NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament 2024: Saturday Sweet 16 Bracket Odds, Picks

Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes will try to avoid the same upset fate that two higher seeds were delivered on the first day of the Sweet 16 in the NCAA women's basketball tournament.

The Hawkeyes are the second-heaviest favorite on the betting board for Saturday's slate of four games in Albany and Portland.

Clark and Co. faced a tough challenge in the second round from the West Virginia Mountaineers, but they survived to set up a clash with the Colorado Buffaloes, who come battle tested from their season in the Pac-12 and a road second-round win.

The Connecticut Huskies are the only larger favorite than Iowa on Saturday. The No. 3 seed in the Portland 3 region faces the upset-minded Duke Blue Devils.

Duke took down No. 2 seed Ohio State in the second round by 12 points and could pose a threat to Paige Bueckers and Co. in Saturday's finale.

Saturday Sweet 16 Schedule and Odds

Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - MARCH 24: Flau'jae Johnson #4 of the LSU Tigers dribbles past Jalynn Gregory #10 of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders as Aneesah Morrow #24 of the LSU Tigers sets a screen during the third quarter during the second round of the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 24, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Albany 2: No. 3 LSU (-3) vs. No. 2 UCLA (1 p.m. ET, ABC)

Albany 2: No. 5 Colorado vs. No. 1 Iowa (-7) (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Portland 3: No. 5 Baylor vs. No. 1 USC (-3) (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Portland 3: No. 7 Duke vs. No. 3 UConn (-8.5) (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)

No. 5 Colorado vs. No. 1 Iowa (-7)

Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

IOWA CITY, IA - MARCH 25: Iowa guard Sydney Affolter (3) drives to the basket as West Virginia guard JJ Quinerly (11) defends during the West Virginia Mountaineers game versus the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second round of the NCAA Division I Women's Championship on March 25, 2024, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, IA. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark receives a majority of the focus surrounding Iowa, and rightfully so, but the Hawkeyes are also one of the most complete teams in the women's game.

Clark had two teammates join her in double figures in the second-round win over West Virginia and four Iowa players eclipsed the 10-point mark in the opening-round victory over Holy Cross.

The scoring depth around Clark should help the Hawkeyes deal with the defensive pressure brought on by Colorado.

The Buffaloes held Kansas State to 50 in the second round and held Drake to 31 second-half points in their 86-72 win in the opener.

Hannah Stuelke and Katie Martin will be vital for Iowa to break whatever pressure Colorado puts on Clark, whether it be from the second she crosses half-court or with double teams.

The best way to beat a defensive game plan centered around a superstar is to have other scorers step up, and so far, Iowa has done that with Stuelke and Martin leading the way in one round each.

Of course, Clark won't be held scoreless, and Colorado has to expect that she will make a handful of important shots.

If you add in Clark's shot-making with the scoring depth, you have a dangerous combination for any upset-minded side to stop.

No. 7 Duke vs. No. 3 UConn (-8.5)

M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

STORRS, CT - MARCH 25: UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) drives to the basket for a lay up during the Syracuse Orange game versus the UConn Huskies in the second round of the NCAA Division I Women's Championship on March 25, 2024, at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

UConn can follow a similar offensive strategy as Iowa to avoid an upset threat from Duke.

Paige Bueckers is the Huskies' main scorer, and she will score at a decent rate, but she also gets help from the supporting cast.

Duke needs to play a perfect defensive game against UConn's deep scoring roster to pull off another upset. The Blue Devils are looking to join NC State and Oregon State as lower seeds to win in the Sweet 16.

Bueckers was joined by Aaliyah Edwards, Ashlynn Shade and KK Arnold in double figures in the second-round win over Syracuse. The Huskies need at least three of those players to reach that mark again to be in good shape in Portland.

UConn's primary concern must be conceding another high point total to a star guard. Syracuse's Dyaisha Fair had 20 points against it in the second round.

Duke's Reigan Richardson produced 28 and 25 points against Ohio State and Richmond, but she only averages 12.4 points per game.

UConn's defense must focus on slowing down Richardson, and if that happens, it may be hard for Duke, who does not have another scorer average in double figures, to push back against the Huskies' depth.

Gambling problem? Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visiting ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visiting OPGR.org (OR), or calling/texting TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.