UConn opens as 5.5-point favorite over South Carolina in NCAA final

[Kaizen]

In a showdown of modern women's college basketball dynasties, the UConn Huskies are favored to end their nine-year title drought, while the South Carolina Gamecocks are underdogs to earn the program's first back-to-back championships.

Following Friday night's Final Four games, UConn opened up as a 5.5-point favorite over South Carolina for Sunday's NCAA women's basketball championship, while the over-under opened at 132.5, according to ESPN BET odds. The Huskies were 6.5-point underdogs to the Gamecocks before going on to dominate a 29-point road win in February.

That contest briefly vaulted UConn to championship-favorite status over South Carolina, before heavy action on the Gamecocks allowed them to regain it at +240 heading into March Madness. However, the Huskies became favorites during the NCAA tournament following the season-ending injury to JuJu Watkins of USC, which was in UConn's region of the bracket. UConn eventually entered the Final Four as a -150 favorite to win it all.

UConn favored over South Carolina for NCAA title

UConn was installed as the betting favorite over South Carolina in a battle of modern women's college basketball dynasties in Sunday's NCAA basketball championship.

www.espn.com

 

[CL82]

 

[Bone Dog]

Just a clarification for those who may not be familiar with. Vegas betting lines: this does not directly reflect any insights into the game. All it shows is where the betting interest is currently. The bookies want the interest to be equal on both sides of the game so they can insulate themselves from losses. The spread is set so as to achieve this.

It is not unreasonable to think that the pool of bettors ‘knows’ something even though it’s merely a miscellaneous group of individuals. The larger the pool of bettors, the greater the likelihood that the spread indirectly reflects some reality.

 

[Skeets]

Just a clarification for those who may not be familiar with. Vegas betting lines: this does not directly reflect any insights into the game. All it shows is where the betting interest is currently. The bookies want the interest to be equal on both sides of the game so they can insulate themselves from losses. The spread is set so as to achieve this.

It is not unreasonable to think that the pool of bettors ‘knows’ something even though it’s merely a miscellaneous group of individuals. The larger the pool of bettors, the greater the likelihood that the spread indirectly reflects some reality.

Absolutely. What also comes into play is the size of the fan base. Teams with hug fan bases (i.e. Yankees, that CC kid, etc.) tend to have larger point spreads because the bookies are trying to coax more people to bet on the underdog to even out their books. Bookies don't gamble, and that should tell you something about gambling the next time you are thinking about laying a Benjamin down.

 

[mmeade258]

Remember when everyone was saying “UConn should be a 2 seed because the big east doesn’t have good competition”

Well we just beat UCLA like they were a big east team.

Creighton played us better lol

 

[Stinger92860]

Just a clarification for those who may not be familiar with. Vegas betting lines: this does not directly reflect any insights into the game. All it shows is where the betting interest is currently. The bookies want the interest to be equal on both sides of the game so they can insulate themselves from losses. The spread is set so as to achieve this.

It is not unreasonable to think that the pool of bettors ‘knows’ something even though it’s merely a miscellaneous group of individuals. The larger the pool of bettors, the greater the likelihood that the spread indirectly reflects some reality.

To clarify we are favored for a good reason and it’s clearly better than being a 10 point dog. One of the reasons is we are playing extremely well on both ends. The defense was solid yesterday. That said, we are doomed.

 

[Skeets]

Remember when everyone was saying “UConn should be a 2 seed because the big east doesn’t have good competition”

Well we just beat UCLA like they were a big east team.

Creighton played us better lol

Beat them like a rug.

 

[diggerfoot]

The larger the pool of bettors, the greater the likelihood that the spread indirectly reflects some reality.

This is the concept behind Surowiecki’s The Wisdom of Crowds. It’s also the principle that guides scientific research, and the normative function for why a society should have democracy.

 

[ERWUC65]

The TX - SC game was even, back and forth, until Booker got 2, then 3 fouls. Changed the entire momentum. Allowed SC to regroup, gain their confidence and start to pull away. TX was also very disorganized on defense, allowing several (Edwards) uncontested breakaway drives to the basket. SC seems to alternate their scorers from game to game, one time it's Edwards and Paopao and another time it's Kitts and Fulwiley. I see the rematch as being more about defense, individual matchups and limiting the 3's. SC has no real post player, yet they have good team speed, so I see less minutes for Jana and Ice and more from Aubrey. We need a big effort from Ash and KK in this one and hope for consistent scoring from our big 3. I also expect Paige to let it all out in her last game as a Huskie.

 

[Bone Dog]

This is the concept behind Surowiecki’s The Wisdom of Crowds. It’s also the principle that guides scientific research, and the normative function for why a society should have democracy.

My thoughts exactly. If the pool is large enough it functions as a hive mind. In practice, it is not often large enough.

 

[diggerfoot]

My thoughts exactly. If the pool is large enough it functions as a hive mind. In practice, it is not often large enough.

Also, in practice it depends on the pool having relevant experience and independence of thought, along with the other requirements stated by Surowiecki to get “the wisdom of crowds.”