Women's College Basketball Betting: Is It South Carolina's Tournament to Lose?

March is one of the best months on the Gregorian calendar; the winter begins to subside, vegetation regains its color, and outdoor sports begin to ramp up again.

Still, whether you are a sports bettor or not, there is nothing quite like March Madness. Arguably, it is the greatest postseason tournament in modern sports (argue with someone else if you must).

The 2024 women's NCAA basketball tournament will commence on March 20. 68 programs from around the United States will put it all on the line, culminating in the national title game on April 7th at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, home of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

For reference, last year's champions -- the LSU Tigers -- are among the favorites to hoist back-to-back trophies. With conference tournaments ongoing this week, let's dive into the current outlook for the women's NCAA Tournament.

All NCAA basketball odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

South Carolina (-130)

A perennial powerhouse, the South Carolina Gamecocks are morphing into a dynasty under head coach Dawn Staley. Since Staley arrived in Columbia back in 2009, the program has earned its first two national titles in school history (2017, 2022).

South Carolina just won the SEC regular-season title for the third straight year. Outside of playoffs, the Gamecocks have lost just three total games through that span. Of course, in 2023-24, USC (not the Trojans) is shining with a perfect 32-0 record.

As it is now, South Carolina (-130) is the odds-on favorite to win the 2024 women's tournament. The Gamecocks are geared behind prolific offensive play, having averaged 86.1 PPG this season. That was the fourth-highest scoring clip of the year.

More than likely, the Gamecocks will eventually need to go through Iowa, which is the team that eliminated South Carolina in last year's tourney. However, prior to that, they'll have to deal with suspended personnel. Last Sunday, USC did well to win the SEC Tournament, but an on-court fracas -- one involving Kamilla Cardoso, who is the Gamecocks' best player -- with LSU resulted in six total ejections.

Simply, can South Carolina stave off a game or two without Cardoso on the floor?

LSU (+650)

Speaking of Baton Rouge's squad, the LSU Tigers have sights set on a second consecutive national title. Seemingly, Louisiana State has the talent and coaching to go the distance yet again.

The Fighting Tigers are in year three under head coach Kim Mulkey. Of course, Mulkey is one of the most decorated figures in college basketball, having won two national titles as a player and four as a head coach. If she can win another with LSU, Mulkey will have coached multiple programs to multiple national championships.

LSU produced a 28-5 overall record for the current campaign. Through conference play, the Tigers were stellar at 13-3. Before the loss in last Sunday's SEC title game, LSU had snapped off 10 consecutive victories.

Utilizing a fast and furious offense, the Tigers boast a 2024 scoring clip of 86.7 PPG. Naturally, that ranks as the second-highest rate in women's Division I basketball. Behind stars like Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith, LSU will be a tough out for anyone.

Iowa (+650)

If you have not watched an Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball game over the past few years, you are genuinely missing out. In the current campaign, Iowa is the top scoring program in women's college hoops. Notably, senior guard Caitlin Clark has transcended the game, posting 31.9 PPG in 2023-24.

It has certainly been a season to remember for the Hawkeyes. Earlier in the month, Clark broke "Pistol" Pete Maravich's all-time NCAA basketball scoring record -- a mark that stood for 53 years. Additionally, Iowa recently earned the Big Ten Conference Tournament title, outlasting Nebraska last Sunday.

Hawkeyes head coach Lisa Bluder is approaching a quarter-century at her current post. Through that split, Iowa has logged a 523-253 (.674) overall record. Still, the Hawkeyes have yet to take all the marbles; last year's loss to LSU in the national title game is the school's best finish in history.

FanDuel Sportsbook has Iowa labeled with +650 odds to win the upcoming national championship in Cleveland. That leaves the Hawkeyes tied with LSU for the second-shortest listing in the market. With an advantageous price, the squad from Iowa City absolutely has value here behind their superstar.

If you’re betting on any NCAAB action before Selection Sunday on March 17th, you can take advantage of FanDuel Sportsbook’s College Basketball Boost Builder. See the promotions page for more information.

Looking for more college basketball betting opportunities? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook to check out all of the upcoming college basketball odds.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.