Key Matchups in Women's Tournament: Lines and Predictions
The women's tournament is down to 48 teams as top seeds compete today. Betting lines and BPI projections provide insights for the upcoming games.
The 2026 women's tournament is nearing its conclusion, with the bracket reduced to 48 teams and one more day of second-round games remaining to finalize the field of 16 for next week.
Among today's highlights, the UConn Huskies, a title favorite, lead the way as they face Syracuse with a substantial 35.5-point advantage. Other notable matchups include South Carolina, favored by 22.5 points against USC, and UCLA, with a 26.5-point lead over Oklahoma State. Texas has already secured a spot in the round of 16 after defeating Oregon on Sunday.
Action today begins at noon ET, featuring various betting lines and BPI projections for the games. All odds are sourced from DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
In the matchup between (6) Alabama Crimson Tide and (3) Louisville Cardinals taking place in Louisville, Kentucky at noon ET, the Cardinals are favored by 8.5 points. The money line for Alabama stands at +310, while Louisville's is -395, with a total set at 132.5. Alabama's record is 23-10, including 7-9 in SEC play, whereas Louisville has a record of 27-7, going 15-3 in ACC play. The BPI projection favors Louisville by 9.9 points, with an 81.9% likelihood of winning straight up.
At 2 p.m. ET, (10) Virginia Cavaliers will face (2) Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City, where Iowa is favored by 13.5 points. The money line for Virginia is +750 against Iowa's -1200, with a total of 135.5. Virginia's record is 19-11, with 11-7 in ACC play, while Iowa stands at 26-6, 15-3 in Big Ten play. The BPI projects Iowa to win by 10.5 points, with an 83.1% chance of winning straight up.
Later at 4 p.m. ET, (6) Notre Dame Fighting Irish will go up against (3) Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State is favored by 5.5 points, with a money line of +190 for Notre Dame and -230 for Ohio State. The total is set at 148.5. Notre Dame holds a record of 22-10 with 12-6 in ACC play, while Ohio State is 26-7, 13-5 in Big Ten play. The BPI gives Ohio State a 3.4-point edge and a 62.5% winning probability.
At 5 p.m. ET, (5) Kentucky Wildcats will face (4) West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown, West Virginia. West Virginia is favored by 3.5 points, with Kentucky at +145 on the money line and West Virginia at -175. The total is 128.5. Kentucky's record is 23-10, with 8-8 in SEC play, while West Virginia boasts a record of 27-6, 14-4 in Big 12 play. The BPI projects West Virginia to win by 0.4 points, giving them a 51.7% chance of winning straight up.
At 6 p.m. ET, (9) Syracuse Orange will battle (1) UConn Huskies in Storrs, Connecticut. UConn is heavily favored by 35.5 points, with the total at 139.5. Syracuse's record is 23-8, including 12-6 in ACC play, while UConn remains undefeated at 34-0, 20-0 in Big East play. The BPI projection favors UConn by 30.3 points, with a 99% chance of winning.
At 7 p.m. ET, (7) Illinois Fighting Illini will face (2) Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville, where Vanderbilt is favored by 13.5 points. The money line stands at +650 for Illinois and -1000 for Vanderbilt, with a total of 152.5. Illinois has a record of 21-11, 9-9 in Big Ten play, while Vanderbilt is 27-4, 13-3 in SEC play. The BPI projects Vanderbilt to win by 9.7 points, with an 81.5% chance of winning straight up.
At 8 p.m. ET, (9) USC Trojans will challenge (1) South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia, South Carolina. South Carolina is favored by 22.5 points, with USC's money line at +3000 and South Carolina's at -10000. The total is 132.5. USC's record is 17-13, with 9-9 in Big Ten play, while South Carolina stands at 31-3, 15-1 in SEC play. The BPI gives South Carolina an 18.4-point advantage and a 94.3% chance of winning.
Finally, at 10 p.m. ET, (8) Oklahoma State Cowgirls will face (1) UCLA Bruins in Los Angeles, where UCLA is favored by 26.5 points. The money line for Oklahoma State is +4000 and for UCLA, it is -50000. The total is 138.5. Oklahoma State has a record of 23-9, with 12-6 in Big 12 play, while UCLA is 31-1, 18-0 in Big Ten play. The BPI projects UCLA to win by 22.5 points, with a 96.9% chance of winning straight up.
The College Basketball Power Index (BPI) serves as a metric for team strength and predicts performance. It takes into account various factors such as opponent strength and pace of play to simulate the season multiple times for future projections. Daily updates are provided for these statistics.
Editor's note: A correction has been made regarding the individual team records in the first-round games.