The Notre Dame Fighting Irish pulled off the most prominent upset of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament last time out, knocking off the juggernaut Connecticut Huskies in the Final Four. It was an exhilarating overtime upset to advance to the national championship game, and now Notre Dame must refocus for one final game.
The Fighting Irish will face off against fellow No. 1 seed the Mississippi State Bulldogs for the right to be named women’s national champion. Both of the semifinal games went to overtime and this matchup could also be a close one in NCAA women’s basketball wagering.
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Odds Analysis
The Mississippi State Bulldogs women’s team has put together a fantastic season with a record of 37-1 on the year. The team’s only loss of the season came in its conference tournament to South Carolina. Mississippi State has bounced back with double-digit wins in each of its NCAA women’s basketball tournament games.
Notre Dame has gone 34-3 on the season and also fell in its conference tournament to Louisville. The Fighting Irish may have been considered the weakest of the No. 1 seeds but slayed the giant in the Final Four with the victory over UConn.
The Bulldogs will likely be favored in this matchup, and keep an eye out for the NCAA basketball spread.
Last Time Out
Mississippi State made it here with a 73-63 overtime victory over the Louisville Cardinals in the Final Four. The Bulldogs trailed by three points with seven seconds remaining but Roshunda Johnson hit a huge shot from downtown to force overtime.
Mississippi State dominated the overtime sessions to make it to the national championship game for the second year in a row. The Bulldogs were the team that beat UConn in the semifinals last year and now won’t have to face them in the finals.
Notre Dame led by five late in regulation against UConn but the Huskies forced overtime. The Fighting Irish never folded, and Arike Ogunbowale’s jumper with one second left lifted Notre Dame to the 91-89 win.
UConn was a heavy favorite to win another national championship and was undefeated heading into this contest. But the Fighting Irish went toe-to-toe with the Huskies from start to finish and came away with an impress win.
Revenge Angle
Mississippi State did the heavy lifting last year by knocking off UConn in the Final Four but couldn’t finish the deal in the finals, falling to South Carolina. The Bulldogs are back in the championship game and are aiming for a different result in this one. Mississippi State has been one of the best teams in the nation all year and with the Huskies out of the way will be favored to win this one.
Notre Dame is hoping not to fall into the same trap that hurt the Bulldogs last year. The Fighting Irish are undoubtedly on an emotional high after such a big-time upset but have to recalibrate and be ready to play well in the finals.
Free NCAA ATS Picks
Notre Dame just showed it can hang with UConn so there is an easy reason to believe the Fighting Irish will finish off the season with the title. However, Mississippi State has been the strong team this season. Choose the Bulldogs to win this game, although Notre Dame could be the right pick to cover depending on where the spread lands in women’s college basketball wagering.
NCAA Odds: Mississippi State 74, Notre Dame 70
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