NCAA Women's National Championship Betting Guide: UConn-South Carolina Picks, Best Bets

UConn. 

South Carolina. 

Two of the most storied programs in women's college basketball meet on Sunday in Tampa, Florida for the NCAA Women’s national championship. The game begins a 3 p.m. on ABC. 

This year's Final Four featured three No. 1 seeds and perennial powerhouse UConn. The Huskies were a No. 2 seed in their region but soon emerged as the betting favorite to win it all.

South Carolina (-4.5) beat Texas 74-57 in the first semifinal on Friday night. UConn (-8.5) rolled through No. 1 seed UCLA in Friday’s late game 85-51. Both winners scored easy covers on their betting lines. 

South Carolina Eyes Repeat, UConn Drawing Heavy Betting Action

Top-seeded South Carolina, the defending national champions beat Duke 54-50 in the Birmingham 1 Regional final. The Gamecocks failed to cover the 7.5-point spread, but advanced thanks to their trademark defense and veteran leadership. 

UConn is peaking at the right time. Led by star guard and projected No. 1 WNBA pick Paige Bueckers, the Huskies cruised through their region, capped by a 78-64 win over an injury-plagued Southern Cal. Bueckers poured in 30 points, two days after dropping 40 in the Elite Eight against Oklahoma. 

According to BetMGM, UConn was the most popular bet to win the title, leading in both handle (16.7%) and tickets (27.1%) in futures markets. 

"UConn is our worst result and we're really hoping they get knocked out. Their outright has moved from -130 to -165 since Tuesday and Paige Bueckers has the most handle to win Most Outstanding Player," Hannah Luther, Sports Trader, BetMGM said Friday. UConn is now -258 on the moneyline Sunday, while USC is +210. 

Women’s NCAA Final Four Championship Pick 

(1) South Carolina vs. (2) UConn

Sunday, 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
Best Bet: UConn -5.5 (-115)
Best Bet: Over 132.5 (-110)

BUZZ: Two legends bring their teams to the title game. UConn's Geno Auriemma is one victory away from claiming national championships 30 years apart at the same school. No coach can make that claim. Men's or women's. UConn has 11 national championships, but none since 2016. UConn is back in the natty for the 13th time and is enjoying its 24th Final Four. The Huskies steamrolled to the Natty, winning by margins of 69, 46, 23, 14 and 34 points. UConn demolished No. 1 overall seed UCLA Friday night, holding the Bruins to 22 points in the first half. UConn's balance was evident Friday, Paige Bueckers had just 16 points, but the Huskies were powered by a pair of freshmen: Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd. That depth will be too much for Dawn Staley's never-say-die Gamecocks. The national champs routed Texas after being pushed hard in their earlier games. The Gamecocks continue to rely on their elite defense and championship DNA. But UConn is simply too deep. The Huskies beat USC 87-58 earlier this season in Greenville, South Carolina. We may not see another 29-point UConn victory. But the Huskies will grab this cover and more before Auriemma, Bueckers and her teammates cut down the nets.