Odds are only 6 teams can win women’s NCAA Tournament

UCLA is the top overall seed in the women’s NCAA tournament. But the Bruins aren’t the betting favorites to win the national title.

That distinction belongs to No. 1 seed South Carolina — the defending national champion — and No. 2 seed UConn, which hasn’t won a title since claiming its fourth consecutive national crown in 2016.

South Carolina and UConn are the +260 co-favorites at the Westgate SuperBook to cut down the nets this season.

UCLA and fellow No. 1 seeds USC and Texas are tied for the +550 third choice to win the title. No. 3 seed Notre Dame is the sixth team in single digits at +750. The odds then shoot up to 50-1 for LSU and Duke.

“Six this year (in single digits) is the most I can remember in a long time. In years past, we’ve seen two or three teams at the most,” SuperBook oddsmaker Ed Salmons said. “South Carolina has been the favorite from the get-go. When UConn beat South Carolina by 30, UConn’s odds really got knocked down.”

The Huskies crushed the Gamecocks 87-58 on Feb. 16 at South Carolina. UConn’s title odds opened at +475 at BetMGM and are now +280.

A BetMGM bettor wagered $25,000 to win $80,000 on South Carolina to repeat as champion at +320.

“South Carolina and UConn are the most bet teams to win the national championship,” BetMGM trader Hannah Luther said in an email. “These favorites will be the most popular teams to win and cover with bettors throughout the tournament. The sportsbook will be cheering against the Gamecocks and Huskies.”

March Madness contests

The Westgate SuperBook has a Hoops Central Showdown contest that covers the 28 games on the board Thursday and Friday in the first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament.

The entry fee is $100, with a maximum of five entries, and contestants pick all 28 first-round games against the spread (First Four games not included). Each winning pick is worth one point. The top three finishers are paid, with first place taking 50 percent of the prize pool, second place 30 percent and third place 20 percent. The entry deadline over the counter at the SuperBook is 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Registration for the Last Man Standing elimination college basketball contest at Station Casinos is open until 6 p.m. Thursday.

Each entry for the winner-take-all competition costs $25, but $100 gets the maximum of five entries. Bettors pick one game ATS each day of the men’s NCAA Tournament, 10 days in all (March 20-23, 27-30, April 5, 7). Each entry is eliminated with an incorrect pick.

Entrants must sign up in person at Station Casinos locations, which include Wildfire locations, Barley’s Casino and El Cortez. There is a $50,000 minimum guaranteed prize, and all entry fees are returned as prize money.

Ovechkin’s Great chase

Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is eight goals from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL regular-season record of 894, and Station Sports has posted a plethora of props on his chase of the “Great One.”

Ovechkin scored goal No. 887 in Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Sharks. Washington, which has 15 games remaining, hosts the Red Wings on Tuesday.

Which team does Ovechkin score his 895th regular-season goal against? He does not score No. 895 this season is a +120 favorite, followed by the Blue Jackets (3-1), Islanders (4-1), Hurricanes (+550) and Penguins (7-1).

What will be the method of No. 895? Even strength is -220, power play is +130 and short-handed is 50-1.

Which period will he score No. 895? Third period is +110, first is +180, second is +220 and overtime is 14-1.

Will No. 895 be an empty net goal? Yes pays +375. No is -549.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on X.