Undefeated South Carolina has rolled to a third straight Final Four under head coach Dawn Staley and is heavily favored at -330 to win back-to-back national titles.
Waiting for the top-seeded Gamecocks (36-0) is No. 2 seed Iowa, led by the most dynamic player in the country in Naismith Player of the Year Award winner Caitlin Clark.
Can the Hawkeyes (30-6) pull off a double-digit upset and end the Gamecocks’ reign atop the sport? We’ll have a better idea on Friday, when the teams meet in the second national semifinal (approximately 9 p.m.) in Dallas.
Read on for my South Carolina vs. Iowa prediction and best bets.
Doug Bonjour’s March Madness Betting Record: 2-2 (EV units)
South Carolina vs Iowa Final Four Odds
- Moneyline: South Carolina (-800) • Iowa (+575)
- Spread: South Carolina -11.5 (-110) • Iowa +11.5 (-110)
- Total: Over 149 (-110) • Under 149 (-110)
Note: CBB odds mentioned in this article for South Carolina vs Iowa were used from DraftKings Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted, and are current as of Wednesday, March 29 at 11 p.m. ET.
South Carolina vs Iowa Pick of the Day
Keep reading for more South Carolina vs Iowa betting tips.
- Place our top bets for the other Women’s Final Four showdown with our Virginia Tech vs LSU predictions.
South Carolina vs Iowa Prediction
South Carolina 80, Iowa 71
Clark will give South Carolina fits. That’s a given.
But the Gamecocks — 36-0 and riding a 42-game win streak dating to the start of last year’s NCAA Tournament — are deeper and far superior defensively. Expect Staley and co. to move one step closer to a national championship repeat.
📈 Keep track of NCAA Tournament winner odds to find our best March Madness bets:
South Carolina vs Iowa Best Bets
Iowa +11.5 (-110) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1.5 units
South Carolina is unquestionably the best team in the country. There’s no debate.
Still, I’m a bit surprised the spread is this large. Iowa has the most prolific offense in the country, averaging 87.6 points per game. As long as Clark does her part, the Hawkeyes have enough firepower to stay within single digits of the Gamecocks.
Keep in mind, South Carolina is just 1-3 against the spread this tournament. The Gamecocks were favored by at least 14.5 points in each of the first four rounds.
Caitlin Clark: Over 26.5 Pts (-130) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 unit
Clark is averaging an NCAA-best 27.3 points on the season and has surpassed this total in three of her last five games. She is also shooting 47.4% from the floor and 39.2% on 3-point attempts. The junior is coming off an incredible 41-point triple-double in an Elite Eight victory over Louisville.
South Carolina is the best defensive team in the country, but there’s no stopping Clark when she’s on her game.
Over 149 points (-110) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 unit
Iowa plays at the 11th-fastest pace in the country, producing more than 76 possessions per 40 minutes. South Carolina, unsurprisingly, is at the opposite end of the spectrum, ranking 206th in pace.
That, coupled with South Carolina’s stifling defense, may make some bettors pause when contemplating the over. But remember, the Gamecocks did score 86 points last round against Maryland.
I’m going to side with Iowa dictating the tempo.
