March Madness: Birmingham 2 region bracket Cinderella, players to watch, schedule, odds and more
The NCAA women's tournament is just days away. Here's everything you need to know about the Birmingham 2 region.
No. 1: South Carolina (+260 to win the national title at BetMGM)
No. 2: Duke (+6,600)
No. 3: North Carolina (+20,000)
South Carolina is the betting favorite for the entire tournament, with just slightly better odds than UConn (+290). The Gamecocks are the overwhelming pick to win the region, too. Duke, the No. 2 seed in Birmingham 2, is the next-closest to them at (+6,600).
[Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem is back: Enter for a shot to win up to $50K]
South Carolina has a very clear path to the Final Four. The defending national champions came just shy of earning the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament after they rolled through the SEC once again. They won seven straight to end the year, all by double digits, and their bad losses seem to be well behind them.
The Gamecocks have been to four straight Final Fours under coach Dawn Staley, which produced a pair of national titles. While there's not a clear star like the last two championship teams had, this team is just as dominant. It's going to take a stunning effort, and a bit of help, to stop the Gamecocks from making the Final Four once again.
If the Gamecocks are going to lose, it's very likely going to be in Tampa.
Let's give this title to Green Bay, which won the Horizon League and is entering the tournament on a massive 22-game win streak. Guard Natalie McNeal leads the team with 14.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, and Alabama has struggled lately. The Crimson Tide lost three of their last five, including a second-round stunner to Florida in the SEC tournament, and are absolutely on upset watch after their skid.
Look for either Columbia or Washington to stun West Virginia in the first round after their play-in battle. Columbia just barely lost the Ivy League title to Harvard, and is led by Riley Weiss' 17.8 points per game. The Huskies, despite a rough stretch to their season, ended the year winning five of six to make the tournament. West Virginia overlooking a play-in team after making it to the Big 12 title game wouldn't be all that surprising.
South Carolina F Chloe Kitts
Kitts may not lead the Gamecocks in scoring, but she's a very reliable piece inside that makes the team work. She averaged 10.1 points and 7.9 rebounds all year, and she had eight double-doubles and a triple-double on the season.
Vanderbilt G Mikayla Blakes
Blakes averaged 23.2 points per game this season with the Commodores, which was the second-best output in the SEC. She put up 55 in a win over Auburn last month, which was her second 50-point game of the year. Blakes can flat-out score, and could absolutely lead Vanderbilt to a deep run.
Oregon State G Catarina Ferreira
Ferreira doesn't lead the Beavers in scoring, but she's been on a heater lately. She led the team in scoring in all three of their West Coast Conference tournament games, which is why they're in the tournament in the first place, and came just shy of averaging a double-double over that span. If Oregon State keeps its run going, it's because of Ferreira.
No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Tennessee Tech (Columbia, Friday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN)No. 8 Utah vs. No. 9 Indiana (Columbia, Friday, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 12 Green Bay (College Park, Saturday, 1:30 p.m., ESPN2)No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Norfolk State (College Park, Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN)No. 6 West Virginia vs. No. 11 Columbia/No. 11 Washington (Chapel Hill, Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPNEWS)No. 3 North Carolina vs. No. 14 Oregon State (Chapel Hill, Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU)No. 7 Vanderbilt vs. No. 10 Oregon (Durham, Friday, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPNEWS)No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Lehigh (Durham, Friday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPNU)
South Carolina. It doesn't really matter whether it's Duke or North Carolina — or a third option — that makes it out of the bottom half of this region to challenge the Gamecocks in the Elite Eight.
This region is South Carolina's to lose. What happens after that remains to be seen.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Final preseason SEC Power Rankings
The college football season is just days away. Texas begins its second season in the SEC and the expectations are sky high for the Longhorns. Texas and Georgia again look to be the cream of the crop in the best conference in the sport. But what about the rest of the conference? In addition to UT and UGA, Tennessee also made the college football playoffs last season. Will the Vols take a step back after losing QB Nico Iamaleava to the transfer portal? Alabama and Ole Miss came close to making the playoff. Both could be better in 2025. The Sooners look improved with new QB John Mateer under center. The Aggies hope to be better. As does LSU, who could either compete for the title or fall flat again down the stretch. So much will depend on the quarterbacks. Many return, like Florida's DJ Lagway and Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia. Some teams feature new QBs, like Texas and Georgia. Here are the final 2025 preseason SEC Power Rankings: 16. Mississippi State Bulldogs The Bulldogs were the last place team in the SEC last season and it shouldn't change in 2025. Head coach Jeff Lebby seems in over his head. In 2024, Mississippi State finished the SEC season 0-8. The Bulldogs also got blown out by Toledo, 41-17. QB Blake Shapen is back after missing much of last season to injury. 15. Kentucky Wildcats Head coach Mark Stoops and the Wildcats put a scare in some teams last season, but in the end finished an abysmal 1-7 in the league. Stoops has brought in former Aggies QB Zach Calzada through the transfer portal, but there aren't many winnable conference games for the 'Cats. 14. Arkansas Razorbacks The Hogs finished with a winning record last season, but finished 3-5 in the SEC. Quarterback Taylen Green is back and Arkansas should be around a .500 team again. But the schedule is tough with Texas, A&M and Ole Miss on the schedule. Plus the Razorbacks play Notre Dame out of conference. 13. Vanderbilt Commodores Vandy was a surprise last season behind QB Diego Pavia. The Commodores finished the season with a winning record and a huge upset of Alabama. Vanderbilt gave Texas a huge scare in Nashville as well. But there won't be a surprise this season and with all of the good vibes, Vandy still finished 3-5 in the SEC. 12. Auburn Tigers Head coach Huge Freeze has had a rocky offseason and now is pinning Auburn's hopes on former Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold. Arnold was abject last season in Norman, but maybe a change of scenery will help. The defense should be solid thanks to future first rounders EDGE Keldric Faulk and DB Jay Crawford. 11. Tennessee Volunteers Look for the Vols to take a step back in 2025. The messy departure of QB Nico Iamaleava could reverberate throughout the season. Former Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar should be solid for coach Josh Heupel. But he doesn't have the elite skills required to win in the SEC. 10. Texas A&M Aggies It is year two of the Mike Elko era Aggieland. A&M was decent last season, but struggled against the upper tier of the conference. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed should be improved. But the Aggies have a tough schedule that culminates in Austin. 9. Oklahoma Sooners OU should be better this season. Just the addition of former Washington State QB John Mateer through the transfer portal should help the offense. OU had a solid defense last season and that should stay the same. But if the Sooners can't keep up again on offense it will be another long season. 8. Missouri Tigers The Tigers have been a consistently good team under coach Eliah Drinkwitz. Mizzou leans into the transfer portal. Starting QB Beau Pribula comes from Penn State. Missouri will jump up and get a big upset at some point this season. Alabama, A&M and South Carolina all must travel to Columbia. 7. Florida Gators Florida's 2024 season was headed for disaster. But behind dynamic QB DJ Lagway, the Gators scored late season upsets of LSU and Ole Miss. UF coach Billy Napier will hope Lagway can push the Gators over the line a few more times this season. Florida will open its SEC season hosting Texas. 6. LSU Tigers LSU has enough talent to win the SEC, Brian Kelly's teams tend to disappoint. QB Garrett Nussmeier is purported to be a Heisman candidate. The Tigers conference schedule is tough. Just like last season, LSU will be tested in Week 1 with a trip to Clemson that could set the trajectory of the season. 5. Ole Miss Rebels Lane Kiffin seems to be building something in Oxford. Last year, Ole Miss just missed the college football playoffs. Ole Miss knocked off Georgia and South Carolina last season. But losses to LSU and Florida were killers. Kiffin hit the portal to reload at receiver and beef up the defense. 4. South Carolina Gamecocks A pleasant surprise last season, the Gamecocks look to build on 2024. QB LaNorris Sellers is a unique talent and should help the Gamecocks navigate a tricky schedule that includes home games against Alabama and Clemson, with road games at Texas A&M and LSU. 3. Alabama Crimson Tide The Tide's three SEC losses last season were all shocking in their own way. Obviously, no one expected 'Bama to lose to Vanderbilt or Oklahoma. The OU loss cost Alabama a college football playoff berth. Ty Simpson will be the Crimson Tide's starting QB. The junior has waited three seasons for his turn. 2. Georgia Bulldogs It is tight between Georgia and Texas at the top of the SEC. Last year, Georgia beat Texas twice. It seems the Longhorns have more talent this season, but the Horns must travel to Athens to face the Bulldogs this year. So much of Georgia's season depends on QB Gunner Stockton. 1. Texas Longhorns The Longhorns look loaded. The defense could be the best in the country with three All-Americans, one on each position group. Arch Manning takes over a QB. What he might lack in experience he should make up for in arm strength and speed. Could coach Steve Sarkisian finally win a national title? This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: SEC Power Rankings: Final preseason ranking 1 to 16
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
LSU football players named to 2025 All-SEC preseason coaches team. Who made the list?
Seven LSU football players made the cut for the 2025 preseason All-SEC Coaches team unveiled Tuesday. Senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, junior linebacker Whit Weeks and senior return specialist Barion Brown were named to the first-team offense, defense and special teams, respectively, making LSU the only SEC team to have at least one first-team player on all three units. No. 9 LSU kicks off the 2025 season in a top-10 showdown at No. 6 Clemson Aug. 30 (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC). BUY LSU FOOTBALL TICKETS Here is the full list of LSU players that made the 2025 All-SEC preseason coaches team: First Team QB Garrett Nussmeier LB Whit Weeks RS Barion Brown Second Team RB Caden Durham WR Aaron Anderson LB Harold Perkins Jr. All Purpose Zavion Thomas Third Team RS Zavion Thomas Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@ This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Which LSU football player made 2025 All-SEC preseason coaches team?
USA Today
19 minutes ago
- USA Today
Trio of Oklahoma Sooners named to Coaches Preseason All-SEC teams
The 2025 college football season is about to get underway and the Sooners enter the year with something to prove after being left outside the US LBM Coaches Poll a couple of weeks ago. The Sooners look like a legitimate bounce-back candidate after a big offseason. Oklahoma has talent in all three phases of the game, and it was recognized by the coaches in the SEC. Ahead of the start of the season, three Sooners were named to the Coaches' Preseason All-SEC teams. Transfer running back Jaydn Ott was named to the second team. He's expected to lead the Oklahoma Sooners running back room and is looking for a resurgent season after injuries limited him in 2024. He was electric at Cal, racking up 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in three season. Texas A&M's Le'Veon Moss and Texas' Quintrevion Wisner were named to the first team. Also on the second team is Oklahoma's star pass rusher, R Mason Thomas. Thomas is coming off of a breakout season in 2024, where he had nine sacks, six of which came in SEC play. He was a problem for opposing offenses, often commanding double and triple teams. Going into his fourth season, Thomas is one of the best pass rushers in college football and will be a force for Brent Venables defense again. Also making the All-SEC teams was long snapper Ben Anderson. He's handled all of Oklahoma's long-snapping duties each of the last two seasons and has been fantastic. The red-shirt junior was named to the Patrick Mannely Award watch list earlier this month, which is given to the nation's best long snapper. Missing the cut was quarterback John Mateer. The quarterbacks selected to the Coaches All-SEC teams were LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, and Florida's D.J. Lagway. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X@john9williams.
