2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament Predictions: Sweet 16 (Saturday)

by Travis Pulver |
Mar 28, 2025

Good college basketball is a beautiful thing, and fans will certainly get to enjoy some when the second half of the NCAAW Sweet 16 plays out on Saturday, March 29. After a deep dive into the four games on the docket, I've come up with my 'Best Bets for the Sweet 16' part 2.

I can't guarantee anything. But in my humble opinion, the following bets are definitely worth taking a look at and deciding for yourself if they’re worth putting your money on.

2025 NCAA Tournament March Madness Bracket Strategy & Betting Picks>>

Best Women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Bets (Saturday)

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. TCU Horned Frogs

Time: 1 p.m. EST
Coverage: ABC/ESPN+/Disney+

Pick: Hannah Hidalgo OVER 23.5 Points (-114)

If you follow women's basketball, then you know Hannah Hidalgo is one of the most dynamic scorers in the country. If you don't follow it: Hannah Hidalgo is one of the most dynamic scorers in the country.

She's averaging 24.1 ppg and had 24 and 21 in Notre Dame's Tournament games. TCU plays good defense (No. 35, 57.5 ppg allowed) but, against ranked opponents, they allowed a 20+ point scorer in eight of 11 games and a 23.5+ point scorer in five of those games.

One of those five (Hidalgo – 27) was when TCU beat Notre Dame back in November (76-68). She'll get her points in this game.

Pick: Hailey Van Lith OVER 5.5 Assists (-114)

Why not go with something sexy like points? She scored 21 on the Fighting Irish during the season. She averaged 17.7 ppg this season but scored 16 and 13 in TCU's Tournament games. It looks like she's thinking more about spreading the ball around than scoring.

So, I can't say with any faith she'll go over or under her point total. However, I feel good about her assist total of 5.5. Van Lith had ten vs. Louisville and seven against Fairleigh Dickinson. In the previous game vs. Notre Dame, she had seven.

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Texas Longhorns

Time: 3:30 p.m. EST
Coverage: ABC/ESPN+/Disney+

Pick: Madison Booker OVER 18.5 Points (-114)

Tennessee has the No. 1 offense in the country. Texas has a good defense, but at best, they might slow Tennessee's offensive attack. That means the Longhorns will need to exploit the Vols’ questionable defense. To that end, expect Booker to attempt 20+ shots like she did when Texas and Tennessee met during the season.

She had 26 in that game and 19+ in four of her last five, including 20 in both Tournament games. Scoring 19+ against Tennessee's defense will be easy.

Oklahoma Sooners vs. UConn Huskies

Time: 5:30 p.m. EST
Coverage: ESPN

Pick: Paige Bueckers OVER 20.5 Points (-118)

Bueckers averaged 19.2 ppg this season. She only had 11 in the first round, but they didn't need her in that game as she only played for 22 minutes. Contrastly, against South Dakota State, she put up 34 points in 29 minutes. Oklahoma has a great offensive game (No. 5), but not a defensive one (No. 272). Bueckers will tear them apart and score well over 20.5 points.

Kansas State Wildcats vs. USC Trojans

Time: 8 p.m. EST
Coverage: ESPN

Pick: Kansas State Moneyline (+106)

I had no intention of predicting a K-State win, but after studying both teams, I think I might have backed the Wildcats even if JuJu Watkins was playing. K-State is averaging just under 80 ppg while holding opponents to 58.6 ppg allowed; USC's numbers are almost the same. Does that mean we should expect this game to go down to the wire?

I don't know about that but, without Watkins making clutch plays, I think Ayoka Lee will show out for the Wildcats and help them pull away down the stretch.

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