Oregon Ducks vs. Arizona State Sun Devils Prediction & Game Preview - 2/17/2022

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Venue: Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, AZ

Where to watch: ESPN

DraftKings: Oregon -4.5

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: Oregon -4.5

Oregon: 17-8 (10-4 Pac-12)

Arizona State: 8-15 (4-9 Pac-12)

It might be safe to assume that no one wants to play the Oregon Ducks come conference tournament time. I'm not saying that Oregon is the full-blown favorite to run the table and win the thing, but look at the Pac-12 and tell me you can 100 percent find a team outside of Oregon that can contend with the Arizona Wildcats.

It's weird, right? USC and UCLA had their chances in the sun, but they're hovering around the "I want to like them, but are they going to leave me at the alter?" status come March. Meanwhile, I look at the Ducks with only two losses in their last 11 games and that might be the way to go.

Oregon was in a hard-fought game on Monday at home against Washington State, edging out a 62-59 win led by a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds from big man N'Faly Dante. De'Vion Harmon also had 13 points but took 14 shots to get there.

It hasn't happened often to this point, but the Ducks overcame a rough shooting night at 41.7 percent (5 of 19 from 3-point range, too, just for fun) to get that victory. None of these games were set to be easy down the stretch, but it was a much-needed win for Oregon to bounce back from after losing by 14 at home to Cal last Saturday.

Things aren't going to get easier for Oregon, starting with Thursday's matchup with Arizona State. The Ducks end the regular season with four of their final six games on the road, including three straight against Arizona, UCLA and USC. Fortunately for them, the latter two are at home and given the Trojans' and Bruins' inconsistencies, upsets are had.

But it's imperative for Oregon to go into Saturday in Tucson on the right track.

Since the Arizona State Sun Devils defeated UCLA in triple overtime nearly two weeks ago, it's been a rough go for ASU. Following that upset victory, ASU lost by 12 at home to Arizona (nothing to hang their heads on there) and 23 on the road to the Washington Huskies.

But ASU is determined to have some sort of strong ending to this season. ASU is coming off a 58-55 victory at Washington State last Saturday to move to 8-15 on the season.

Sun Devils big man Jalen Graham had 14 points in 28 minutes, and Marreon Jackson had 14 points in 23 minutes to pace ASU on a night where D.J. Horne was held to just five points on 2 of 11 shooting. Sometimes it's just luck or collective team effort that gets things on the right track.

ASU is not going to wow opponents with any stylish play, but the Sun Devils have 100 percent been committed to playing team defense at the right time. It may not always show up in every game, and it may not result in wins come conference tournament time.

But one thing you want to look for as the season winds down is what team can really play spoiler? That might be ASU should everything fall its way.

That being said, Oregon might be one of the best non-ranked teams in the country. Will Richardson is a steady hand running the point, and Dante proved in their last game that he can be a double-double machine. It might not be as dominant as Oscar Tshiebwe, but he's going to put an effort on the floor the likes of which can't be truly rivaled in the Pac-12. I really like Oregon, and part of me thinks they can be a sneaky Sweet 16 team down the road. Oregon by 10

The over is 53-31 in Oregon's games the last three seasons.

Oregon is 12-13 ATS on the road in its last 25.

Oregon is 1-9 ATS after winning 12 of its last 15.

Arizona State is 13-25 ATS at home in its last 38.

PG: Will Richarson

SG: Jacob Young

SF: De'Vion Harmon

PF: Quincy Guerrier

C: N'Faly Dante

PG: D.J. Horne

SG: Jay Heath Jr.

SF: Kimani Lawrence

PF: Alonzo Gaffney

C: Jalen Graham

Points: Will Richardson -- 15.1

Rebounds: N'Faly Dante -- 5.6

Assists: Will Richardson --3.5

Points: Bennedcit Mathurin -- 17.0

Rebounds: Christian Koloko -- 7.3

Assists: Kerr Kriisa -- 4.8