NCAA Women’s Sweet 16: Louisville vs Michigan Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 28)
- The Cardinals got past Alabama in the second round.
- The Wolverines took down NC State in the Round of 32.
- This marks the eighth all-time matchup between the two squads.
The Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Tournament gets interesting as the Louisville Cardinals duel with the Michigan Wolverines. The latter comes out as the slight favorite as both teams compete for the right to move on to the Elite Eight of March Madness.
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, March 28, 12:30 pm ET
- Where: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
- How to Watch: ABC
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | -100 | +5 | O143 |
| Michigan | -120 | -5 | U143 |
Game Preview
The Cardinals (29-7) make their way to the Sweet 16 of March Madness after dispatching Vermont in the Round of 64 and dethroning Alabama in the Round of 32. Louisville was paced by Tajianna Roberts and Elif Istanbulluoglu, who both had a team-high 18 points on the afternoon against Alabama. Roberts tied a season high with four three-pointers and added four assists and two rebounds. Istanbulluoglu had 11 rebounds for her second career double-double. She shot 7-for-11 from the field and had three assists with zero turnovers.
The Wolverines (27-6) are among the last 16 teams standing after taking down Holy Cross and NC State in the first two rounds. Olivia Olson led all scorers with 27 points, all coming in the second half against NC State. Syla Swords added 26 points on 9-for-18 shooting, including 4-for-10 from three-point range. Mila Holloway also reached double figures with 13 points while adding a team-high nine rebounds and six assists.
Louisville vs Michigan Head-to-Head
The two programs have faced each other seven times in their respective histories, seeing the Cardinals with the 6-1 edge. The last matchup in March 2022 when Louisville secured a 62-50 win in that year’s NCAA Tournament.
Louisville vs Michigan Predictions
The winner of this matchup will take on the victors between Texas and Kentucky in the Elite Eight. Louisville has had the historical edge with Michigan’s lone win happening in 1980. The Wolverines have a big opportunity to get a win over the Cardinals in one of the biggest tournament matchups this year. If they get a big game from Olivia Olsen, then their chances will grow as big as ever. Our betting pick here is the Wolverines to defend a 5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â Michigan Wolverines -5
