NCAA Women’s Sweet 16: Notre Dame vs Vanderbilt Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 27)
- The Fighting Irish took down Ohio State in the Round of 32.
- The Commodores got past Illinois in the second round.
- This marks the sixth all-time matchup between the two programs.
The afternoon hours of the March 27 slate will have high quality basketball when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the Vanderbilt Commodores in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Tournament. The latter stands out as the slight favorite, presenting a marvelous matchup to see who gets to the Elite Eight.
How to Watch
- When: Friday, March 27, 2:30 pm ET
- Where: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
- How to Watch: ESPN
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | -105 | +6.5 | O 151.5 |
| Vanderbilt | -125 | -6.5 | U 151.5 |
Game Preview
The Fighting Irish (24-10) cruised their way to the Sweet 16 after taking down Fairfield and Ohio State in the opening rounds. As a result, they make their way back to the last 16 for the fifth consecutive season, a testament to their elite status. Hannah Hidalgo led the way with 26 points to go along with 13 rebounds, eight steals and two assists. Vanessa de Jesus scored 15 points while Cassandre Prosper and Iyana Moore each recorded 13 apiece.
The Commodores (29-4) dominated in the first two rounds of March Madness, blowing out High Point and Illinois to get the last 16. Mikayla Blakes collected her second career double-double in the NCAA Tournament second-round victory. Blakes was on triple-double watch against the Fighting Illini, turning in a 25-point, 10-rebound and 9-assist performance. Meanwhile, Justine Pissott registered 18 points and hit four 3-pointers in the win.
Notre Dame vs Vanderbilt Head-to-Head
The two programs have had five meetings in their history, and the result is 4-1 in favor of the Fighting Irish. The most recent matchup was in December 2009 when Notre Dame won 74-69 in that year’s NCAA Tournament.
Notre Dame vs Vanderbilt Predictions
The winner of this matchup will take on the victors between UConn and North Carolina in the Elite Eight. A strong performance from Hannah Hidalgo will give Notre Dame the best chance of winning this pivotal showdown. However, the Fighting Irish have suffered lapses throughout the season that could be present in this game, giving an advantage to a more consistent Vanderbilt squad. Our betting pick here is for the Commodores to defend a 6.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â Houston Cougars -2.5
