The rematch that has been anticipated since Selection Sunday is here. But you'd never guess who won Round 1 based on the odds.
The No. 4 seed Oklahoma Sooners play the No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament at 4 p.m. CT Saturday in Sacramento, California, with the winner headed to the Elite Eight to play the winner between No. 3 TCU and No. 10 Virginia. Despite the Sooners winning the first meeting, though, FanDuel has South Carolina as a staggering 17.5-point as of Saturday morning, which has been the spread since it opened on Monday night.
Sooners massive underdogs vs Gamecocks
The Sooners needed overtime to take down then-No. 2 South Carolina 94-82 on Jan. 22 in Norman. Freshman Aaliyah Chavez finished with 26 points after going off for 15 during the overtime period to accomplish the upset. The win also ended a three-game losing streak for the Sooners as they got their season back on track and are 26-7 heading into the Sweet 16.
To get this far in the NCAA Tournament, the Sooners blew out No. 13 Idaho 89-59 in the first round before needing a comeback to slip past No. 5 Michigan State 77-71 on Sunday. South Carolina, meanwhile, obliterated both opponents so far, hammering No. 16 Southern 103-34 and No. 9 USC 101-61.
The Gamecocks' loss to OU was one of only three this season at 33-3. OU center Raegan Beers admitted to media on Friday that South Carolina is a completely different team since then while playing at a rapid pace offensively.
The Sooners have also only gotten better since. Chavez has more time at the college level, including a pair NCAA Tournament games, and has stepped up her game each round so far. OU also a trio of veterans in Raegan Beers, Payton Verhulst and Sahara Williams, who all started in the Sweet 16 together just a year ago.
However, although the monster spread is disrespectful, there's reason for oddsmakers to predict a blowout in South Carolina's favor. The Gamecocks have made NCAA Tournament runs this deep a tradition and are absolutely loaded with talent while having revenge on their mind.
Chavez will eventually get the Sooners to the Elite Eight, but not as a freshman.
Prediction: South Carolina 87, Oklahoma 79
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.