Believe that this is the first time ever with no line on an Elite 8 game less than 7. Unfortunately, the best dog, USC, is playing the top rated team in the tourney. Would be nice to have competitive games to get to the Final 4.
FWIW, the current Oregon State run is one for the ages, but it may not be generating the same buzz because they are Power V conference team.... barely. The Beavers program sits at the bottom of the barrel Power conference teams. Until this season, the Beavers had made once NCAA tournament in 31 years. They had not won an NCAA Tourney game since 1982 -- 39 years. The consensus is that WF has had a disappointing NCAA Tourney history, and going into this season, WF had won 19 NCAA Tourney games since the Beavers last NCAA win.
With that backdrop, no Power Conference team has had such an unexpected Elite 8 run. On February 14 (6 weeks ago), Oregon State fell to 10-10 (6-8 in the Pac 12). They were the #123 rated team in the country. By way of comparison that was the same weekend that WF lost in OT to Florida State. At that time, WF was rated #109 in the country. Yes, to that point in the 2021 season, WF was a better team than the Oregon State Beavers. Think about how far the 2021 Deacs were from being an Elite 8 team at any point of the season. WF couldn't beat Pitt's bench-warmers. WF couldn't hold a 17 point lead against 11th place ND in the ACC Tourney. That helps paint the picture of how unlikely Oregon State's rise has been.
Since Valentine's Day, the Beavers have gone 10-2, won 6 straight and consecutively beaten teams rated: #16, #15, #9, #27, #34, #10 -- that would be an awesome run for Gonzaga. The Beavs only path to the NCAAs was to win the Pac 12 tournament, and the Beavs beat 3 NCAA Tourney teams (including fellow Elite 8 participant UCLA) just to win the conference tournament. To follow up an unexpected Pac 12 title, Oregon State has not only won 3 more NCAA games, but they have never trailed in the 2nd half of any of their NCAA Tourney games. Other than Gonzaga, no other team in the field has had an easier time getting the Elite 8. Tonight, the Beavers are again expected to lose as Houston is giving 7.5 (up to 8) to the Beavers.
Oregon State's magical run defies any logical explanation. Truly March Madness.