2024 Women’s March Madness: Odds, Picks, Predictions, Best Bets for Monday | Second Round

The Women’s College Basketball Tournament’s second round continues on Monday with the last eight spots to claim in this year’s Sweet 16. And I'm here to continue to preview 2024 Women's March Madness with odds, picks, predictions and best bets for Monday's Second Round games.

Underdogs had a day on Sunday, covering in five of eight games, while Duke and Colorado won outright as dogs on the road. I have a separate full game preview on the Iowa vs West Virginia game for Caitlin Clark’s last game at Carver Hawkeye Arena, and in addition, here is how I’m betting the Monday Second Round slate in the Women's NCAA Tournament: Iowa vs West Virginia, Ole Miss vs Notre Dame, Tennessee vs NC State, Syracuse vs UConn, Oklahoma vs Indiana, Creighton vs UCLA, Kansas vs USC and Utah vs Gonzaga.

Sunday gets started off with a bang, as we get to see Coach Yo’s Ole Miss Rebels take on Hannah Hidalgo and the Fighting Irish.

We went heavy on Ole Miss against Marquette in the first round and didn’t see the Rebels pull away until the fourth. I think part of this was Coach Yo wanting to hide some of their defensive schemes from their future opponent. Notre Dame struggled to pull away from Kent State as they failed to cover the giant 30-point spread, winning by 14. Either way, the Rebels cruised to a 12-point win as they covered the spread for the ninth consecutive game.

I think we see a rough battle between the defensive-minded coaches, but I don’t see the Irish winning by double digits. Ole Miss defeated Stanford as a double-digit dog in the second round last year on the road. There’s a chance they do it again.

The Lady Vols were simply dominant in all aspects of their game on Saturday, blasting the Green Bay Phoenix by 29 points as they put up 92 on NC State’s court. Rickea Jackson’s draft stock continues to rise, as she put up 26 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes for Kellie Harper’s team.

NC State worked their way through Chattanooga's slow style but failed to cover the large spread, eventually winning by 16.

The Vols have now covered the spread in five straight games, and with the supporting cast playing the way they are, I’m comfortable playing the Vols to cover and win outright on the road here.

Dyaisha Fair versus Paige Bueckers is going to be a sight to see: Two incredible hoopers who can fill it up from all over the court.

Fair was instrumental in the Syracuse win against Arizona, scoring the final nine points for Syracuse and finishing with 32 points. 'Cuse have the size to match up with Aaliyah Edwards down low and have been playing against tougher competition in the ACC for the last two months.

Twenty points is too high for the Huskies here. Take the points with Syracuse.

Indiana weathered the shooting storm from Fairfield as they broke the second half open, outscoring the Stags by 29 on their way to a 34-point win. Sara Scalia was scorching hot, making five of her 10 3-pointers as part of her 27 points.

Oklahoma got off to a scary start in the opener, getting down as much as 14 to Florida Gulf Coast, and traded the lead back-and-forth in the final frame before edging out the Eagles on their way to a three-point win.

The Sooners won’t be able to play catch-up with a team like Indiana. It’s imperative that they get off to a hot start, because the Hoosiers will wear them down. I also like that most of this Hoosiers roster experienced a loss in the Second Round at Assembly Hall as a one seed last year, and they should be highly motivated to get back to the Sweet 16. Hoosiers win by double digits here.

Iowa has all of the pressure, hasn't covered in the second round in the last two tournaments and even lost outright as a big favorite in the second round against Creighton in 2022.

West Virginia has guards who can produce offensively and the speed to run with Iowa if needed. But I think they do their best — at least initially — to frustrate Caitlin and the Iowa guards and make them play a slower-paced game.

I think we get some late-game heroics in the fourth quarter from Clark, but West Virginia keeps it somewhat close as we're treated to an epic game.

Spoiler alert: I’m going out on a limb here.

I love the Jays. UCLA could roll, but all the pressure in the world is on them. Creighton came out firing in Pauley Pavilion leading wire to wire against the mountain west champs, UNLV. This team has pulled off this upset before, knocking off Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes in Iowa two years ago, and most of that roster is back and looks locked in to make a run.

UCLA cruised against a subpar defense in Cal Baptist, and didn’t have the services of 6’7" sophomore, Lauren Betts, who was out with a foot injury. While I do expect her to play and have an impact, I think this Creighton offense can find a way to take down Goliath and pull off the upset.

JuJu Watkins and the USC Trojans get a great matchup here against a Kansas team that pulled off the comeback win in overtime against Michigan.

Center Rayah Marshall and forward Kaitlyn Davis should make things difficult for the 6’6′ Jayhawks center, Taiyanna Jackson, who averages a near double-double. Trojans guard Kayla Padilla will draw the assignment of the Jayhawks' best shooter, Holly Kersgieter, forcing her into tough shots and not allowing her to get clean looks on the catch. Trust JuJu and the Trojans to get the job done at home.

Utah got off to a great start in the First Round, leading 25-5 against South Dakota State before finding themselves in a drought in the second quarter. Eventually, 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year Alissa Pili was just too much for the Jackrabbits.

Gonzaga got off to a horrid start defensively against UC Irvine and failed to cover the 22-point spread, as they couldn’t get stops inside and continued to send the Anteaters to the free throw line.

The Utes have been to the Sweet 16 before and know what’s needed to get there. I trust the experience, and Alissa Pili’s dominance, to get the Utes the win in Spokane.