The women’s Final Four is here, and LSU is included for the first time since 2008 after their 54-42 win over Miami in Sunday’s regional final.
The Tigers will take on Virginia Tech in the first national semifinal Friday night in Dallas.
Of course, South Carolina, the reigning champion and still unbeaten this season, is the heavy favorite, both in its semifinal game against Iowa and to win another national title.
Let’s break down each matchup with odds, point spread and over/under from Caesars Sportsbook, official odds partner of Bet.NOLA.com.
LSU vs. Virginia Tech, 6 p.m. Friday
Point spread: LSU -2
Money line: LSU -135, VT +115
Over/under: 134
The Tigers have been favored in all of their games during March Madness, and this is no exception, though it has the tightest point spread of any LSU tournament game thus far.
When the line opened, the Tigers were a 1-point favorite, a spread that now shows LSU -2.
LSU’s offense has not had great success in the tournament so far. Against Miami, LSU made only 1 of 12 from 3-point range and shot just 58% from the free-throw line. Instead, they derived their advantage from defense (12 steals to Miami’s six) and rebounding (an edge of 15 boards).
Virginia Tech will be a different challenge. The Hokies feature Elizabeth Kitley, who had 25 points and 12 rebounds in their 84-74 regional final victory over Ohio State. Like LSU’s double-double machine, Angel Reese, Kitley is adept at offensive rebounds and put-backs. She is, basically, the taller version of Reese.
Her teammate Georgia Amoore is a lethal shooter who will dribble around the perimeter to get free from a defender and take a step-back 3 from the top of the key. If she comes alive in the fourth quarter, LSU’s party at the dance may stop.
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