Women’s March Madness Odds: Iowa vs South Carolina Line, Spread, Betting Trends

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

Women's March Madness odds are up for Sunday's championship game between No. 1 seeds South Carolina and Iowa. It's a monster matchup that could lead to yet another record in women's college basketball betting.

And even though Iowa sensation Caitlin Clark is all the rage, oddsmakers installed South Carolina as a firm favorite in odds to win the national title game.

Here's everything you need to know about the Women's March Madness odds championship game market: action, movement and betting trends. Check back regularly for updates, as bookmakers provide their insights on Iowa vs South Carolina odds. And if you're a college hoops bettor in North Carolina, registration is now available, as all the top North Carolina sportsbooks are live.

Women's March Madness Odds

No. 1 Iowa vs No. 1 South Carolina Odds

• Opening point spread: South Carolina -4.5
• Opening moneyline: South Carolina -198/Iowa +164
• Opening total: Over/Under 161.5 points scored
• Time: 3 p.m. ET Sunday (ESPN)

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET SUNDAY: An hour before tipoff, TwinSpires Sportsbook has South Carolina -6.5. That's up 1.5 points from the opener, and the line made a stop at Gamecocks -6 along the way.

Iowa is landing 73% of spread tickets, but 56% of spread money is on unbeaten South Carolina.

"The public won't stop betting Iowa. Sharp play on South Carolina at -5 and -6," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.

However, the moneyline is the larger issue for TwinSpires and many other sportsbooks. The Hawkeyes are very popular to pull off the outright upset, netting 82% of moneyline tickets/79% of moneyline dollars.

"There's overwhelming support for Iowa moneyline. Combine that with Iowa futures being our biggest liability, and South Carolina is a massive need," Lucas said.

TwinSpires opened the total at 160.5 and is down to 159.5, with 57% of tickets on the Under/56% of money on the Over.

UPDATE 3 P.M. ET SATURDAY: With 24 hours until tipoff, South Carolina is 6-point chalk in Caesars Sports' Women's March Madness odds.

"Early action on the final is pretty level. We did open South Carolina -6.5, but that was bet down early to -6," Caesars vice president of trading Craig Mucklow said of the Friday night line move.

The total opened at 159 and went to 159.5 late Friday night. The number touched 160 mid-morning today, then this afternoon returned to 159.5.

Mucklow and the Caesars risk room expect to be Gamecocks fans on Sunday, in part due to the championship futures market.

"Iowa is the big winner for patrons in the futures book," he said.

Regardless of outcome, Mucklow expects massive betting interest in Iowa vs. South Carolina, based on record-setting Final Four wagering.

"As expected, the quality of the Final Four matchups was only surpassed by another record handle for Caesars Sportsbook on the games," Mucklow said. "We also noticed record handles in-play on the games, which has grown with the women's games of the past few years."

Iowa and South Carolina met in the Final Four last season. The Hawkeyes were 10-point underdogs and won outright 77-73.

UPDATE 1 A.M. ET SATURDAY: Iowa (34-4 SU) fended off No. 3 seed UConn 71-69 as a 3.5-point favorite in Friday night's second semifinal. So Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes advance to the championship game for the second straight season.

The opening semi wasn't nearly as dramatic. South Carolina (37-0 SU) punished N.C. State 29-6 in the third quarter en route to a 78-59 victory laying 11.5 points.

Moments after Iowa's win, DraftKings Sportsbook opened South Carolina -4.5 vs. the Hawkeyes. Almost immediately, that line moved to Gamecocks -5.5, followed by a move to -6. Within 20 minutes of opening, South Carolina went to -6.5 at DraftKings.

The SuperBook opened on the high end at Gamecocks -6.5, with no movement so far in its March Madness odds Iowa vs South Carolina market.

"Tickets are split so far, but more money on the Hawkeyes," SuperBook senior risk supervisor Casey Degnon said. "I think this game will generate good two-way action. But with Iowa being the 'dog, I think we'll end up needing South Carolina to win and cover."

The SuperBook opened the total at 159.5, fell a notch to 159, then returned to 159.5.

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson