Women's College Basketball National Championship Odds: South Carolina Out in Front

The women's college basketball season is in full swing, and a few of the top teams have begun to separate from the pack. We're still over a month away from selection Monday, but FanDuel Sportsbook has plenty of ways to get in on the action. The top women's college basketball games are available to bet daily, and FanDuel also offers futures markets.

Below are the current odds for the 2024 NCAA women's basketball national championship, followed by a breakdown of the top contenders.

Odds as of January 26th via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Women's College Basketball National Championship Odds

South Carolina Gamecocks (+200)

South Carolina is the favorite to win the 2024 national title with 2/1 odds. The Gamecocks are undefeated at 18-0 this season and sit at No. 1 in the current AP Poll.

They're first in the NCAA's NET Rankings, too, and their nine Quad 1 wins are tied for the most in the country. They've picked up a number of high-profile Ws this season, including victories over LSU, Utah, and Notre Dame.

Statistically, there's not much to nitpick here. The Gamecocks have by far the largest average scoring margin (+36.8), 8.3 points higher than the next-closest team. They lead the country in offensive rating (points per 100 possessions) and defensive rating (point allowed per 100 possessions), and they're fifth in total rebound rate. USC takes care of the ball (ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio) and is lethal from beyond the arc (first in three-point field goal percentage).

South Carolina has a deep and loaded roster. Six players average at least 9.5 points per game, led by junior Kamilla Cardoso (13.2) and freshman phenom MiLaysia Fulwiley (11.5). Those two are hardly the only stars on this team as six different players have led the squad in scoring in a game this season.

Simply put, there are no holes on this South Carolina team. They were undefeated until the Final Four last season, and there's a good chance that happens again this season. It's hard to imagine a world where they aren't favored in both Final Four games, so I do see value in them, even at +200.

LSU Tigers (+700)

The reigning champs may not be favored to repeat, but they aren't far off. With 7/1 odds to win the 2024 tournament, the LSU Tigers are among the second tier of contenders this season.

The Tigers dropped their first game of the campaign but rebounded to win 16 straight. They've since lost two of their last four, including to an Auburn team that isn't projected to make the Big Dance. They most recently lost to top-ranked South Carolina at home, and they're 0-2 against the Gamecocks the last two years.

Still, if they can avoid USC, the Tigers have a chance to repeat. They rank second nationally in average scoring margin (+28.5), seventh in offensive rating, and eighth in defensive rating. Angel Reese (19.6 points per game) spearheads an offense that features five double-digit point-per-game scorers, including a pair of big-time transfers in Aneesah Morrow (18.0) and Hailey Van Lith (11.7).

The Tigers have already proven capable of making a run, and it wouldn't surprise anyone to see them cut down the nets again this season.

Iowa Hawkeyes (+700)

Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes will be looking to avenge last year's championship loss, and they're among four teams with +700 odds to win it this season.

The Hawkeyes have put together a nice season thus far, splitting two games with Kansas State and taking down Indiana. They're the only team that rivals South Carolina's offensive rating, but their 105th-rated defense leaves a lot to be desired.

Lucky for them, you don't have to be a defensive stalwart when Caitlin Clark is your best player. The reigning Wooden Award winner is well on her way to winning another Player of the Year, leading the country in points (31.7), ranking second in assists (7.7) and chipping in 7.0 rebounds per game.

With the ability to go for 40 points on any night, Clark gives her Hawkeyes a real chance to finish the job this season.

Connecticut Huskies (+700)

Connecticut suffered an early exit in last year's tournament, but a healthy Paige Bueckers gives the Huskies a good shot to cut down the nets for the first time since 2016.

Bueckers -- the 2021 Wooden Award winner -- sat out all of last season with a knee injury but hasn't missed a beat in her return to action. She is currently putting up 20.1 points and 2.2 threes per game, shooting 49% from beyond the arc. With Bueckers alongside reigning Third Team All-American Aaliyah Edwards (16.4 points; 8.3 rebounds), UConn's top two rivals anyone.

Although they rank second in the NET and match South Carolina with nine Quad 1 wins, the Huskies have lost by double-digits against the three best teams on their schedule. However, they've been on a roll since early December and are tied for the country's third-longest active win streak (13). They rank eighth nationally in average scoring margin and 10th in offensive rating but are noticeably 42nd in defensive rating.

Still, Geno Auriemma is one of the most decorated coaches in college basketball history for a reason. Don't be surprised to see UConn as the last team standing in Cleveland.

UCLA Bruins (+750)

The UCLA Bruins are the last team shorter than 10/1 odds to win the championship.

UCLA has played well all season, and they boast the 11th-highest average scoring margin in the country (+21.5). Five Bruins average more than 11 points per game, and they rank 11th in offensive rating. Despite an uninspiring 48th-rated defense, the Bruins were one of just two teams to hold South Carolina under 60 points last season. They currently lead all Division I teams in total rebound rate

UCLA currently sits at No. 2 in the AP Poll and seventh in the NET, so the Bruins have earned their status as a second-tier favorite. They have one top-five win against UConn and have played four road games against top-20 NET teams. They're battled-tested, for sure.

That could come in handy when March gets here, and they're currently projected to be a No. 1 seed. That would give UCLA a nice path to the Final Four, and from there, anything can happen.

Other Notables

Colorado (+1400) has the next-shortest odds. The Buffaloes have wins over LSU, Stanford, and Utah. Those propelled them to a No. 3 ranking in the current AP Poll, but they're just 17th in the NET.

Stanford and Kansas State are both +1900.

Stanford was a No. 1 seed last year but got upset in the Second Round. They've returned with vengeance this season, ranking sixth in the AP Poll and third in the NET. Cameron Brink -- a projected top-two pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft -- gives them one of the best players in the country.

Kansas State's only loss was on a neutral floor against Iowa, but they'd already beaten the Hawkeyes the week prior. The Wildcats have the country's second-rated defense, and they've given up 70 points just once this season. They currently sit at No. 4 in the AP Poll and eighth in the NET.

After that, Utah, NC State, and Baylor are all +3000.

Utah ranks fourth in average scoring margin (+24.6), fifth in offensive rating, and 22nd in defensive rating. They're up to fifth in the NET and battled in close losses to South Carolina, Stanford, and Colorado. However, they already have five losses. Over the last 30 years, only one team has won the tournament with more than four Ls.

NC State is top 10 in the NET and AP Poll, and they notably beat UConn by 11 and Colorado by 18 early in the year. The Wolfpack are a well-rounded group, sitting at 16th in defensive rating and 36th in offensive rating.

Baylor is just 15th in the NET, but they have a pair of top-five wins against Texas and Utah. They lost by 21 points to a Kansas team that isn't projected to make the tournament, but the Bears have an otherwise-strong resume. They're in the top 25 in both offensive and defensive rating.

No one else has shorter than 50/1 odds to win the title, but Texas (+5000), Indiana (+5000), Notre Dame (+5000) and Gonzaga (+24000) stick out as longshots.

Texas has a large gap between their resume and title odds, currently ranking third in the NET but tied for the 12th-shortest odds. Both of their losses came against top-15 NET teams, and they have the country's third-largest average scoring margin (+28.3).

Indiana owns a 16-2 record, and they're sitting at No. 11 in the NET. However, they were pummeled by Stanford and Iowa, losing by 32 and 27, respectively. Still, the Hoosiers are currently third in the country in three-point field goal percentage, so there's a high ceiling if they get hot in March.

Notre Dame doesn't have a single win against a top-30 NET team, but their metrics are outstanding. The Fighting Irish are top 20 in both offensive and defensive rating, and they rank 10th in average scoring margin. The potential return of All-American point guard Olivia Miles gives them upside in March.

Gonzaga has the longest odds of any team inside the top 15 of the NET. They blasted Stanford by 18 earlier in the year, while both of their losses came against top-25 NET teams. They'll likely run the table through the rest of West Coast Conference action, but their style of play could lend itself to upsets. The Bulldogs are third in offensive rating but outside the top 200 on defense.

While these longshots have intriguing odds relative to their resumes, none of them are projected to be top-three seeds. No team below the three-line has won the tournament this century.

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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.