2025 Women’s March Madness First Round: Odds, Predictions, and Key Bets

The TCU Horned Frogs kick off their much-awaited NCAA Tournament journey against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights. While TCU may not be as dominant as teams like South Carolina and UConn, they certainly possess the capability to go far.TCU -30.5 (-120)

TCU embarks on this tournament with an impressive record of 31 wins and 3 losses, riding a robust 10-game winning streak that includes a tightly contested 64-59 triumph over Baylor in the Big 12 Championship. Their combination of offense and defense is well-balanced.

Led by veteran Hailey Van Lith This season has been nothing short of remarkable, filled with unforgettable moments 🏆 🔥

Hailey Van Lith, a semifinalist for the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year, shined under pressure — scoring 20 points and helping secure TCU’s position.

The team boasts an average scoring output of 77.6 points per game while allowing just 57.3 from their opponents. @Big12Conference championship win over Baylor.

A clutch performance that… pic.twitter.com/gs8KZ6hnB8

— Naismith Awards (@NaismithTrophy) March 18, 2025

With Van Lith driving the offense from the backcourt and an effective center anchoring the frontcourt, TCU is equipped to attack both inside and outside the arc. Van Lith has impressive statistics, averaging 17.9 points and 5.3 assists per game. NCAA Inside the paint, Prince has been a force, averaging 17.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, which presents a significant mismatch against Fairleigh Dickinson. The Knights lack the physicality to effectively defend against Prince's impact on both ends. Sedona Prince Fairleigh Dickinson is likely to struggle from start to finish. They simply do not have the size or agility to match the Horned Frogs. Although the Knights showed promise in the Northeast Conference, their journey will likely end against TCU. Expect the Horned Frogs to dominate and comfortably cover the spread!

Lehigh Mountain Hawks versus Duke Blue Devils:

Although the women’s Duke Blue Devils may not carry the same notoriety as their male counterparts, they're entering the tournament with positive energy after their recent 76-62 victory over NC State, clinching the ACC title.

Duke, having entered the ACC Tournament as the No. 3 seed, emerged victorious by defeating the No. 1 seed, NC State. Their confidence is palpable, and they may face formidable resistance from the upset-minded Lehigh Mountain Hawks.Lehigh +27.5 (-110)

Lehigh is riding high after an outstanding showing in the Patriot League Tournament. As the No. 1 seed, they secured their championship title with a solid 74-62 win over Army, having also triumphed convincingly in their initial two matchups, with scores of 62-44 against Boston University and 65-44 against Holy Cross.

— Lehigh Women’s Basketball (@LehighWBB)

Lehigh's defense has proven effective, limiting opponents to an average of 57.4 points per game while scoring a total of 70 points to reach the NCAA Tournament. While Duke is favored to win, I believe the point spread may be overly generous.

Too good not to relive 😌🏆 pic.twitter.com/c5GcJG0cye

Duke might not be overly concerned about the Mountain Hawks, but Lehigh is likely to rise to the occasion. I anticipate Duke winning, but with a margin of 20-25 points, which could still allow Lehigh to cover the spread. Given this, consider supporting Lehigh in your betting picks for this Women’s March Madness. March 18, 2025

Vermont Catamounts versus NC State Wolfpack:

After suffering a setback in the ACC Championship, the North Carolina State Wolfpack are looking to regroup and make their mark in the NCAA Tournament. They had entered the conference tournament as the No. 1 seed but fell to Duke in the championship game.

The Wolfpack brings a solid 26-6 record into the NCAA Tournament following an impressive season. Despite their recent loss in the ACC Championship, they are viewed as a strong contender for a deep run in the tournament. Prior to their defeat by Duke, NC State had enjoyed a remarkable stretch, winning 15 of their last 16 games.NC State -20.5 (-120)

A standout player leading the way is talented guard

, who looks poised to take advantage of the situation. James is NC State's leading scorer, averaging 17.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. She possesses the ability to penetrate Vermont’s defense to create significant scoring opportunities.

In the 2024-25 season, NC State averaged 76.8 points while allowing 65.4 points per game. Vermont is more defensively inclined but lacks offensive prowess, managing only 60.1 points per game this season. Aziaha James Vermont’s defensive strength might struggle against an offense as strong as NC State's, leading to a difficult matchup for the underdogs. I don't expect the Catamounts to provide considerable resistance against a talent like James.

AZIAHA JAMES 😱

She is up to 36 points against Duke. pic.twitter.com/c8cVOs93E7

— ESPN (@espn) February 4, 2025

In summary, consider placing your confidence in the Wolfpack for your predictions in the Women’s NCAA Tournament basketball.

Norfolk State Spartans versus Maryland Terrapins:

The Maryland Terrapins are gearing up to challenge the leading teams in the NCAA Tournament. However, before they can make any noise, they must first contend with Norfolk State in the opening round.

On paper, Maryland is likely the stronger contender, but it would be unwise to underestimate the Spartans. They have dominated their peers in the Mid-Eastern Conference and could present challenges for the Terrapins. Norfolk State finished the conference with an impressive 14-0 record and has an overall mark of 30-4.Norfolk State +16.5 (-115)

— Norfolk State Women’s Basketball (@NorfolkStateWBB)

They have made quite an impression on the court, including a staggering 72-33 victory against Coppin State in the second round of the MEAC Tournament. The Spartans won all their conference tournament games by substantial margins, culminating in a 68-56 win over Howard for the championship.

AND WE'RE NOT DONE YET✅ #GoldStandard 🔰 pic.twitter.com/6AQDzqPKQf

This season, Norfolk State has averaged around 74.4 points while allowing only 55.9 points, achieving roughly a 20-point winning margin in most of their games! Meanwhile, Maryland had a productive season as well, finishing in fourth place in the Big Ten with a 23-7 record. March 19, 2025

While Maryland should advance from the first round, Norfolk State players Kierra Wheeler and Diamond Johnson are sure to make their presence felt. Anticipate a close contest where Maryland may secure the win, but potentially fall short of covering a large point spread. As an appealing bet for Women’s March Madness, consider Maryland +16.5 for the opening round.

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