The Gamecocks won the national title in 2022, lost in the Final Four in 2023, and then won the title again this past season.
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With head coach Dawn Staley at the helm, the Gamecocks, once again, are atop the oddsboard to make it two in a row.
Let’s take a full look at the early NCAA tournament betting board at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 28.
NCAA Women’s Tournament Winner 2025 odds:
South Carolina: +180 (bet $10 to win $28 total) USC: +450 (bet $110 to win $55 total) UConn: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total) Texas: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total) Notre Dame: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total) UCLA: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total) LSU: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total) NC State: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) Iowa State: +4000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) Duke: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) Stanford: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) Baylor: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
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Second to South Carolina on the oddsboard is another No. 1 seed from last year’s tourney, the USC Trojans.
With Caitlin Clark now in the WNBA, USC has arguably the most famous college baller in Juju Watkins, who is entering her sophomore season in Socal.
As a freshman, Watkins averaged 27.1 points, second in the nation to Clark. Her Trojans were a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Women’s Tournament after winning the Pac-12 title.
Joining Watkins at USC is graduate transfer Kiki Iriafen, an all All Pac-12 performer at Stanford last season who averaged 19.4 points and 11 rebounds for the Cardinal.
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The Boston Celtics are months removed from becoming NBA champions for an 18th time, after knocking off the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the 2024 NBA Finals.
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But the path to another championship won’t be a cakewalk, with a number of real contenders in both conferences.
Here’s a look at the NBA title odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 28.
Still, there will be questions about health when it comes to the Sixers, considering George has played 70-plus games just once in the past five seasons and Embiid has never played 70-plus games in a season.
In addition, Maxey missed 12 games last season and 22 in 2022-23.
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As far as the West goes, the Thunder are second on the board, followed by a trio of contenders in Dallas, Minnesota and Denver.
In the West, the move that created the biggest shift near the top of the oddsboard was Oklahoma City’s signing of center Isiah Hartenstein.
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Former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has joined Serie A club Genoa on a free transfer.
The 34-year-old had been without a club since departing Turkish Super Lig side Adana Demirspor this summer.
Balotelli, who has 36 Italy caps, returns to playing in his home country more than three years after leaving Monza.
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Part of Manchester City’s title winning squad in 2012, Balotelli joins a struggling Genoa side who sit in the relegation positions.
Genoa, managed by Alberto Gilardino, are 18th after taking six points from their opening nine games.
Balotelli made headlines for his behaviour on and off the pitch during his time in the Premier League.
At Manchester City that included a training-ground bust-up with manager Roberto Mancini, and he famously revealed a ‘why always me?’ T-shirt after scoring in a 6-1 demolition of rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.
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Balotelli scored 30 goals in two and a half years with the Blues, helping the club win a first league title since 1968.
After a first, brief stint at AC Milan, an unsuccessful move to Liverpool in 2014 followed, which led to a loan back to the San Siro.
Since then, Balotelli has played across Europe for a number of clubs, including French sides Nice and Marseille, and Italian clubs Brescia and Monza.
A member of the Italy squad that finished as runners-up at Euro 2012, Balotelli has not played for his country since 2018.
The Maryland Miracle won the weekend, with the Commanders topping the Bears in a battle of top draft picks, but it was a pair of losses that shake up my rankings this week. The Vikings and Ravens suffered disappointing defeats, leaving openings for the Texans and Packers to slide up.
The Chiefs and Lions, meanwhile, continue to hold firm to the top spots. And there’s something brewing at the bottom of the Top 10, with the Bills and Eagles showing that they could be teams to reckon with in the second half.
Andy Reid’s squad lacks the flash of some of his previous championship teams, but it keeps stacking wins against quality competition. Led by a disruptive defense that creates turnovers and splash plays, the Chiefs can rely on Chris Jones & Co. to make enough game-changing plays to sustain the squad until Patrick Mahomes regains his MVP form. Considering the Chiefs have raced out to a 7-0 start without No. 15 playing his best ball, the rest of the league should pay close attention to how the defending champs are getting it done without relying extensively on the quarterback to make it happen each week.
Dan Campbell’s team specializes in punching opponents in the mouth behind a dominant offensive line and destructive defensive front. Though Detroit’s dynamic skill players routinely grab the headlines, the blue-collar frontline players set the tone for a team built on grit and toughness. With the Lions’ trench play capable of masking some inconsistencies on the perimeter, the NFC’s top team looks like a formidable title contender.
Joe Mixon’s re-emergence as a high-end back has elevated an offense sputtering without Nico Collins in the lineup. Mixon has four 100-yard games in five starts, flashing the strength, power and explosiveness that earned him Pro Bowl honors in 2021. As the Texans rely on a balanced offense to take the load off C.J. Stroud and complement an opportunistic defensive unit that suffocates opponents, Mixon’s production as the No. 1 back is critical to the team’s strong start.
Malik Willis does not look like the same QB prospect who flamed out in Tennessee as a third-round pick. The third-year pro filled in admirably for Jordan Love (groin injury) as an emergency sub in Week 8 with a strong second-half culminating in a game-winning drive. Given the Packers’ turnover-obsessed defense and adaptable offense, Matt LaFleur has a team that can win in various ways.
The legend of Jayden Daniels continues to grow, with the Hail Mary cementing his superhero status. The dynamic dual-threat can single-handedly carry the Commanders to a win with or without his supporting cast playing up to par. As Dan Quinn continues to tweak the defensive lineup and tactics to maximize his personnel, the Commanders can rest easy knowing No. 5 can throw on his cape and rescue them from any situation.
Back-to-back losses have led to some concerns over the Vikings’ ultra-aggressive pressure tactics. The defense has given up too many big plays in crucial moments due to blown assignments or misaligned defenders. Though DC Brian Flores has dialed back the pressure to balance out his approach, the defense needs to get back on track before the rest of the division leaves the Vikings in the dust.
A disappointing loss to a bitter division rival raises concerns over Baltimore’s defensive performance. The secondary is surrendering big plays at an alarming rate, with the pass rush unable to mask the inconsistent coverage. Though John Harbaugh has made some lineup changes and added a mentor to help DC Zachary Orr fix the problems, the Ravens defense could keep them from challenging the heavyweights in the AFC.
A win over the New York Giants on Monday night would keep the Steelers in the hunt as a dark-horse contender. As Russell Wilson gets more comfortable running the offense as the new QB1, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith could expand the playbook to add more diversity to a unit that has relied on a ground-and-pound approach in the first half of the season.
Don’t look now, but the Bills are becoming the juggernaut that some envisioned when Josh Allen stepped onto the scene. The MVP candidate challenges defenses with his unique talents as a dual-threat playmaker on the perimeter. Whether throwing lasers to an unheralded cast of pass-catchers or rumbling between the tackles on designed QB runs, the 6-foot-5, 237-pounder is an unstoppable force with the ball in his hands.
It has taken the Eagles a little longer than expected to find their identity, but the Jalen Hurts–Saquon Barkley combination has helped the team get back to its roots as a grind-it-out squad with big-play potential. The duo’s physicality and dominance as runners set the tone for an offense at its best when pushing opponents around at the point of attack. With the defense rounding into form under Vic Fangio, the Eagles again look like a potential title contender.
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Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He also breaks down the game for NFL Network and as a cohost of the “Moving the Sticks” podcast. Follow him on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
Zambian football is in mourning after seven players from Chavuma Town Council FC were killed in a bus crash.
The country’s football association (Faz) expressed its “deep shock” at the accident, which occurred on Saturday while the squad was travelling to a third-tier league game in the north west of the country.
“We are in touch with the football, civil and law enforcement authorities in the province to furnish us with full details,” Faz president Andrew Kamanga said.
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Twelve other people were injured in the accident, and five of those have been evacuated to the capital Lusaka for treatment.
The names of those killed and injured have not been released.
Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe said he and the governing body “hope and pray” that those injured will fully recover soon.
“I convey my personal and Caf’s deepest condolences,” Motsepe added in a statement.
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“May God comfort and console the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased and the Football Association of Zambia.
“May the souls of the departed players rest in eternal peace.”
Artur de Almeida e Silva, the president of the council of Southern Africa’s regional FAs, said the loss of young lives in such a manner was “truly heartbreaking”.
“Football is a sport that unites us, bringing joy and pride to communities across our region,” he said in a letter to his counterpart at Faz.
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“In this tragic moment, we share in your grief and offer our heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends who are mourning this immense loss.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are still receiving treatment for their injuries.”
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