The Iowa Hawkeyes, led by the all-world Caitlin Clark, face the UConn Huskies on Friday in the women's Final Four of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, and we offer our UConn vs. Iowa prediction and expert pick based on the best Final Four odds.
Caitlin Clark is a woman on a mission as she leads her No. 1 Iowa Hawkeyes (33-4) into the Final Four against Paige Bueckers and the No. 3 UConn Huskies (33-5). Friday's Final Four showdown offers everything basketball fans want to see, particularly when it comes to a battle of two legendary collegiate superstars.
Our best sports betting sites have Iowa trading as a 2.5-point favorite, with a 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) tip-off from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. All eyes will be on those two superstar guards, each hoping to carry their team to a likely showdown with undefeated South Carolina – the cle ar title favorite by the latest women's March Madness odds.
To accompany our NC State vs. South Carolina prediction, here is our best UConn vs. Iowa prediction and expert pick (odds via our best March Madness betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
UConn (3) vs. Iowa (1) game info
- When: Friday, April 5
- Tip-off: 9:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio
- How to watch: ESPN
- Favorite: Iowa -2.5 (-115 via BetMGM)
UConn vs. Iowa odds
| Teams | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | -150 | -2.5 (-115) | Over: 162.5 |
| UConn | +125 | +2.5 (-105) | Under: 162.5 |
UConn vs. Iowa prediction
Best odds: -115 via BetMGM
Ever since Iowa beat South Carolina in last year's Final Four, it has felt almost inevitable that those two would meet again in this year's NCAA Tournament. And I'm not sure UConn is fully equipped to derail that dream matchup.
For as impressive as Bueckers has looked in this tournament – and she deserves her flowers – Clark has been a one-woman wrecking crew in March Madness. She's seemingly leveling up every round, too, after dropping 41 points and 12 assists to singlehandedly carry the Hawkeyes past defending champion LSU in the Elite Eight.
That performance left Tigers guard Hailey Van Lith – Clark's primary defender – shrugging her shoulders in meme-able fashion, powerless to defend the best shooter in women's hoops. And I'm skeptical that UConn's defense, while effective on a per-possession basis, has the perimeter stopper to corral Clark when she goes full Super Saiyan. But really, does anyone? I get into the superstar more in my How to Bet Caitlin Clark player props article.
I also can't help but think this is when the Huskies' lack of depth will rear its ugly head against the up-tempo Hawkeyes, especially with these teams having just four days between games instead of the nearly weeklong gap on the men's side. UConn's top players have routinely logged 40 minutes per game, and if Clark and Co. get into a rhythm, that progressive fatigue could show up in the final minutes.
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UConn vs. Iowa spread & Over/Under analysis
Iowa opened as a 3-point favorite over UConn when this matchup was first confirmed, but the Hawkeyes are now laying 2.5 points across four of our five best sportsbooks, with only Caesars offering -3 on the favorites. That's the best book for those looking to back the underdog Huskies.
Caesars is also the only sportsbook offering a total of 162, with the rest of our best sports betting apps dealing 162.5 ahead of the Final Four. It's tough to bet the Under when Clark and Bueckers are involved, but that feels like the prudent play for those wanting action on the Over/Under.
UConn-Iowa prediction made Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET
Here are our best March Madness betting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUS1000 | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- BetRivers Promo Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetRivers Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
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* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Related pages
- Best Live Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)