The five-vs-twelve matchup is usually a good one in the NCAA tournament for anyone who is a fan of upsets. Liberty vs Oregon fits the classic matchup profile to a tee: a good but not elite power conference team vs a very solid mid-major program hoping to spring an upset. Liberty made the tournament by winning the CUSA tournament, while Oregon received an at-large bid after losing to Michigan State in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament. Liberty will attempt to add Oregon to the long list of five seeds to fall in the first round of the tourney.
How to watch Liberty vs Oregon
- Date: Friday, March 21st
- Time: Approximately 10:10pm EST
- Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington
- How to Watch (TV): TruTV
- Streaming: fubo TV (link: https://www.fubo.tv/welcome/leagues/191260?irad=367782&irmp=1412332)
- Liberty record: 28-6 (13-5 CUSA)
- Oregon 24-9 (12-8 Big Ten)
Liberty vs Oregon odds, spread and total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook (link: https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/ )
Moneyline
- Liberty +235
- Oregon -295
Spread
- Liberty +6.5 (-104)
- Oregon -6.5 (-118)
Total
- 139.5 (over -110, under -110)
Liberty injury report
- Isaiah Ihnen, F: Out (knee)
Oregon injury report
- None reported
Oregon and Liberty series history
- Oregon all-time record vs. Liberty: First meeting
Liberty vs Oregon prediction
This matchup will be all about the three-point shot. Liberty is one of the best teams in the country from long distance; they hit 39.5% of their shots from beyond the arc, good for fifth in the country. The Flames have five different players who shoot 39% or better from distance. Liberty also is the third-best team in the country at defending the three-ball, allowing a measly 28% from beyond the arc. Oregon’s three-point shooting is quite average, although they are decent at defending against it.
Both the Flames and the Ducks are experienced teams; every Liberty player who plays decent minutes is either a junior or a senior. Oregon also has a lot of senior leadership, as six of their top eight players by usage are all seniors. Neither team is likely to get rattled by a close game. Oregon should have a modest crowd advantage by playing in Seattle, but that doesn’t seem to bother the Flames; they defeated Jacksonville State in a CUSA championship game that was played less than two hours from the Gamecocks campus.
I’ve certainly been wrong before, but I’m taking the Flames in the upset. Senior leadership and three-point shooting are hallmarks of a mid-major upsetting a power conference team. Liberty already has wins this season over Kansas State and more highly regarded mid-major McNeese State; give me the Flames to char the Ducks in an upset.