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Women’s March Madness Second-Round Predictions and Picks for Today

ByCoach

The second round of Women’s March Madness is heating up with an exciting eight-game schedule on Monday. Powerhouse teams are battling it out for a coveted spot in the Sweet 16.

With top players like Ta’Niya Latson, Paige Bueckers, and JuJu Watkins in action, fans are in for a thrilling day of basketball.

Below, we break down the day’s matchups, predictions, and what to watch for in each game.

Monday’s March Madness Schedule and Predictions

The second round features some of the most anticipated matchups of the tournament. Here’s a closer look at each game, including expert predictions from reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network.

No. 3 LSU vs. No. 6 FSU

This game is set to be a high-scoring affair with two of the nation’s top offenses facing off. The spotlight will be on Ta’Niya Latson, the nation’s leading scorer. The predictions for this game are split:

  • Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: Florida State
  • Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: LSU
  • Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: Florida State
  • Meg L. Hall, For The Win: LSU
  • Cora Hall, Knoxville News: Florida State
  • Cory Diaz, Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU 94, Florida State 89

No. 2 UConn vs. No. 10 South Dakota State

Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies are set to host South Dakota State in a primetime showdown. The Huskies are heavily favored by all experts:

  • Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: UConn
  • Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: UConn
  • Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: UConn
  • Meg L. Hall, For The Win: UConn
  • Cora Hall, Knoxville News: UConn

No. 1 USC vs. No. 9 Mississippi State

JuJu Watkins and the USC Trojans will close out the night against Mississippi State. Watkins had a tough first-round game, injuring her wrist and ankle, but she is expected to play. The experts unanimously favor USC:

  • Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: USC
  • Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: USC
  • Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: USC
  • Meg L. Hall, For The Win: USC
  • Cora Hall, Knoxville News: USC
  • Sam Sklar, Clarion Ledger: USC 75, Mississippi State 64

Other Key Matchups

NC State vs. Opponent

The experts are unanimous in their prediction for NC State to advance to the Sweet 16:

  • Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: NC State
  • Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: NC State
  • Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: NC State
  • Meg L. Hall, For The Win: NC State
  • Cora Hall, Knoxville News: NC State

Texas vs. Opponent

Texas is also heavily favored to win their second-round matchup:

  • Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: Texas
  • Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: Texas
  • Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: Texas
  • Meg L. Hall, For The Win: Texas
  • Cora Hall, Knoxville News: Texas

Iowa vs. Opponent

The predictions for Iowa’s game are mostly in their favor, with one outlier:

  • Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: Iowa
  • Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: Iowa
  • Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: Iowa
  • Meg L. Hall, For The Win: Iowa
  • Cora Hall, Knoxville News: Oklahoma

Maryland vs. Opponent

Maryland is favored by most experts, but there’s some support for Alabama:

  • Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: Maryland
  • Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: Maryland
  • Meg L. Hall, For The Win: Alabama

West Virginia vs. North Carolina

This game is predicted to be a close one, with a split among the experts:

  • Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: West Virginia
  • Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: North Carolina
  • Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: North Carolina
  • Meg L. Hall, For The Win: North Carolina
  • Cora Hall, Knoxville News: West Virginia
  • James F. Moore Jr., Fayetteville Observer: North Carolina 72, West Virginia 68

Conclusion

Monday’s second-round games in the Women’s March Madness tournament promise to deliver high-stakes action and thrilling basketball.

With expert predictions in hand, fans can look forward to some intense matchups and potential upsets.

Be sure to catch all the games and follow along with the expert insights from the USA TODAY Sports Network.

For a detailed look at the schedule and predictions, visit USA TODAY’s comprehensive coverage.

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