And then there were 16.
After an electric second round of NCAAW Tournament action, we’ve arrived at a Sweet 16 featuring all No. 1 seeds still standing and No. 10 Virginia as the lone double-digit seed. On Friday, #6 Notre Dame and #2 Vanderbilt face off in the Women’s Sweet 16, with the Commodores entering as 5.5-point favorites and a total set at 151.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Let’s dive into my prediction and pick for Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup, tipping off at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Notre Dame vs. Vanderbilt prediction
What did I say about Mikayla Blakes before the Round of 32? That she was a dangerous threat to go off? Well, the Commodores’ young guard did more than just drain a few buckets. Blakes stuffed the stat sheet with a near triple-double, finishing with 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to lead Vanderbilt to a 75-57 win over Illinois. She wasn’t the only one heating up, either. Justin Pissott added 18 points and shot 50% from beyond the arc, while Aubrey Galvan rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points and four rebounds.
This was more than just an impressive offensive showing. The Commodores proved they can dominate on both ends, putting together a stifling defensive performance. Vanderbilt held Illinois to just 30% shooting from the field and an egregious 13% from deep, while racking up nine steals — four of them from Blakes. Vanderbilt showcased its ability to score at all three levels and will be a tough offense to slow down.
Notre Dame, however, comes in with serious momentum after knocking off No. 3 seed Ohio State, 83-73. Hannah Hidalgo did what she does best, dominating both ends of the floor with 26 points, 13 rebounds and an absurd eight steals to power the Irish into the Sweet 16. It was a full team effort, too, with four other players finishing in double figures. That depth proved crucial, especially with Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge torching Notre Dame’s defense for 41 points while shooting 62% from deep.
If there’s one thing the Fighting Irish did especially well in the Round of 32, it was capitalize on turnovers. The Buckeyes coughed it up 21 times, leading to 25 Notre Dame points. If Hidalgo keeps generating steals at that kind of rate, the Irish can force Vanderbilt into mistakes and keep this one interesting.
Notre Dame vs. Vanderbilt prediction pick
Buckle up, because this one feels like a battle. Mikayla Blakes and the Commodores are a scoring machine, but Notre Dame’s scrappiness and depth make this a tough call. I’m leaning Vanderbilt, but expecting a close one.
Lean: Vanderbilt ML
