Expert prediction
NCAA Women’s Sweet 16: Minnesota vs UCLA Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 27)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Golden Gophers took down Ole Miss in the second round.
- The Bruins blew out Oklahoma State in the Round of 32.
- This marks the sixth all-time matchup between the two squads.
The Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Tournament gets interesting as the Minnesota Golden Gophers duel with the UCLA Bruins. The former comes out as the slight favorite as both Big Ten teams compete for the right to move on to the Elite Eight of March Madness.
How to Watch
- When: Friday, March 27, 7:30 pm ET
- Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California
- How to Watch: ESPN
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | -112 | +19.5 | O131.5 |
| UCLA | -108 | -19.5 | U131.5 |
Game Preview
The Golden Gophers (24-8) make their way to the Sweet 16 of March Madness after dispatching Green Bay in the Round of 64 and taking down Ole Miss in the Round of 32. Amaya Battle, who finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, took the inbound pass near the paint and dribbled out along the baseline for more space before swishing the game-winning shot with 0.8 seconds to spare. Meanwhile, Mara Braun scored 17 points for the Gophers, including the tying 3-pointer with 1:17 remaining.
The Bruins (33-1) secured solid victories in the NCAA Tournament, dominating California Baptist in the first round and taking down Oklahoma State in the second round. Lauren Betts closed out her time in Pauley Pavilion with a monstrous 35 points (15-19 FG, 5-7 FT), setting a new career high. She also added nine rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block to her final stat line. On another note, Gianna Kneepkens was UCLA’s second-leading scorer with 15, adding three 3-pointers on six attempts.
Minnesota vs UCLA Head-to-Head
The two programs have faced each other five times in their respective histories, seeing the Bruins with the 4-1 edge. The last matchup in January this year when UCLA secured a 76-58 win on the road.
Minnesota vs UCLA Predictions
The winner of this matchup will take on the victors between Duke and LSU in the Elite Eight. UCLA is on a mission to make a run to the national championship, especially with Lauren Betts putting up her best efforts in her final collegiate campaign. Minnesota will put up a solid fight throughout portions of the game, but UCLA will come through with more clutch plays in the closing minutes. Our betting pick here is the Bruins to defend a 19.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: UCLA Bruins -19.5
NCAAB
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