South Carolina Emerges as a National Championship Favorite as Sportsbooks Reveal Their Latest Odds
South Carolina women’s basketball is once again entering a season with championship expectations. With Dawn Staley leading a talented roster, the Gamecocks are firmly in the national title conversation. However, the latest betting markets suggest they will face serious competition from UConn and several other elite programs during the 2026–27 campaign.
South Carolina is either the outright favorite or a co-favorite with UConn at all four major sportsbooks: BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel and DraftKings. Caesars gives the Gamecocks the strongest position, placing them ahead of the Huskies, while the other three bookmakers list the programs at equal odds.
Southern Cal occupies third place across all four markets, with Texas sitting fourth. Beyond those teams, the projected contenders include Michigan, UCLA, Duke, Vanderbilt and LSU, although their positions vary between sportsbooks.
How the Championship Odds Have Changed
The initial championship projections for the 2026–27 season appeared immediately after UCLA defeated South Carolina in the 2026 national championship game, earning the Bruins their first title.
At that point, UConn held the advantage with most bookmakers, despite suffering a decisive semifinal defeat against South Carolina. The Huskies were favored by BetMGM, Caesars and FanDuel, while the Gamecocks and Southern Cal followed closely behind.
The transfer portal subsequently changed the outlook. As programs added players and rebuilt their rosters, UConn’s championship odds became less favorable, while South Carolina’s position improved.
By the summer, the Gamecocks had strengthened their standing enough to become co-favorites at three sportsbooks and the outright favorite at Caesars. The shift reflects growing confidence in South Carolina’s ability to return to the top after falling short in the previous championship game.
Latest Preseason National Championship Odds
The following figures represent American fractional-style moneyline odds, with a plus sign indicating the potential profit on a $100 winning bet, excluding the original stake.
BetMGM
- South Carolina: +250
- UConn: +250
- Southern Cal: +450
- Texas: +900
- Michigan: +1400
- LSU: +1600
- Vanderbilt: +2000
- UCLA: +2200
- Duke: +2500
- Notre Dame: +3000
Caesars Sportsbook
- South Carolina: +215
- UConn: +300
- Southern Cal: +425
- Texas: +950
- Michigan and LSU: +1800
- Vanderbilt: +2000
- UCLA: +2800
- Duke: +3000
- Notre Dame: +3500
Oklahoma State also appears among the leading contenders at Caesars, listed at +4000.
FanDuel
- UConn and South Carolina: +260
- Southern Cal: +460
- Texas: +950
- Duke: +1600
- LSU: +1800
- Iowa: +2000
- UCLA, Michigan and Vanderbilt: +3000
DraftKings
- UConn and South Carolina: +260
- Southern Cal: +450
- Texas: +900
- Duke: +1800
- LSU: +1900
- UCLA: +2400
- Michigan: +2500
- Vanderbilt: +3100
- Notre Dame: +3500
A Look Back at the Earlier Projections
The odds have moved considerably since April. Initially, UConn was priced at +175 by BetMGM, compared with South Carolina at +400. Caesars and FanDuel also placed the Huskies ahead of the Gamecocks.
By Memorial Day week, South Carolina had narrowed the gap. BetMGM listed the Gamecocks at +300, while Caesars offered +260 and FanDuel had both South Carolina and UConn at +250.
The subsequent improvement in South Carolina’s preseason position highlights how roster changes have influenced expectations.
Can Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks Finish the Job?
South Carolina enters the season among the clearest national championship contenders, but being a favorite does not guarantee a title. UConn remains a major threat, Southern Cal is positioned to challenge, and programs such as Texas, LSU and UCLA cannot be overlooked.
For Gamecocks fans, the encouraging sign is the confidence reflected in the latest markets. After losing to UCLA in the championship game, South Carolina has reestablished itself as a team capable of making another deep postseason run.
The challenge now is turning those preseason expectations into results when the games begin to matter most.
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