NC State vs South Carolina Women’s Final Four Prediction & Picks: Will the Gamecocks Remain Perfect?

Last year, South Carolina was heavily favored entering a Final Four semifinal matchup with Iowa but saw their season end at the hands of Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes. Tonight, they will be aiming to avoid a repeat result as they meet NC State in Cleveland, Ohio (7:00 pm ET, ESPN).

In 2023, the Gamecocks were two wins from a national title repeat and favored by 11.5 for their semifinal matchup with Iowa. But the Hawkeyes led almost the entire game in a stunning 77-73 upset as they booked their first trip to the national championship game.

South Carolina enters tonight’s game with NC State favored by the same margin, and they also enter it with a perfect record on the line. The Gamecocks have seen off 36 consecutive opponents, most of whom have been unable to put a real scare into Dawn Staley’s squad.

Can NC State (31-6) do so? The Wolfpack, who are in the Final Four for the first time since 1998, already have two upsets to their name. As the #3 seed in the Portland 4 regional, they took out #2 Stanford in the Sweet Sixteen, then defeated #1 Texas in the regional final to book a ticket to Cleveland.

This, however, would be the biggest upset of them all and perhaps one of the biggest in the history of women’s college basketball.

NC State vs South Carolina Odds

Odds are via BetOnline, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments.

Spread

• NC State +11.5 (-115)
• South Carolina -11.5 (-105)

Over/Under

• Over 139.5 (-110)
• Under 139.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• NC State +580
• South Carolina -800

Looking for more college basketball picks? Our NCAA basketball picks page features moneyline, spread, and total (over/under) picks for Saturday’s men’s Final Four games (NC State vs Purdue and Alabama vs UConn).

NC State vs South Carolina Prediction & Picks

Whereas Iowa’s efforts are centered around a superstar in Clark, NC State’s makeup is different.

The Wolfpack have six players averaging at least 8.9 points per game, led by Aziaha James’s 16.7 PPG. All six of those players average at least 3.8 rebounds per game, with no one averaging more than 6.9 RPG (River Baldwin and Madison Hayes). Three players average 3.0 assists per game, led by former Gamecock Saniya Rivers (3.8 APG).

This isn’t to say that NC State doesn’t have someone who could take a game over. James has been a beast in the NCAA Tournament. In four games, she has averaged 24.3 PPG while shooting 50.8% from the field and 57.1% from three.

And in NC State’s two biggest games, she delivered in a big way. She had 29 points (8 of 14 FG, 3 of 5 3PT, 10 of 11 FT) and five assists against Stanford and 27 points (9 of 17 FG, 7 of 9 3PT, 2 of 4 FT), six rebounds, and four assists in the win over Texas. She will need to deliver again if the Wolfpack are to have a chance against the Gamecocks.

NC State vs South Carolina Players to Watch

NC State

• Aziaha James: 16.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.0 APG
• Saniya Rivers: 12.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.8 APG

South Carolina

• Kamilla Cardoso: 14.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.5 BPG, 2.1 APG
• Te-Hina Paopao: 10.9 PPG, 3.7 APG, 2.7 RPG, 46.3% 3PT

Is it possible? While South Carolina hasn’t been seriously challenged frequently this season, they aren’t invincible.

Stanford and Texas led their respective conferences in scoring, but NC State shut them down while dispatching both by double digits.

And while such occurrences have been few and far between, the last three teams to score 70+ on South Carolina have all played them within single digits. NC State hit that mark against the Cardinal and Longhorns, two of the better defensive teams in the country.

However, last year’s loss to Iowa should serve as a motivator for the Gamecocks. Will they get all they can handle from the Wolfpack? Absolutely. But after getting hit in the teeth early against Iowa and never being able to gain a foothold in the game, I don’t think they will let themselves fall into the same position this time around or let up if they get a good lead.

Do I think it will be a blowout? No, I don’t think that. But I do like SC to cover as they move on to Sunday’s title game.

NC State vs South Carolina Prediction: South Carolina to win and cover

NC State vs South Carolina Betting Picks: South Carolina -11.5 & NC State/South Carolina over 139.5

More March Madness Betting Information

Where Can You Bet on March Madness This Year?

Each year, millions upon of millions of March Madness bets are placed at the top online sports betting sites.

Most March Madness betting takes place around and at tournament time, which is from mid-March to early April. But throughout the year, you can bet on who you think will win the college basketball national championship.

Along with men’s college basketball odds, most good sportsbooks now carry women’s college basketball national championship odds. Those odds are drawing a lot of attention with the likes of South Carolina, Iowa, and LSU vying to cut down the nets in Cleveland, Ohio on April 7.

Numerous sportsbooks are good for March Madness betting, but in addition to BetOnline, here are some of the books that we have reviewed and highly recommend:

• BetDSI (Review)
• BetUS (Review)
• Bovada (Review)
• MyBookie (Review)

If you are unfamiliar with any of the above sites, check out our sportsbook reviews to learn more about them. Speaking of offers, keep an eye on the latest sportsbook offers from these books and others as the countdown to the opening tip of March Madness continues. That way, you will not miss out on any special sports betting promos and bonuses to pad your bankroll for March Madness betting.

Other March Madness Content at Betting News

If you like this NC State vs South Carolina women’s basketball betting breakdown and would like to check out our other March Madness content, our March Madness guide is where you can find it all in one tidy place. But here’s a rundown of some of what we have put together to help you with your NCAA Tournament betting this year.

We’re also covering the 2024 NIT, so check out that content as well.

• Men’s March Madness Futures Odds
• Women’s March Madness Futures Odds
• 2024 Men’s Final Four Odds
• Six Men’s March Madness Sleepers for 2024
• Best March Madness Betting Tips & Strategies
• Where to Find the Best March Madness Betting Picks
• Best March Madness Betting Sites for This Year
• This Year’s Best March Madness Bracket Challenges
• Betting News Bracket Mania (Our FREE March Madness Bracket Challenge!)

Interested in Learning More About Betting on March Madness & NCAA Basketball?

If you are interested in learning more about betting on men’s or women’s NCAA basketball, check out our college basketball betting guide. It covers the basics of wagering on March Madness, the Mountain West, the MAAC, McNeese State, and beyond.

• College Basketball Betting Guide: How to Bet on NCAA Basketball in 2024

Also, follow Betting News on X/Twitter, Twitch, and TikTok to get more March Madness and NCAA basketball insight from myself and the rest of our team. We’re cooking up a lot of great NCAA Tournament content for both the men’s and women’s tournaments, so hit those links so you don’t miss out on any of it.

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