It’s a clash of styles tonight when the South Carolina Gamecocks face Stanford Cardinal in the national semifinal of the 2021 NCAA Women’s Tournament.
But how are the punters seeing the confrontation? We take a look at the odds and betting splits for a game between two coach legends at Dawn Staley and Tara VanDerveer.
Against the spread
South Carolina: +6 (32% control, 40% betting)
Stanford: -6 (68% of the control, 60% of the bets)
Is the audience right?
Stanford played a limited schedule this year against teams that lacked the Gamecocks’ defensive duration or intensity. They may still be able to overcome the challenging shooting USC, but this must be a tough game considering the pace and grinding style of the Gamecocks. Aliyah Boston will present a challenge in the painting that the cardinal did not often encounter this year in Pac-12. Let’s dissolve the audience and get the points.
Money line
South Carolina: +200 (27% control, 39% betting)
Stanford: -250 (73% of the control, 61% of the bets)
Is the audience right?
Stanford’s offensive efficiency probably takes the day into account, but we would be far away here.
Total of points
Above: 133.5 (58% of handling, 52% of bets)
Under: 133.5 (42% of handling, 48% of bets)
Is the audience right?
Hell, no! South Carolina will do everything it can to limit its possessions and defend itself. The Gamecocks held Texas without a single point in the fourth period of their Elite Eight showdown, and won 62-34. They maintained the state of Oregon at just 42.
Stanford is just as talented offensively as any team in the United States, which should prompt Gamecocks to try to take their breath away from the ball and limit themselves to a contested kick on several trips. We are in a rock fight.
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