The 2022 NCAA women's basketball tournament rolls on with the Elite 8 finishing up Monday night. Top-seeded South Carolina and Stanford punched their tickets to Final Four with two more berths to go. ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme and analyst Monica McNutt are here to offer their best bets for the Elite 8 and entire event.
All games will be televised on the ESPN family of networks.
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
Best bets for Monday
2. UConn Huskies (-4, 129) vs. 1. NC State Wolfpack
Bridgeport Region (East): 7 p.m. ET (ESPN), Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Creme's pick: Over 129
These are two good offenses that haven't played as freely as they are capable. While both are top-10 defensive teams, this one shouldn't be as physical as some of their earlier tournament games. UConn's guards should be able to shoot over 5-4 Raina Perez and 5-5 Diamond Johnson of NC State. Also look for the Huskies to try to push the pace. If they can this should go over the number because the Wolfpack won't be fearful of getting into an up-tempo game either.
3. Michigan Wolverines vs. 1. Louisville Cardinals (-5, 128.5)
Wichita Region (Midwest): 9 p.m. ET (ESPN), INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, Kan.
Creme's pick: Louisville -5
These two played back on December 2nd and the game was never close. The Cardinals got up big early and never relented in a 22-point win over the Wolverines. Certainly, the teams have changed over the last three months but what hasn't is the quality of the Louisville defense (it's probably better now in fact) and that Jeff Walz knows how to scheme away the opponents' strengths. Naz Hillmon is Michigan's strength, and she was completely neutralized in the post by the length of 6-1 Emily Engstler, 6-5 Liz Dixon, and 6-3 Olivia Cochran. Despite a pair of wins, the Wolverines have struggled to score. Expect this one to play out much like Louisville's win over Tennessee on Saturday.
Futures
UConn Huskies to win NCAA tournament (4-1)
Creme: Consider this moderate value. Sure, the Huskies have the third-best odds behind South Carolina (+175) and Stanford (+350) to win the title, but had UConn been healthy all season, the chance to cash in on the Huskies would have been much slimmer. The Huskies were the co-favorite with South Carolina in the preseason before injuries -- including one to reigning national Player of the Year Paige Bueckers that cost her 19 games -- wreaked havoc with UConn's rotation. With everyone now back, this is the team everyone expected to at least make the championship game, and now the number is better.
NC State Wolfpack to win NCAA tournament (+650)
McNutt: While I do think South Carolina is the best team and likely wins the national title, there isn't much value at +175 to win the six games. If you are looking for betting value, head to the Bridgeport Regional, where top-seeded NC State is not the betting favorite. At +650, NC State's odds are longer than 2-seed and 11-time champion UConn. Wes Moore's squad is going to have to exercise some postseason demons, having lost in the Sweet 16 last year as a No. 1 seed. The snake-bitten school hasn't advanced past the Sweet 16 since a 1998 Final Four trip. The Wolfpack have almost the entire squad from last year's 29-3 team, returning a year older and wiser. Raina Perez has been wonderful for them this year, and Elissa Cunane could have been ACC Player of the Year. Kayla Jones is healthy, and Kai Crutchfield gets better every game. The Wolfpack would have to beat UConn in Bridgeport, Connecticut, but that's another reason you are getting longer odds.