Let the madness continue! After the weekend’s eventful days of First Round action, we’ve got more talented players and potential Cinderella’s ready to dance in Round 2. #9 Syracuse and #1 UConn face off Monday in the Women’s Second Round, with the Huskies entering as 35.5-point favorites and a total set at 142.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Let’s dive into my prediction and pick for Monday’s Second Round matchup, tipping off at 6:00 p.m. ET.
Syracuse vs. UConn prediction
UConn isn’t just winning, it’s chasing perfection. The Huskies rolled through the regular season at 35-0, grabbed their 24th Big East Tournament title, and locked up the No. 1 overall seed. The first round looked exactly how you’d expect, a 90-52 rout of UTSA with four players scoring 11+ and Sarah Strong leading the way with 18.
Strong is the headline name for a reason. The 6’2” sophomore has been one of the most dominant and versatile players in the country, averaging 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting an absurd 60.1% from the field. Add in 42.7% from three, and she’s a true three-level scorer who can break a defense in a hurry. Then there’s Azzi Fudd, the potential No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming WNBA draft, who’s putting up 17.7 PPG while shooting 44.6% from deep and adding a career-high 2.5 steals. Together, they anchor a team that looks as complete as it gets. And it’s not just offense — UConn’s defense has been just as dominant, holding opponents to 50.4 points per game this season.
That said, it’s March, and anything can happen. Syracuse is coming off a first-round upset over Iowa State, and they did it without their point guard Dominique Darius. Uche Uzoje stepped up in a big way with 23 points and seven rebounds in the 72-63 win, while Laila Phelia added 18 and Sophie Burrows and Olivia Schmitt combined for 29, illustrating real scoring depth.
The issue is where those points come from. Syracuse doesn’t stretch the floor particularly well, with no consistent high-volume shooter above 38% from three, and that’s a tough formula against a UConn team that’s elite on both ends. The Huskies rank first in field goal percentage (52.4), second in scoring (88.8 PPG), and second in three-point percentage (38.9).
Syracuse vs. UConn pick
74% of the bets on DraftKings Sportsbook are backing UConn to cover, while 26% are riding with the underdog Syracuse. As fun as an upset would be, UConn has proven time and time again that it’s the best team in the country, and there’s no reason to think tonight will be any different.
Lean: UConn ML
