No. 1 South Carolina (35-0) will face its toughest test of the NCAA Tournament thus far when it takes on No. 3 Oregon State (27-7) in an Elite 8 matchup this Sunday, March 31, at 1 p.m. ET in Albany, New York.
The Gamecocks survived a second-half scare from No. 4 Indiana to advance, while the Beavers upset No. 2 Notre Dame on the heels of a strong defensive performance. This will be the first meeting between the two since South Carolina defeated Oregon State in the second round in 2021.
What can we expect from this high-profile showdown? Here are our best bets and predictions for South Carolina vs Oregon State.
South Carolina vs Oregon State Odds
All NCAAW odds are current as of Saturday, March 30, at 8 a.m. ET.
- Spread: South Carolina -14.5 (-110) • Oregon State +14.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: South Carolina (-1650) • Oregon State (+950)
- Total: Over 135 (-110) • Under 135 (-110)
As expected, the Gamecocks are massive 14.5-point favorites over the Beavers. South Carolina is by far the most dominant team in college basketball, and after letting such a large lead slip away in the Sweet 16, Dawn Staley will have her team ready to compete for a spot in the Final Four.
The total is set reasonably low at 135 points, but both teams are accustomed to winning games on the defensive end of the floor. This will likely be a low-scoring battle.
South Carolina vs Oregon State Prediction
South Carolina 68, Oregon State 52
Time and time again, we’ve seen how important it is to have an elite offense if you plan on taking down South Carolina. The Gamecocks are brilliant on both ends of the floor, but if you can keep pace with them, you’ll at least have a chance of keeping things competitive.
Oregon State is efficient, but its relatively slow tempo won’t do the team any favors in this Elite 8 matchup. And while the Beavers have posted some impressive defensive marks — most notably limiting opponents to 35.5% shooting from the field — South Carolina has the talent to overcome it.
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I’m especially curious to see how standout sophomore Raegan Beers performs for Oregon State. She’s averaged 17.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.5 combined steals and blocks per game this season, but she’ll have her work cut out for her in the paint against Kamilla Cardoso.
Either way, a comfortable win should be within reach for the Gamecocks. The Beavers have had an impressive season, but I can’t see them being the team that ends South Carolina’s perfect season.
South Carolina vs Oregon State Best Bets
South Carolina -14.5 (-110) vs Oregon State
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
I’ve been back and forth on this pick, but ultimately, I like the Gamecocks to cover. Staley’s squad has made a habit out of bouncing back from narrow victories — like the one it scored over the Hoosiers in the Sweet 16.
I expect South Carolina to put a fair bit of distance between itself and Oregon State by halftime before pulling away down the stretch in a wire-to-wire victory.
Look for the favorites to cover this 14.5-point spread with your best college basketball bet today.
Under 135 Points (-110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
No matter the outcome, this game is likely to be won on defense. I expect South Carolina to dictate the pace, but even with Oregon State attempting more shots than usual, I don’t see either team scoring above their per-game average.
