NCAA Women’s Basketball Best Bets: Odds & Predictions for Top Games on February 5

There is a game on Sunday that is monopolizing the attention of many bettors. But that contest is a few days away, and we have some great women’s college basketball games scheduled to take place today! We’ve created our NCAA Women’s Basketball Best Bets list to help you get in on the action.

The best teams are the ranked teams, of course, and they will be the focus of our list with No. South Carolina, No. 6 Louisville, No. 7 Vanderbilt, and an SEC battle between No. 5 LSU and No. 4 Texas are among the games taking place, to name a few.

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

All the odds used in making my top picks and predictions for NCAA women's basketball games on Feb. 5 can be found at DraftKings.

Mississippi State vs. No. 3 South Carolina Prediction for February 5

If Mississippi State (16-7, 3-6 SEC) were in any other conference, they’d probably be in contention for that conference’s regular-season title, if not leading the way. But they have the unfortunate luck of being stuck in a stacked conference with nine ranked teams, including four in the top ten. Of their seven losses (six in conference play), five came against ranked teams.

Dawn Staley does a great job of recruiting and developing players. So, South Carolina always plays like a well-oiled machine. They bounced back from their first conference loss (vs. No. 16 Oklahoma, 94-82 in OT on January 22) with wins over No. 5 Vanderbilt (103-74), Auburn, and Texas A&M.

• Our Pick: Mississippi State +25.5 at -110 (DraftKings)

Why betting on Mississippi State makes sense

South Carolina absolutely should win this game, but Mississippi State is a solid team. Yes, they got crushed by one top-10 team (Oklahoma, 95-47), but they were competitive with another (No. 5 Vanderbilt, 84-89) and beat another (No. 7 Kentucky, 71-59). The Bulldogs will not let the Gamecocks run over them. They’ll make this game competitive for at least a half and lose by no more than 20.

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No. 17 Duke vs. No. 6 Louisville Prediction for February 5

It is easy to look at Duke’s record (16-6, 11-0 ACC) and think the Blue Devils are a good squad but nothing special. But the record does not tell the whole story. Yes, they lost six games, all in nonconference play, but four losses were to ranked teams, including three in the top five. Take those four away, and the perception of the team is more in line with a squad that has an undefeated conference record.

As for Louisville, the Cardinals have played one more ranked team than Duke and have gone 3-3 in those games. But other than facing No. 1 UConn in the season opener and No. 3 South Carolina, it wasn’t quite the murderer’s row that the Blue Devils faced.  But like Duke, they have shone in conference play and have yet to lose to another ACC team.

• Our Pick: Louisville ML at -175 (DraftKings)

Louisville has the edge in this top-25 matchup

From a statistical perspective, these two teams are comparable in many ways, but the Cardinals' offense does tend to play just a little better. However, not so much so that I’m confident they’ll cover the spread (-3.5). As for the TOTAL, it’s a toss-up with how these teams have played this season.

But I do like Louisville to win outright, as they appear slightly better than Duke.

Seeking out other NCAA women's basketball and sports betting promotions? We have compiled a list of the best sports betting offers here. 

No. 7 Vanderbilt vs. No. 16 Kentucky Prediction for February 5

No. 7 Vanderbilt (21-2, 7-2 SEC) was cruising through the season, winning its first 20 games before running into South Carolina and losing by 29 points (103-74). They followed that game up with a loss to No.17 Ole Miss before bouncing back with a win vs. Florida (82-66).

As for No. 16 Kentucky, the Wildcats made it to conference play with one loss under its belt (to No. 7 Maryland). Conference play got off to a nice start with a win over No. 5 LSU and No. 5 Oklahoma. But then things have gone south in the last couple of weeks as they have lost three of their last four. They did, however, win their last game on Sunday vs. Arkansas, 93-73.

• Our Pick: Kentucky ML at +114 (DraftKings)

Expect a close game between the Commodores and Wildcats

Tonight’s game will likely be close, with the outcome decided by a basket or two. I went with the Wildcats because, while both teams can shoot three-pointers, Vanderbilt’s perimeter defense is not as good as Kentucky’s. These are two evenly matched teams. I look forward to seeing the rematch in a couple of weeks.

No. 5 LSU vs. No. 4 Texas Prediction for February 5

After breezing through their nonconference schedule, LSU hit its first roadblocks of the season with a pair of tough games right out of the gate in conference play, vs. No. 11 Kentucky (80-78) and No. 12 Vanderbilt (65-61). But since then, all has been well as they have won their last seven. Of those seven, they have wins over No. 2 Texas (70-65), No. 13 Oklahoma (91-72), and No. 24 Alabama (103-63).

Texas, like LSU, coasted through its nonconference schedule and won 18 in a row before losing to LSU, which they followed with another loss, this one to South Carolina, 68-65. They have since bounced back with three consecutive win, including one over No. 10 Oklahoma their last time out.

• Our Pick: LSU +6.5 at -110 (DraftKings)

It would be a surprise if either Texas or LSU wins a lopsided matchup

Home court advantage can go a long way, but -6.5 points to a team they lost by five to not too long ago? Yes, two off periods played a role in that game (the second and third). Texas mounted a comeback in the fourth but fell short. Both teams are playing well, which should make for an incredible game to watch that will probably go down to the wire.

LSU may lose, but the Tigers will not lose by more than a basket or two.