March Madness 2017: Michigan vs. Oregon Prediction, Odds, Start Time, Free Live Stream Info

A spot in the March Madness 2017 Midwest Regional Finals is up for grabs Thursday night when No.7 Michigan faces No.3 Oregon. Despite being the lower-seeded team, the Wolverines might be one of the most dangerous teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament.

It’s the first game on the Sweet 16 schedule, set to start at 7:09 p.m. EDT on CBS. Those who can’t get to a TV can watch the game with a free live stream on ncaa.com, as both teams look to make improbable Final Four runs.

READ: Predictions against the spread for every Sweet 16 game

Michigan lost their 10th game of the season on Feb. 19, playing in what many thought the be a weak Big Ten Conference. They have, however, played like a legitimate national championship contender ever since.

The Wolverines have won nine out of their last 10 games, and they enter their contest against the Ducks on a seven-game winning streak. They defeated Wisconsin, who is also alive in the Sweet 16, in the Big Ten Championship Game, totaling six victories over tournament teams in the last month. Michigan topped No.2 Louisville in the Round of 32, beating a team that many experts picked to win the Midwest region.

It’s the reason why they are favored against a team that was seeded four spots higher by the selection committee. Las Vegas sportsbooks have made Oregon a 1.5-point underdog, via OddsShark, and Michigan is a real threat to reach the Final Four.

Oregon will have to overcome their own issues if they hope to win the Midwest. Their path to the Sweet 16 wasn’t very difficult, getting wins over No.14 Iona and No.11 Rhode Island. But they are playing without senior forward Chris Boucher, who averaged 11.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game before tearing his ACL in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

The rest of the Ducks’ starters will have to step up, as they have already done in the postseason. Tyler Dorsey scored the game-winning three-pointer for Oregon in the second round, and he’s playing like one of the best scorers in the nation. Averaging 14 points per game on the season, the sophomore guard has scored at least 21 points in all five games since the start of the Pac-12 Tournament.

Along with leading scorer Dillon Brooks, Dorsey and Oregon should be able to put up a lot of points against Michigan. The Wolverines have one of the NCAA’s best offenses, and the final score could go well past the betting total of 147.5 points.

Oregon won’t be easy to beat, but it’s hard to pick against Michigan with the way the likes of Derrick Walton Jr., D.J. Wilson and Zak Irvin are currently playing.

Prediction: Michigan over Oregon, 80-75