The Midwest Region boasts plenty of exciting matchups for the first round of the Men's Basketball Championship, with the 11^th-seed Oregon Ducks (23-11) taking on the sixth-seed South Carolina Gamecocks (26-7). The action continues to be held at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday, March 21^st, at 4:00 PM ET, with the odds favoring the Ducks with a point spread of -1.5 (+100).

The Ducks have a four-game win streak under their belt and are aiming to increase that momentum. Their latest win was a 75-68 outing over the Colorado Buffaloes, with N'Faly Dante dropping 25 points.

Jermaine Cousinard is leading them offensively with 15.4 points and 3.3 assists in each matchup. He will need a big game if they want to get ahead of their razor-thin margin of victory.

The Ducks maintain an average scoring rate of 75.3 points per game, placing them at the 124^th spot nationally for scoring prowess. Their offensive efficiency measures 109.4, solidifying their position at 116^th in the rankings. Can their offense withstand a high-tempo match?

Defensively, they give up an average of 71.9 points per game, earning them the 180^th spot. With a defensive efficiency rating of 104.4, they hold the 191^st position nationally. Will this suffice to contain the Gamecocks' offense?

The Gamecocks recently had their two-game win streak snapped in their last game. This was an 86-55 blowout against the Auburn Tigers in the Quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.

Meechie Johnson must be aggressive from the jump for their shot of winning to improve. He is currently getting 13.8 points and shooting 39.2 percent from the field each game.

The Gamecocks rank 227^th in the nation, scoring an average of 72.0 points per game. Additionally, their offensive efficiency rating of 110.4 positions them 92^nd overall. An essential element of their success lies in their capacity to advance the ball effectively while minimizing turnovers.

On the defensive end, they limit opponents to an average of 67.0 points per game, placing them 47^th nationally. With a defensive efficiency rating of 102.7, they hold the 149^th spot overall. Overcoming this challenge will be critical to their performance as they strive to widen their winning margin.

MyBookie presents the best odds for this college basketball showdown, which offers the Oregon Ducks holding a 1.5-point advantage as the favored contender. However, what are the market's thoughts towards the Ducks? Market analysis indicates a solid likelihood of triumph for the Ducks, with odds favoring them at 45.6 percent.