NCAA Women’s Elite Eight: Duke vs UCLA Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 29)
- The Blue Devils stunned LSU in the Sweet 16.
- The Bruins eliminated Minnesota in the Round of 16.
- This marks the fifth all-time matchup between the two squads.
The Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Tournament gets interesting as the ACC’s Duke Blue Devils duel with the Big Ten’s UCLA Bruins. The latter comes out as the solid favorite as both teams compete for the right to move on to the Final Four of March Madness.
How to Watch
- When: Sunday, March 29, 3 pm ET
- Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California
- How to Watch: ABC
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | -105 | +11.5 | O133.5 |
| UCLA | -115 | -11.5 | U133.5 |
Game Preview
The Blue Devils (27-8) are on a remarkable roll in March Madness, first blowing out Charleston and Baylor then stunning LSU to get to the Elite Eight. Ashlon Jackson buried a three-pointer from the right corner at the final buzzer to send Duke through and eliminate the powerhouse Tigers. She finished with 19 points and five assists, while Toby Fournier and Taina Mair led the way with 22 points. Fournier added nine rebounds and Mair handed out four assists. Arianna Roberson had a solid outing with nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds and three blocks.
The Bruins (34-1) secured solid victories in the NCAA Tournament, beating California Baptist and Oklahoma State then blowing out Minnesota in the Sweet 16. Kiki Rice led all scorers with 21 points in the win over Minnesota. She was perfect from the line (6-for-6) and shot 7-for-12 from the field. The Big Ten All-Defensive guard had three steals in the win. Meanwhile, Lauren Betts came next with 16 points and five rebounds and five blocks.
Duke vs UCLA Head-to-Head
The two programs have faced each other four times in their respective histories, seeing both teams even at 2-2 apiece. The last matchup was in November 2025 when UCLA secured an 89-59 win.
Duke vs UCLA Predictions
The winner of this matchup will take on the victors between Texas and Michigan in the Final Four. Duke is a on a remarkable run as UCLA will have to be on high alert with LSU out of the picture. Lauren Betts will be due for a big performance against the Blue Devils as a spot in the Final Four is at stake. Our betting pick here is the Bruins to defend a 11.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â UCLA Bruins -11.5
