2026 Women's NCAA Tournament First Round Best Bets: Odds & Predictions (Mar. 21)

March Madness is in full swing, and the women's NCAA Tournament first round continues today! That said, there are 16 games on Saturday's slate, including N0. 1 UConn Huskies, No. 2 Vanderbilt Commodores, No. 1 UCLA Bruins, and more! This article will feature my NCAA women's bets for today.

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Typically, first-round matchups include lopsided affairs and large spreads. On Friday, there were zero upsets, and favorites finished a perfect 16-0 on the moneyline.

Today, Ohio State, South Carolina, UConn, Iowa, Vanderbilt, and UCLA are all favored by 30 points or more. With several large spreads on the slate, will there be some upsets?

As we continue in the first round, UConn (-310), UCLA (+490), Texas (+950), and South Carolina (+1000) remain the favorites to win the 2026 NCAA Women's Tournament on FanDuel. Long shots include Kim Mulkey's LSU Tigers (+2500) and Shae Ralph's Vanderbilt Commodores (+8000).

With 16 more games on deck today, let's take a look at my best bets, betting odds, and predictions for Saturday, March 21. The first matchup between No. 14 Howard and No. 3 Ohio State will tip off at 11:30 a.m. ET. The final game of the day, featuring No. 16 California Baptist and No. 1 UCLA, will begin at 10 p.m. ET.

All matchups will air on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPNews. All of my bets were placed within FanDuel Sportsbook.

Are you in search of further NCAA Tournament and sports betting promotions? We have compiled a list of the best sports betting offers here. 

Women's NCAA Tournament First Round Betting Odds for Saturday, March 21 (FanDuel)

Women's NCAA Tournament First Round Best Bets & Predictions for March 21

• Fairfield Stags +12.5 (-110) vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
• UConn Huskies -54.5 (-110) vs. UTSA Roadrunners
• Miami (OH) RedHawks +26.5 (-114) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers

No. 11 Fairfield vs. No. 6 Notre Dame

• Fairfield +12.5 (-110 FanDuel)

This is one of the most intriguing matchups of the day, as the Fairfield Stags (28-4) will face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (22-10) in Fort Worth Region 1.

Fairfield is once again back in the women's NCAA Tournament and has been one of the most efficient teams all season. Having finished first in the MAAC, they capped the season with a 51-44 MAAC championship over the Quinnipiac Bobcats.

With just four losses on the season, the Stags finished 19-1 in the conference, which earned them the No. 11 seed in the region.

Don't let the seeding fool you—this is a Fairfield team that's made three straight March Madness appearances. Although they haven't advanced past the first round in school history, I love what head coach Carly Thibault-Dudonis has done with this program.

Under Thibault-Dudonis, Fairfield has been an offensive powerhouse, averaging 75.5 points per game. Not only do they lead the nation with 11.4 3-pointers per game, but they also boast a 37% 3-point shooting percentage.

Notre Dame has one of the best two-way guards in Hannah Hidalgo, and the Fighting Irish limit opponents to 30.9% shooting from beyond the arc. That said, they allow 17.8 3-point attempts per game.

Why Fairfield Can Cover The Spread vs. Notre Dame

Overall, Fairfield lives and dies by the three, and puts up the third-most 3-point attempts in the country (30.8 3PA). While its roster runs deep, its success will lie in the hands of junior guard Kaety L'Amoreaux (17.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.4 APG, 36.5% 3PT) and forward Meghan Anderson (16 PPG, 4.7 REB, 1.9 AST, 40.4% 3PT).

From Anderson and L'Amoreaux to Jillian Hunter and Cyanne Coe–this team can shoot the ball well from deep. Plus, they shoot 45.5% from the field. Having finished 53rd in NET ranking, this is a team that can keep up, or even upset Notre Dame. Not only is this team proficient on offense, but the defense is elite.

Allowing just 55.8 points per game, Fairfield holds its opponents to 39.1% shooting from the field and 27.5% shooting from beyond the arc. Although 0-2 against ranked teams this season, Fairfield took losses to UNC (82-68) and Iowa (86-72). This is a much-improved team since, and 12.5 points could be a lot in March.

Today, they get THE Notre Dame, a team that's struggled since Sonia Citron departed for the WNBA and Olivia Miles transferred to TCU. With a 22-10 record under head coach Niele Ivey, they did finish fifth in the ACC. Bounced by Duke, 65-63, in the ACC Tournament Semifinals, this team has shown inconsistencies against top competition.

I'm not entirely impressed given that they posted a 3-5 record against top-25 teams this season. Averaging 77.9 points per game, this team may struggle against a top defense, and there have been too many inconsistencies.

Final Women's NCAA Tournament Best Bet: Fairfield Stags +12.5 (-110 FanDuel)

We are talking about a squad that lost to Michigan, 93-54, Duke, 82-68, and lost four of five games in the middle of the season.  This team has primarily been led by Hidalgo, who averaged 25.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 5.4 steals in 32 regular-season games. The success of this team will also lie in the hands of Cassandre Prosper and Iyana Moore.

• I'm taking the Fairfield Stags to cover the +12.5-point spread. 

No. 1 UConn Huskies vs. No. 16 UTSA

This may be a corporate pick, but I'm on a Connecticut roll today. And no, it's not because I am from the Nutmeg State. I'm taking the UConn Huskies to cover the 54.5-point spread against UTSA.

UConn is riding a 50-game win streak and finished as one of the only undefeated teams in men's and women's Division 1 basketball. Finishing a perfect 34-0 and 15-0 at home, the Huskies get home-court advantage at Gampel Pavilion today.

It's hard to say if this team is "better" than last year's national championship team, but it's hard to envision them losing to anyone. Led by Sarah Strong and projected WNBA lottery pick Azzi Fudd, this roster runs deep. Plus, can you go wrong when it comes to head coach Geno Auriemma?

Can The UConn Huskies Stay Undefeated?

A top defensive team, this team is loaded with talent, from KK Arnold, Serah Williams, Blanca Quiñonez, Allie Ziebell, and others. It's endless, and guard Ashlynn Shade always knocks down crucial 3-pointers in the corner or in transition.

This is a UConn team that finished first in net rating and went 5-0 against top-25 teams. Averaging 88 points per game, there are hardly any weaknesses on this team. Except for turnovers, they can work on those.

Similar to Fairfield, they are ruthless on defense, allowing just 50.4 points per game, which is the best in the nation. Teams shoot just 27.5% from three and 33.3% from the field against UConn. A complete powerhouse of a team on both sides of the ball, I don't see UTSA touching them at all.

• I know the spread is large, laying 54.5 points on UConn is A LOT! However, this is a team that beat Iowa by 26 points, USC by 21, and Tennessee by 30. Plus, they are the best 3-point shooting team in the country (39.4%). That's in large part to flamethrower Azzi Fudd.

Final Women's NCAA Tournament Best Bet: UConn Huskies -54.5 (-110 FanDuel)

The Roadrunners finished 18-15 on the season, and have a 5-9 record on the road. Having finished sixth in the American Conference, this offense lacks. Averaging just 60 points per game, there isn't much offense outside of Senior forward Cheyenne Rowe and point guard Ereauna Hardaway.

Not one player averages over 15 points, and this is a team that shoots just 39.5% from the field. While its defense is solid (57.8 opposing PPG), I just don't think this team can keep up with UConn. Consider this one of the more lopsided games for today.

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No. 13 Miami (OH) vs. No. 4 West Virginia

My third-best bet for today, I'm taking Miami (OH) to cover the 26.5-point spread as underdogs against West Virginia.

Focus has mainly been on the Miami (OH) men's team, which went undefeated for a majority of the season, but let's not forget about the women. Having finished 28-6 overall, the RedHawks completed the season as MAC Tournament champions.

Headlined by a core four of Amber Tretter, Amber Scalia, Ilse de Vrie, and Tamar Singer–all four players have averaged points in double-figures for the team. Although this team has yet to play a top-25 team this season, its defense could keep them in this matchup.

Allowing just 58.5 opponent points per game, this is a team that averages 10.6 steals per game and forces over 20 turnovers per game. That said, teams are shooting just 37.7% from the field and 30.2% from beyond the arc against Miami (OH).

I understand they get a competitive West Virginia team that finished 27-6. Crowned Big 12 Tournament champions over TCU, it's time we put some respect on the Mountaineers.

Overall, West Virginia has more offensive firepower (76.3 PPG), but I do believe that the RedHawks can keep up defensively. West Virginia did indeed have one of the strongest schedules in the nation, but 26.5 points is a ton.

• At the end of the day, West Virginia couldn't cover the 22.5-point favorable spread against UCF, and I expect this line to decrease as game time gets closer. I'm laying the points with Miami (OH), although I believe the Mountaineers will win outright. Watch out, Miami shoots 35% from three, and they love to play a five-out system.

Bonus Bet: No. 12 James Madison +16.5 (-114 FanDuel) vs. Kentucky, Vanderbilt -37.5 (-114 FanDuel).