Revised National Championship Odds: UConn and South Carolina Lead the Pack

The USC Trojans’ hopes of adding a Big Ten Tournament Championship to their already impressive regular season title were dashed today, as they fell to the UCLA Bruins 72-67 in the championship game.

Despite a strong first half where USC led 45-35, things quickly unraveled after the break. The Trojans appeared on track for a third consecutive win over UCLA, a team they had already beaten twice during the regular season. However, the Bruins mounted an impressive comeback, led by center Lauren Betts, who dominated inside. Meanwhile, USC’s offense went ice cold, failing to score a single field goal during a critical 10-minute stretch between the third and fourth quarters.

The biggest disappointment came from USC’s star, JuJu Watkins, who struggled with her shooting throughout the game. She finished 9 for 28 from the field, adding to the frustration with five turnovers and just two assists. The game was further marred by turnovers from both teams—UCLA committed 24, while USC had 19—making it a sloppy and chaotic contest.

Looking ahead, the Trojans now turn their attention to the upcoming NCAA Tournament. As for their title hopes, USC is currently tied with UCLA and Texas for the third-best odds to win the National Championship at +550, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The favorites remain UConn and South Carolina, both sitting at +290. Right below the Trojans are the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at +750.

USC, with a stellar 28-3 record, remains in a strong position to earn one of the coveted No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. This includes two regular-season victories over UCLA, who have just two losses all year, both to USC. According to ESPN’s bracket projection, South Carolina, Texas, UCLA, and USC are expected to secure those top four spots.

However, there’s still room for surprises. UConn, despite being tied for the best title odds, is currently projected to be a No. 2 seed, despite their strong 31-3 record and a Big East championship. The big question now is whether this will finally be the year for a fresh contender to make a push for the title, challenging the dominance of teams like UConn, South Carolina, and Notre Dame, who have all been mainstays in national title games over the last decade.

That’s all from the Big Ten Tournament for now. Stay tuned as the Trojans prepare for March Madness and the upcoming NCAA Tournament. We’ll be bringing you all the latest updates as the tournament unfolds.