Predictions roundtable: How to bet the women's Final Four games
The women’s NCAA tournament continues Friday with two huge Final Four games on ESPN, as No. 1 seed South Carolina takes on No. 3 seed NC State at 7 p.m. ET followed by No. 1 seed Iowa playing No. 3 seed UConn at 9 p.m. ET.
How should you bet these games? And which futures bets are worth considering?
Here are experts Tyler Fulghum and Mackenzie Kraemer with their favorite bets to make.
Game bets
UConn first-half money line vs. Iowa (+105). ESPN Analytics makes UConn a slight favorite for the game. UConn’s lack of depth worries me for a full-game wager, but for 20 minutes, getting plus-money on UConn is appealing. UConn beat Iowa last season without Paige Bueckers, and Bueckers is playing some of the best ball of her career. — Kraemer
UConn +2.5 vs. Iowa (-115). I had LSU knocking Caitlin Clark and Iowa out of the tournament, so I have to give them credit for their rather impressive victory. That said, I think the Huskies are a deeper and better team. Some (me included) would argue Bueckers is the better overall player than Clark. I’ll take that and Geno Auriemma’s experience over Iowa. — Fulghum
NC State +11.5 vs. South Carolina (-115). NC State is 6-2 outright and 7-1 ATS as an underdog this season, with the two losses coming by a combined five points. Over the past six seasons, 11 of the 12 Final Four games have been decided by 10 points or less. South Carolina has been more vulnerable than usual in March, going 1-3 ATS, and NC State could keep this to single digits. — Kraemer
Any Final Four game to go OVER 179.5 points (+325). This is a fun bet to sweat in the Specials section of ESPN BET. Most likely, a 180-plus-point game is coming from UConn/Iowa, right? Clark and Bueckers trading buckets in a faster-paced game. — Fulghum
Futures bets
MiLaysia Fulwiley to win Most Outstanding Player (+1500). When South Carolina won the SEC tournament last month, it was Fulwiley, not Kamilla Cardoso, winning MVP. The freshman sensation comes off the bench, but she has only one fewer 20-point game this season than Cardoso, including a 24-point outburst against LSU in the SEC championship game. Fulwiley has the talent and upside to win this award if the Gamecocks cut down the nets. — Kraemer
Paige Bueckers to win Most Outstanding Player (+750). Would anyone really be surprised if Geno Auriemma and UConn won another title? It has been eight years since the UConn women last cut down the nets. Bueckers is playing at an unbelievable level in this tournament, averaging 28.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 5.0 APG, 3.3 SPG and 1.5 BPG, and has played all 40 minutes in three of the four games. — Fulghum
