 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
The Trojans average 80.7 points per game on the season, putting them 85th in the nation in scoring offense. USC comes into this one grabbing 37 rebounds a night (95th) while they dish out 15.3 assists a night. The Trojans are below average on the defensive end of the floor, ranking 259th by allowing 76.8 points per game this season. Chad Baker-Mazara is one of five players in double figures as he puts up 18.3 points and 4.2 rebounds a game this season. Rodney Rice (20.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, six assists) and Ezra Ausar (15.7 points, 6.2 boards) provide solid secondary scoring. Alijah Arenas (14.5 points), Jacob Cofie (10.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, Amarion Dickerson, Jaden Brownell, Jordan Marsh, Gabe Dynes, Terrance Williams II and Jerry Easter II are all averaging solid minutes for coach Eric Musselman this season. USC shoots 46.5% from the field as a team this season, putting them 111th in the nation. The Trojans drill 6.3 three-pointers per game while shooting 32.3% from beyond the arc. USC is slightly below average at the line as they shoot 71.6% at the stripe as a team this season, which is 207th in Division I.
Key Injury Report for USC:
- Guard Rodney Rice (shoulder) is out for the year.
- Guard Amarion Dickerson (hip) is out.
- Guard Chad Baker-Mazara (knee) is questionable.
- Guard Alijah Arenas (leg) is questionable.
Oregon vs. USC Pick
Oregon vs. USC Spread Pick
- USC (4 units)
The wheels have come off in a hurry for Oregon with 11 losses in their last 12 games entering this one. Oregon has dealt with injury issues all year and that has been an issue. Shelstad last played December 28 while Bittle missed seven games. Role players Pryor and Demir have missed 10 and seven games, respectively at well. They looked listless against Minnesota and stand just 1-7 on the road this season. Even worse, the Ducks are 0-11 in Quad I games this season and 0-4 in Quad II contests. USC can’t afford a Quad III loss if they want to have a shot at the tournament. The Trojans are 9-4 at home and they come up with the victory here to extend the Ducks’ misery.
Oregon vs. USC Over/Under Pick
- Under (4 units)
Oregon has seen the under post a 14-12 mark in their 26 games on the year. The Ducks are 126th in offensive efficiency, 285th in effective field goal percentage (49.6%), 223rd in turnovers per game (12.1) and 114th in the nation in offensive rebounds per contest (11.7) on the year. The Ducks are 272nd in adjusted tempo with 65.7 possessions a night. USC enters this contest having seen the over post a 14-11 mark in their 25 games this season. The Trojans are 85th in the nation in scoring offense, 83rd in offensive efficiency, 281st in turnovers per game (12.7), 8th in free throws made (19.7) and 3rd in free throws attempted (27.5) per contest. USC is a run and gun team, ranking 35th in adjusted tempo with 70.6 possessions a night according to KenPom. With Oregon struggling to score, this game winds up falling short of the total.
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