NCAA Women's NCAA Final Four Betting Guide: UConn-UCLA & South Carolina-Texas

The NCAA Women’s Final Four takes place this weekend in Tampa, Florida, with national semifinal games scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena. Both games will air on ESPN. The national championship will be played Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.

This year's Final Four features three No. 1 seeds and perennial powerhouse UConn. The Huskies are a No. 2 seed but enter the Final Four as the betting favorite to win it all.

South Carolina plays Texas in the first semifinal on Friday night. UConn faces overall No. 1 seed UCLA in Friday’s late game. The Bruins (-4.5) outlasted LSU 72-65 to win the Spokane 1 Regional.

South Carolina Eyes Repeat, UConn Drawing Heavy Betting Action

Top-seeded South Carolina, the defending national champions, advanced with a gritty 54-50 win over Duke 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. They opened the tournament as the favorites at +150 and have seen their price shift throughout March, currently sitting at +240.

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 USC team. Bueckers poured in 30 points, two days after dropping 40 in the Elite Eight against Oklahoma. UConn opened the tournament at +450, and sharp performances have pushed their odds to +110.

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

Women’s NCAA Final Four Picks & Best Bets

(1) South Carolina vs. (1) Texas

Friday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Best Bet: Texas +4.5 (-105)
Best Bet: Over 127.5 (-110)

BUZZ: South Carolina has faced stiff challenges all tournament long, needing a full 40-minute effort to get past Duke. While their offense has sputtered at times, the Gamecocks continue to rely on their elite defense and championship DNA. Texas returns to the Final Four for the first time since 2003 and boasts one of the deepest, most balanced rosters in the field. Like South Carolina, the Longhorns grind opponents down with physical play and relentless pace. This contested game could be decided in the final possession—or even overtime. Texas is live to cover and possibly pull the upset.

(1) UCLA vs. (2) UConn

Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Best Bet: UCLA +8.5 (-115)
Best Bet: Under 135.5 (-110)

BUZZ: The Bruins, the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, are making their first Final Four appearance thanks in large part to breakout star Gabriela Jaquez. UCLA exorcised last year's demons with a revenge win over LSU in the Elite Eight. It will need to tighten up their interior defense to hang with UConn, but their pressure defense could force turnovers and disrupt the Huskies' rhythm. UConn is back in the Final Four for a record 24th time and has steamrolled its way through the bracket, winning by margins of 69, 46, 23, and 14. Still, an 8.5-point spread is steep in a national semifinal—especially against the tournament’s top overall seed. Expect a close game, with UCLA likely to cover in a low-scoring affair.