Things in the East Region are going exactly how you'd expect in this Women's March Madness. All top four seeds remain intact with South Carolina as the clear favorite in the East Region Odds.
The Gamecocks prepare for the Sweet Sixteen outing against Indiana while Notre Dame's stage is set against Oregon State.
The latest 2024 March Madness East Region odds label the Gamecocks, who stayed undefeated for another regular season, are heavy -650 favorites, the largest margin among all March Madness regional oddsboards.
Women's March Madness East Region Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | -650 |
| Notre Dame | +700 |
| Indiana | +1200 |
| Oregon State | +1600 |
Odds as of March 24, 2024
The East Region is a no-brainer with an undefeated South Carolina reigning the top of the oddsboard. However, a visit to my Women's March Madness bracket will tell you why I'm not totally convinced the Gamecocks are unbeatable.
With a tilted oddsboard, there's plenty of room for a major plus-money upset. With South Carolina's last four outings being decided by 11-points or fewer, a noticeable difference from their 29.8 scoring margin average, it may not be as far-fetched as you'd think.
east Region Odds Best Bet: notre dame (+700)
If you're looking to fade the public and take a stab at some serious profit, Notre Dame is your best bet. The ladies resume in the latter half of the season showed some serious promise, collecting wins against ranked squads like NC State, Virginia Tech and Louisville in five-straight outings. There was no issue waltzing through UConn either earlier this year.
Freshman Hannah Hidalgo has stolen the show, sitting third in the nation posting 23.3 PPG. At 5-foot-6, she is speedy throughout the court and works her way down low, capitalizing on rebounds and her quick instincts. She is protected by her junior towers, Maddy Westbeld and Sonia Citron, both averaging double-digit points.
This is what makes Hannah Hidalgo a special player. Moments earlier at a timeout she was slumped on the floor, completely gassed. Here she is, tie game, 1:30 left, not looking to settle for the jumper off the screen and attacking the rim. Ultimate competitor. pic.twitter.com/0UpX9lI89k
— Greg Flammang (@greg2126) March 11, 2024
Hidalgo's defensive efforts, leading the nation with 147 steals, also reward her as a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player award. Notre Dame currently restricts opponents to about 60 points per game.
Sitting as the second-seed, the Fighting Irish should do well against their easier bracket route, that tips off with Kent State.
