The LSU Tigers make their sixth Final Four appearance and first in 15 years when they face the Virginia Tech Hokies on Friday in the 2023 Women's NCAA Tournament. LSU last reached the Final Four in 2008, when it suffered a 47-46 loss to Tennessee. The Tigers are coming off a 54-42 victory against Miami in the Elite Eight, while Virginia Tech secured its first Final Four berth with an 84-74 triumph over Ohio State.
Tipoff at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Tex. is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Tigers are 2-point favorites in the latest LSU vs. Virginia Tech odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 134. Before making any Virginia Tech vs. LSU picks, be sure to check out the 2023 Women's NCAA Tournament predictions and betting advice from SportsLine women's college basketball experts Calvin Wetzel and Aaron Barzilai.
Barzilai is a Ph.D. from Stanford who served as Director of Basketball Analytics for the Philadelphia 76ers. Five years ago, he founded HerHoopStats.com – a groundbreaking website that unlocks insights about the women's game. Wetzel, the site's lead betting writer, incorporates his mathematical background and strong knowledge of women's hoops to turn the site's prediction model into picks.
Barzilai and Wetzel went 590-430 overall (+127.40 units) during the 2021-22 women's college basketball campaign and posted a 406-255-5 record (+768.81 units) this past season. They also finished the WNBA regular season with a 54-44 mark in 2022. Anyone who has followed them has seen huge returns.
Now, they have set their sights on LSU vs. Virginia Tech and revealed their coveted pick and predictions for the Women's Final Four matchup. You can head to SportsLine now to see the pick. Here are several women's college basketball odds and trends for Virginia Tech vs. LSU:
- LSU vs. Virginia Tech spread: Tigers -2
- LSU vs. Virginia Tech over/under: 133.5 points
- LSU vs. Virginia Tech money line: Tigers -130, Hokies +110
- LSU: The Tigers lost all five of their previous Final Four games
- VT: The Hokies have set a program record with 31 wins this season
- LSU vs. Virginia Tech Picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why LSU can cover
Angel Reese continued her magnificent season with 13 points and 18 rebounds in the Tigers' win against Miami. The double-double was the 32nd of the campaign for the sophomore forward, who broke the SEC single-season record previously held by Teaira McCowan of Mississippi State. Reese ranks fifth in the country in scoring with an average of 23.2 points and is second with 15.7 boards per contest.
Alexis Morris led the Tigers with 21 points against the Hurricanes, marking the 13th time in 15 games she scored in double figures. The senior guard is second on the team with an average of 14.9 points and leads LSU in assists (4.1) and steals (1.9). The Tigers' shooting likely will improve on Friday as they made only 30.2% of their shot attempts from the field and were 1-for-12 from 3-point range.
Why Virginia Tech can cover
The Hokies, who are a No. 1 seed for the first time, faced their first deficit of the Tournament on Monday but overcame it and posted an 84-74 victory over Ohio State. A large portion of Virginia Tech's offense came from senior center Elizabeth Kitley and junior guard Georgia Amoore, who combined for 49 points. Kitley recorded 25 points and 12 rebounds for her program-record 56th career double-double, while Amoore eclipsed the 20-point mark for the sixth straight game with 24.
Amoore's streak is the longest by a Hokie in 20 years. She made half of Virginia Tech's eight 3-pointers against the Buckeyes and senior guard Cayla King sank three as she joined senior forward Taylor Soule with 12 points apiece. The win was the 15th in a row for the Hokies, giving them their longest winning streak since they opened the 2016-17 season with 15 consecutive victories.
How to make LSU vs. Virginia Tech picks
Barzilai and Wetzel have analyzed this Women's Final Four matchup and offer their best bet for the contest and a breakdown of the matchup. They're only sharing their picks and analysis at SportsLine.
Which play is a must-back for LSU vs. Virginia Tech in the Final Four of the 2023 Women's NCAA Tournament? Visit SportsLine now to see Barzilai and Wetzel's Virginia Tech vs. LSU pick and analysis, all from the experts who know women's college basketball inside and out, and find out.
