The 2022 Women's NCAA Tournament tip off on Wednesday when the Incarnate Word Cardinals and Howard Bison collide in the inaugural women's First Four game, at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C. The Cardinals (13-16) won the Southland Conference tournament title -- the first in program history -- while the Bison (20-9) are coming off a win in the MEAC tournament championship game. The Bison are 7.5-point favorites in the latest Women's First Four odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 121.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The matchup is one of four on the Women's First Four schedule. In the other three, DePaul faces Dayton (+3) on Wednesday and Mount St. Mary's meets Longwood (-4.5) and Florida State squares off against Missouri State (-1.5) on Thursday. Before locking in any women's college basketball picks for the First Four, be sure to see the women's college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine experts Calvin Wetzel and Aaron Barzilai.
Barzilai is a Ph.D. from Stanford who served as Director of Basketball Analytics for the Philadelphia 76ers. Five years ago, he founded HerHoopStats.com -- a groundbreaking website that unlocks insights about the women's game. Wetzel, the site's lead betting writer, incorporates his mathematical background and strong knowledge of women's NCAA hoops to turn the site's prediction model into picks.
Barzilai and Wetzel got off to a fast start with SportsLine as they went 13-7 on their first 20 picks. Currently, they are 559-408 overall (+113.80 units, +12.99 percent) in the 2021-22 women's college basketball season.
Now, Wetzel and Barzilai have set their sights on the Women's NCAA Tournament and the First Four games. You can see the picks only at SportsLine. If you successfully parlay their picks, you're looking at a payout of more than 12-1.
Top Women's NCAA Tournament First Four expert picks
Wetzel and Barzilai's prediction model crunched the numbers, Wetzel and Barzilai are taking the under in the Howard-Incarnate matchup. In the MEAC Tournament, the Bison excelled on defense, allowing 49.7 points per game in their three tournament games. In the championship game, they gave up just 44 points to second-seeded Norfolk State.
Meanwhile the Cardinals have been equally strong on the defensive end recently. In the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament, they gave up a measly 33 points to top-seeded Houston Baptist. "Each team has held its opponents to an average of under 50.0 points over the last three contests, and neither of them is a scoring juggernaut," Wetzel and Barzilai say.
How to make Women's NCAA Tournament First Four picks
Wetzel and Barzilai have locked in three other picks they love, including one that they consider a "best bet." You can get their picks only at SportsLine.
Which Women's NCAA Tournament First Four picks should you target in a four-way parlay? And which pick is a best bet? Visit SportsLine to see what picks to jump on, all from the experts who are an outstanding 559-408 on their women's college basketball pick, and find out.
