NCAA Women's Tournament First Four Odds, Picks, Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 7 p.m. | ||
| Thursday, 9 p.m. | ||
| Wednesday, 7 p.m. | ||
| Wednesday, 9 p.m. | ||
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAW Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
The NCAA Women's Tournament First Four tips off on Wednesday, March 20, at 7 p.m. ET to start this year's March Madness. I’ll have picks for every game of the tournament here on Action Network, and for some games that I feel stronger about, I’ll go deeper in separate articles.
The First Four of this year's women's tournament features Presbyterian vs Sacred Heart and Columbia vs Vanderbilt on Wednesday, with Arizona vs Auburn and UT-Martin vs Holy Cross on Thursday. Let’s go in order of tip-off with the odds, picks and bets for every game of the Women's NCAA Tournament.
Arizona vs Auburn Odds, Picks, Best Bet
| Arizona (W) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 127.5 -110o / -110u | -125 |
| Auburn (W) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 127.5 -110o / -110u | +105 |
I think the books are giving the Pac-12 too much credit here. Auburn’s tenacious defense should have Arizona’s young guards under pressure all game. I love the physical Tigers to win outright here.
Arizona vs Auburn Pick:
Auburn Moneyline (1.5 Units)
Tennessee-Martin vs Holy Cross Odds, Picks, Best Bet
| Tennessee-Martin (W) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1 -110 | 117 -110o / -110u | -115 |
| Holy Cross (W) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1 -110 | 117 -110o / -110u | -105 |
I also like Holy Cross getting points here and slight 'dogs on the moneyline. They have some veterans who have tournament experience and in my opinion should be favored.
UT Martin vs Holy Cross Pick:
Holy Cross Moneyline (1 Unit)
Presbyterian vs Sacred Heart Odds, Picks, Best Bet
| Presbyterian (W) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -106 | 115.5 -110o / -120u | +370 |
| Sacred Heart (W) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -125 | 115.5 -110o / -120u | -600 |
Sacred Heart should roll in this matchup against the worst team in terms of NET rating in the tournament. Presbyterian is 299th in NET and 293rd in HerHoopStats rating. Sacred Heart is going back-to-back in tournament appearances, and I expect them to win by double digits.
Presbyterian vs Sacred Heart Pick:
Sacred Heart -8.5 (1 Unit)
Columbia vs Vanderbilt Odds, Picks, Best Bet
| Columbia (W) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -105 | 138.5 -110o / -110u | -115 |
| Vanderbilt (W) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -115 | 138.5 -110o / -110u | -105 |
I expect this game to feature two teams feeling each other out, getting through jitters and off to slow starts. Shea Ralph should devise a good gameplan to slow down Columbia’s Abbey Hsu. Play the under.
