In the nightcap of Friday's Final Four doubleheader, the South Carolina Gamecocks are set to face an Iowa Hawkeyes squad led by the biggest star in women's college basketball. Read on for our Iowa-South Carolina prediction based on the top NCAAB odds.
Iowa junior Caitlin Clark has been captivating the sports world with her video-game numbers, posting the first-ever 40-point triple-double in Division I NCAA Tournament history during a 97-83 win over Louisville in the Elite Eight. She finished with 41 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds in a game that drew 2.49 million viewers.
More eyes will be on this week's matchup when Clark will need to duplicate her heroics for the Hawkeyes (30-6) to stand a chance against a South Carolina squad that's 36-0 on the campaign. The Gamecocks are a double-digit favorite, and they're trying to become the first back-to-bac k champ since UConn accomplished the feat in 2005 and 2006.
Here is our best Iowa vs. South Carolina prediction (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Iowa vs. South Carolina prediction
HerHoopStats, an analytical website for women's basketball at the collegiate and professional level, projects South Carolina to take care of business in this one. With a projection of 82.3-69.2, the Gamecocks hold an 83.4% chance of victory on Friday.
That projection unfortunately wouldn't give us a competitive game, but it's also right in line with the betting odds, making it difficult to locate a wager. We settled on the Over because there's reason to have a bit more faith the Hawkeyes will be able to score.
Iowa leads the country while averaging 87.6 points per game. The team pla ys at the 11th-fastest pace, producing 76.4 possessions per 40 minutes. South Carolina, meanwhile, is 206th in pace and second in the country while allowing just 51.1 points per outing.
Conventional wisdom would say the Gamecocks should dictate the tempo, but oddsmakers are already admitting the Hawkeyes will establish their pace while setting a total around 150. It doesn't hurt that South Carolina is coming off an 86-point effort against Maryland, either.
The Gamecocks gave up 17 points in transition to Maryland, according to Synergy Sports Technology. Iowa ranks in the 100th percentile in the nation with an average of 1.23 points per possession in transition. If the Hawkeyes can score before the defense is in position, they'll hold a better chance of hanging around on Friday.
Betting against a South Carolina team that's only lost twice in the last two years doesn't seem like a good business decision. So let's bet on offense, as that's the best way for Clark and Co. to keep this one interesting.
Check out our best March Madness odds and Wooden Award odds.
Iowa vs. South Carolina best odds
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | PointsBet |
| Over 149 | Over 149.5 | Over 149.5 | Over 149.5 | N/A |
| -110 | -106 | -110 | -110 | N/A |
Four of our five top-rated sportsbooks are offering lines for this game as of Wednesday morning. Three of those shops agree on the total at 149.5, with DraftKings featuring the best option for Over bettors at 149.
This line is playable up to 150 before we'd suggest taking a look at other markets for this game.
Iowa vs. South Carolina odds analysis
The spread is priced at 11.5 at most sportsbooks, with Caesars offering a 12-point line. That's where bettors should go if they want to wager on Clark and Co. to keep this game interesting.
South Carolina leads the nation in net points per game (29.5) this season after pacing the sport in that category in 2021-22 (20.2 per contest). The Gamecocks have notched an 11-plus-point victory in all four tourney games, including their 86-75 triu mph over Maryland last time out.
Iowa vs. South Carolina game info
- Date: Friday, March 31, 2023, 9 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
- Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Iowa-South Carolina pick made 03/29/2023 at 1:15 p.m. ET.
Here are our best March Madness betting sites:
- FanDuel: No Sweat First Bet Up to $1,000 | Read our FanDuel Review
- Caesars: Earn Up to a $1,250 Bet Credit | Read our Caesars Review
- DraftKings: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets | Read our DraftKings Review
- PointsBet: Earn Five Second-Chance Bets Up to $50 Each | Read our PointsBet Review
- BetMGM: Get a Bonus Bet of Up to $1,000 | Read our BetMGM Review
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not ap plicable in Ontario.
Related pages
- Best Online Sportsbooks | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)