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Kamilla Cardoso of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks on in the first half during the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game. We're backing Cardoso in our Iowa vs. South Carolina prediction.
Kamilla Cardoso of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks on in the first half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game. Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images via AFP.

We are making our top prediction and pick for the Iowa vs. South Carolina national championship game based on the most favorable odds. The Iowa Hawkeyes will be taking on the South Carolina Gamecocks in this highly anticipated matchup.

The Iowa Hawkeyes (34-4) are gearing up to face the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks (37-0) in the women’s national championship game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. This highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 Final Four is set to begin at 3 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN, with the Gamecocks being favored by 6.5 points according to top sports betting sites.

In the exciting Final Four showdown between these teams last year, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark showcased her exceptional skills, guiding the Hawkeyes to a surprising win. Now, after their controversial victory over UConn in this year’s Final Four, Clark has another opportunity to shine. As the frontrunner in the women’s Wooden Award odds, she faces the challenge of defeating the undefeated Gamecocks and overthrowing South Carolina, who have been favorites all season according to the women’s March Madness odds.

Here is our top prediction for the women’s national championship game between Iowa and South Carolina, to accompany our player props. The odds are from our recommended March Madness betting sites and our confidence level is rated on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.

Information on the game between Iowa and South Carolina, both ranked 1st.

  • When: Sunday, April 7
  • The game will start at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • The event will take place at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
  • Instructions on how to watch: Tune in to ABC or ESPN.
  • Top pick: South Carolina -6.5 at odds of -110 on FanDuel.

The odds for the Iowa vs. South Carolina game.

TeamsMoneylineSpreadOver/Under
Iowa+240+6.5 (-110)Over: 160.5
South Carolina-310-6.5 (-110)Under: 160.5

Prediction for Iowa vs. South Carolina: My forecast for the upcoming game between Iowa and South Carolina is that it will be a closely contested matchup with both teams showcasing their strengths. Iowa’s solid defense and efficient offense will pose a challenge for South Carolina, but the Gamecocks’ dynamic playmakers and home-field advantage could give them the edge in this game. Overall, I predict a close game with South Carolina coming out on top in a hard-fought battle.

Kamilla Cardoso records more than 9.5 rebounds with a four-star rating.

Top odds: +100 on bet365

Clark may be the most prolific scorer in women’s college basketball history and a top contender for the WNBA MVP, but Kamilla Cardoso is the standout player on the nation’s top team.

Cardoso, also known as “Killa Milla” by her teammates, is the crucial player for the Gamecocks, who rank third in the nation in points per game (85.4) and 17th in points allowed (56.1).

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Cardoso, not Clark, has the chance to create the biggest advantage in the national championship game with her size and physicality. Standing at 6-foot-7, Cardoso not only leads South Carolina in points (14.3) and blocks (2.5), but she also tops the team in rebounds (9.5). Thanks to her dominant presence, Dawn Staley’s team ranks fourth in the country in rebounds per game (46.2).

Despite Iowa’s high-scoring offense averaging 91.4 points per game, coach Lisa Bluder’s team lacks size with no player over 6-foot-2 playing more than 10 minutes per game. This lack of height gives Killa Milla a significant advantage in rebounding, as Iowa ranks poorly in total rebounds allowed (34.7) and offensive rebounds (11.0) compared to other teams.

Clark and the Hawkeyes are in for trouble as Cardoso is coming off an impressive 11-rebound performance in the Final Four, playing only 23 minutes. The odds at bet365 are great, with even money offering a $10 profit on a $10 wager. With +100 implying a 50% chance of Cardoso hitting the Over, according to our odds calculator.

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Analysis of the spread and Over/Under for the Iowa vs. South Carolina game.

After Iowa’s 71-69 victory over the Huskies, South Carolina started as a 5.5-point favorite and has since increased to a 6.5-point favorite on top sports betting apps. We anticipate minimal further changes to this line since the Gamecocks are unbeaten. However, the Hawkeyes have a significant advantage in the form of Clark, who is the most crucial X-factor in the sport.

The Over/Under ranges at our top sportsbooks, with bet365 and Caesars setting it at 160 and DraftKings at 161. The Hawkeyes have the top offense in the nation, but it seems unlikely that the total game score will exceed 161.5 considering the strong defense of the Gamecocks.

Prediction for the Iowa-South Carolina game was made on Saturday at 10:20 a.m. ET.

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