The set-up: Xavier (an 11-seed) is the only team seeded lower than No. 7 Michigan among Sweet 16 schools. Michigan comes in 26-7 after winning 12 of its last 14, including six in a row since its charter plane skidded off the runway en route to the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines won four games in four days to take the Big Ten tourney, then edged Oklahoma St. 92-91 before taking down second-seeded Louisville 73-69 to advance to the school's third Sweet 16 in the last five years. Oregon was given a 3-seed in the Midwest Region and after easing past Iona 93-77, had to rally to get past 11-seed Rhode Island, 75-72 (Oregon came back from an 11-point deficit). The Ducks take on Michigan looking to advance to the Elite 8 for a second straight year.

Michigan: Sophomore forward Moritz Wagner set a career high with 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting to lift the Wolverines past Louisville for the first time in program history. D.J. Wilson continued his strong play in the tournament by scoring 17 points, including four clutch free throws in the final 30 seconds, and blocked three shots while Derrick Walton Jr. added 10 points, seven rebounds and six assists against the Cardinals. Michigan top-two scorers are PG Walton (15.4-4.8-4.9) and SG Irvin (12.9 & 4.4). The 6-11 Wagner (12.2 & 4.1) was the team's star against Louisville but it's been the 6-10 Wilson (11.0 & 5.3) who has been the team's best big man during Michigan's 6-0 tourney run, averaging 16.2 PPG.

Oregon: The Ducks have been playing without their best big man in the 6-10 Boucher (11.8 & 6.1), who went down in the Pac 12 tourney. However, the win over Rhode Island gave Oregon a 31-5 record, matching the school record for single-season wins. Guard Dorsey (14.0) is the team's second-leading scorer behind 6-7 forward Brooks (16.4) but continued his recent tear as he poured in 27 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 38.4 seconds left against the Rams. Brooks scored 19 points and pulled down seven rebounds to become the Ducks' all-time leader in NCAA Tournament scoring with 123 points. The 6-9 Jordan Bell (10.8 & 8.3) had a game-high 12 rebounds. Dorsey has scored 21-plus in all five of Oregon's tourney games and enters Thursday's game averaging 23.6 PPG in that span.

The pick: Maybe it's just "Michigan's year," as it's hard to explain just how this team has jelled and played so well so far. Throw in the fact that the Wolverines have won all eight of their neutral court games in 2016-17 and it's understandable why the early betting action has all been on Michigan. However, I truly believe Oregon is the superior team (even without Boucher) and while Michigan head coach John Beilein is top-notch, this isn't Oregon's Dana Altman's first rodeo, either. Make Oregon an 8* play.