Caitlin Clark, Iowa gave bettors a massive win against LSU in a game that drew record wagering volume
The public supported Iowa in record numbers.
Caitlin Clark has had an immeasurable impact on women’s college basketball the last couple of years, and that’s translated in the world of betting where several sportsbooks offered individual game props for the first time this season and expanded their market of women’s games to bet on.
When the biggest supernova creating that change clashed with another of the sport’s biggest attractions, LSU, in the Elite Eight Monday — a rematch of last year’s national championship — it was bound to take that trajectory of women’s college basketball betting to another level. That’s exactly what happened.
The public hammered Clark and the Hawkeyes, correctly predicting they’d cover as 1.5-point favorites and avenge their heart-breaking loss to LSU. According to data collected by ESPN, Iowa was the bet on 74.1% of the tickets on the spread at ESPN Bet (76.4% handle), 71% of tickets at BetMGM (76% handle) and 67% of tickets at DraftKings (71% handle).
They Hawkeyes also drew an overwhelming 82.1% of action at Fanatics Sportsbook (75.9% handle).
Iowa vs LSU is getting almost 4x more bets than UConn vs USC @FanaticsBook and the public is all over the Hawkeyes.
Spread
Tickets: Iowa -1.5 (82.1%)
Handle: Iowa -1.5 (75.9%)
Moneyline
Tickets
Handle— Prince J. Grimes (@pgprincej) April 1, 2024
What stood out more than the lopsided nature of the betting, though, is the sheer number of bets and money wagered on the game in general. BetMGM’s manager of trading Seamus Magee told ESPN he expected it to be the sportsbook’s most-bet women’s college game ever. DraftKings director of sportsbook operations Johnny Avello told Action Network the game could bring in the sport’s largest handle ever.
Caesars’ director of trading Craig Mucklow told BetFTW’s Ben Fawkes it was indeed the sportsbook’s most bet women’s college basketball game ever, easily eclipsing last year’s final.
LSU-Iowa was the most-bet women’s college basketball game ever at @CaesarsSports, per director of trading Craig Mucklow.
Via text: “Yes, easily eclipsed last year’s final.”#NCAAW
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) April 2, 2024
Those bets likely included a ton of action on props too. At BetMGM, there were more bets on Clark props Monday than any other player in basketball — on a night six NBA games were played and UConn and USC met in the other Elite Eight game.
Like her team, Clark delivered, going for 41 points with nine 3-pointers, seven rebounds and 12 assists to hit the over on each stat, with the lines set at 31.5 points, 5.5 3-pointers, 9.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds.
Caitlin Clark player props vs. LSU at #BetMGM
OVER 31.5 points (-130)
+70% of bets are on the OVER for each prop.
Public
pic.twitter.com/aYf4emqZGj
— John Ewing (@johnewing) April 2, 2024
So, it wasn’t only a good night for Iowa and Clark. It was a good night for the public too.