NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament 2024: Odds for Friday's Subregionals Bracket

The Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament kicks off Friday, with subregional play that includes the first appearances of the heavily favored South Carolina Gamecocks and their fellow No. 1 seed, the Texas Longhorns.

Several games could see significant upsets that reshape expectations of the tournament.

Ahead of the start of play, find out the odds for Friday's slate and which two games could produce unexpected outcomes, with this preview of the tournament's first day of game action.

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Odds from DraftKings SportsBook

8 North Carolina (+170; bet $100, win $270) vs. 9 Michigan State (-205; bet $100, win $148.78)

2 Ohio State vs. 15 Maine (moneyline unavailable)

6 Louisville (-225) vs. 11 Middle Tennessee (+185)

1 South Carolina vs. 16 Presbyterian (moneyline unavailable)

7 Duke (-675) vs. 10 Richmond (+490)

1 Texas vs. 16 Drexel (moneyline unavailable)

4 Kansas State vs. 13 Portland (moneyline unavailable)

8 Alabama (-166) vs. 9 Florida State (+140)

5 Baylor (-360) vs. 12 Vanderbilt (+285)

5 Colorado (-500) vs. 12 Drake (+380)

7 Iowa State (-125) vs. 10 Maryland (+105)

3 Oregon State (-4000) vs. 14 Eastern Washington (+1600)

2 Stanford vs. 15 Norfolk State (moneyline unavailable)

6 Nebraska (-175) vs. 11 Texas A&M (+145)

Click here for a complete schedule, including times and viewing options.

Nebraska enters Friday's game favored against Texas A&M but consistency has been an issue for the Cornhuskers all season long.

There was a stunning upset of Iowa on February 11, which saw the team out-shoot and out-rebound Caitlin Clark and Co., but the Huskers could not build any real momentum from it. Instead, they failed to put together a streak of victories longer than five all season.

At times, they look utterly dominant, fueled by the scoring of Jaz Shelley, who averaged 13.7 points a game and shot 34.9 percent from the floor.

At others, they lose by 17 to Michigan or 15 to Maryland.

That inconsistency across the board makes them a prime candidate for an upset and early elimination by the Aggies.

Texas A&M possesses great defense that may very well carry them past their first-round opponents.

Forward Lauren Ware averages 7.9 rebounds a game for the Aggies while teammate Janiah Barker adds 7.7 of her own. The two combine to make the team a defensive force, one capable of stunting any offense that struggles on the boards.

The Aggies have their issues with consistency and efficiency offensively, which will ultimately cost them a chance to make a deep run in the tournament, but their ability to limit what is already an inconsistent scoring team in Nebraska should put them in a position to make noise in the last game of Friday's slate.

Tennessee can put the ball in the hoop, thanks largely to star forward Rickea Jackson, who will be one of the faces of the WNBA when she is drafted on April 15.

Jackson has averaged 19.4 points per game, eight rebounds, 2.4 assists, and shot 47.1 percent from the paint. She has been stellar for the Lady Volunteers in the 2023-24 season.

In the opening round of this year's tournament, however, their defensive struggles could prove costly against the Horizon League champion Green Bay Phoenix.

Guard Natalie McNeal averaged 13.4 points a game, and 50.6 from the paint in 2023-24, with 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists to go along with it. She was superb for a team that won their league title.

It is Green Bay's defense that puts the Vols on upset watch.

The team struggles with rebounds but is gritty and allows just 57.8 points to opposing teams. They also won by just over 16 points a game on average.

If the Phoenix are able stunt Jackson's momentum early and force the Vols to look elsewhere for offensive output, Green Bay should be able to dictate pace and play a defensive game that favors them.

That is a big "if" given Jackson's talent, but one that McNeal and Co. will look to conquer.

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