What a ride it’s been for the University of Arizona women’s basketball program. This will undoubtedly be a season Arizona fans never forget. The entire city of Tucson is buzzing with anticipation for their matchup with UConn on Friday, April 2.
Litwin’s Locks will look at their game and every Final Four game and try to figure out who will win, but most importantly who will cover. We must remember that only good teams win, but great teams cover.
Lines via draftkings sportsbook on 4/1/2021 @3:03 PM MST.
Women’s Final Four Friday, April 1
No. 1 seed South Carolina vs No. 1 seed Stanford (-5.5)
This game really comes down to which team can capitalize on their strength. Stanford has been one of the best offensive teams in the country averaging 78.9 points per game while South Carolina is known for their lockdown defense only giving up 57.8 points per game. This isn’t football where I would normally go defense in a great offense vs. defense situation. I like the offense in this one as Stanford covers the 5.5 and stays hot shooting. Pick: Stanford -5.5
No. 3 seed Arizona vs No. 1 seed UConn (-13.5)
I feel like such a big line is almost disrespectful to Arizona. This Final Four run is no fluke, they have everything you would want in a Final Four basketball team. This game features two of the premier players in the country. For Arizona, they have Aari McDonald and UConn has Paige Bueckers. Both are absolute buckets and capable of taking over this game. What I really like from Arizona is the energy they play with and the chip on their shoulder. A lot of teams have won games people thought they couldn’t because of those two attributes. This line will be a joke when the game is over. Pick: Arizona +13.5
RELATED: Preview: Arizona women’s basketball faces Goliath, UConn in Final Four showdown
Men’s Final Four Saturday, April 3
No. 2 seed Houston vs No. 1 seed Baylor (-5)
Both of these teams play a hard nosed style of basketball and aren’t afraid of contact. Houston is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country and they just wear their opponents down with how many extra possessions they get from offensive rebounds. For Baylor, the key is guard play. When their guards are hitting shots, they are almost impossible to beat. Baylor has also played great basketball in this tournament but isn’t being talked about enough because of Gonzaga. In a battle of Texas schools, Baylor has the most ways to win and to cover. Pick: Baylor -5
No. 11 seed UCLA vs No. 1 seed Gonzaga (-14.5)
UCLA is only the second school to go from the First Four to the Final Four after Shaka Smart’s 2011 VCU team was the first. UCLA head coach Mick Cronin has to be talked about as one of the best coaches in the country. This UCLA team plays hard and is fundamentally sound. UCLA might not be the tallest or the fastest but they won’t make mistakes. UCLA faces a Gonzaga team that came into this tournament ranked as the top team in the country and have done nothing to change that. Gonzaga shredded a USC team in the Elite Eight who I thought would give them a ball game. I was wrong. Gonzaga likely wins this game but give me Mick Cronin and 14.5 points anyday. I just don’t see this UCLA team getting blown out after the run they have been on. Pick: UCLA +14.5
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