Basketball fans, the long wait is over and the 2025 March Madness Bracket has finally been set. We sat there to see who was selected for the Big Dance and who got snubbed. Now, it is time to fill out a bracket, and get it perfect this year. But going a few games in, it’s easy to get stuck: Will UC San Diego make a run? Who is good enough to beat Auburn? Should I pick a 13-seed?
Here’s what to know, some fun facts, and some key matchups from Selection Sunday.
Key Matchups
First, let’s discuss some of the most prominent and difficult games to pick in this bracket. These are great first-round matchups that could welcome some fantastic moments.
8. Louisville Cardinals (27-7) vs. 9. Creighton Bluejays (24-10)
South Region – 3/20, 11:15 PM CST – CBS – Lexington, Kentucky
This was a shocking reveal. Both teams were runner-ups in their respective conference tournaments, both conferences weighted heavily, and yet they both have lower seedings. Louisville was a projected 5-seed after finishing last season with an awful record of 8-24. Now led by National Coach of the Year Finalist Pat Kelsey, this team is ready to make some noise. They average 78.6 points per game and have a BPI ranking of 28. However, Creighton coach Greg McDermott makes every game terribly difficult on opposing coaches. They have similar numbers with the Cardinals, averaging 75.2 points per game. If you were to ask me, I would lean towards Louisville. Point Guard Chucky Hepburn is a leader on the court, and I believe the whole team will be able to adjust and command the game where needed.
Louisville opens up as 2.5 point favorites.
5. Michigan Wolverines (25-9) vs. 12. UC San Diego Tritons (30-4)
South Region – 3/20, 9:00 PM CST – TBS – Denver, Colorado
A Golden Rule when filling out a bracket is to pick a 12-seed over a 5-seed. It seems each year, there is one 12-seed everyone loves to pick, and this year, it is UC San Diego. They are one of the strongest 12-seeds in history. This will be a matchup in Quadrant 1 between Michigan and UC San Diego, which is not typical at all for a 5-seed vs. 12-seed. Michigan is coming off a Big Ten Tournament Championship win. While it was a sloppy win against Wisconsin, it probably should have moved them up to a 4-seed. It also should have allowed them to avoid the Tritons, which was a projected matchup for some time now.
UC San Diego won the Big West Championship and is riding a 15-game winning streak. This is also their first appearance in March, as it is also their first eligible season after moving up from Division II just four seasons ago. UC San Diego is averaging 79.8 points per game while allowing just 61.6 points per game. The major talk with this potential upset is Michigan’s immense turnover struggles, as UC San Diego forced turnover margin is frightening for Wolverine fans. In my opinion, I am definitely taking this into account as I lean the Tritons way, though Michigan and Dusty May are red hot as of right now.
Michigan opens up as 3.5 point favorites.
6. BYU Cougars (24-9) vs. 11. VCU Rams (28-6)
East Region – 3/20, 3:05 PM CST – TNT – Denver, Colorado
OFFENSE! These are two teams who love to score buckets all game long. BYU averages 81.0 points per game, while the Rams average 77.4 points per game. BYU’s Big XII Tournament game against Iowa State was extremely eye-opening, as they got past the Cyclones with 18 made shots from beyond the arc. VCU is led by Ryan Odom, the coach who led UMBC to be the first ever 16-seed to upset a 1-seed against Virginia in 2018. The Rams are one of the best defensive teams inside the perimeter, and they hold a BPI ranking of 34. While this is perfect to test a smaller BYU roster, if the Cougars continue to make the 3-point shot as consistently as they have been, their size should not be an issue, and I would not be surprised to see them make a deep run in March. Also, some extra advice, pick an 11-seed over a 6-seed just like people say to pick a 12-seed over a 5-seed. All four 6-seeds have not won in the first-round of the same bracket since 2004.
BYU opens up as 3.5 point favorites.
7. Marquette Golden Eagles (23-10) vs. 10. New Mexico Lobos (26-10)
South Region – 3/21, 6:25 PM CST – TBS – Cleveland, Ohio
The third game from the South Region. Good luck picking these games. This one, for the record, may be the most awkward to pick. An inconsistent Big East team facing a wildly under-appreciated Mountain West squad. Marquette lost six of their last ten regular season games, though four of those games were against St. John’s and UConn. They also have not beaten a top 50 team since January 3rd, with a home win against Creighton. New Mexico enters the field with some notable wins under their belt as well. They’ve taken down other tournament teams including UCLA, VCU, San Diego State, and Utah State, and have six top 50 victories. The Lobos are also led by Mountain West Coach of the Year Richard Pitino, son of legendary head coach, and current head coach of St. John’s, Rick Pitino. Using the “eye-test,” I believe Marquette is more battle tested and will be able to spread the floor more than the Lobos though.
Marquette opens up as 3.5 point favorites.
5. Clemson Tigers (27-6) vs. 12. McNeese Cowboys (27-6)
Midwest Region – 3/20, 2:15 PM CST – truTV – Providence, Rhode Island
Clemson, who lost to Louisville in the semifinals of the ACC tournament, is going to have to play a fantastic game to escape the Southland Champions McNeese. Clemson enters the tournament with a school record of 27 wins. They also recorded six losses, with three of their losses coming in overtime. This is a very consistent team that has found ways to win all year long. McNeese though, averages more points per game and allows less points per game than the Tigers. They are led by coach Will Wade, who has brought the team to its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. He is getting looks for a lot of high-level job openings, but is still looking to snatch the program’s first NCAA Tournament game win with McNeese. However, the Cowboys have lost the three games on their schedule against teams in the tournament field, those being Alabama, Liberty, and Mississippi State. While they have seven different players who average around 10 points per game, I think this is a game Clemson should do well in.
Clemson opens up as 7.5 point favorites.
Upsets to Watch For
4. Texas A&M Aggies (22-10) vs. 13. Yale Bulldogs (22-7)
South Region – 3/20, 6:25 PM CST – TBS – Denver, Colorado
Texas A&M has been one of the strongest teams this season, toppling some tall opponents. However, Yale head coach James Jones is one of the smartest and most strategic coaches out of the Ivy League. If any coach is ready to sit through the Aggies’ film, it’s Coach Jones.
6. Missouri Tigers (22-11) vs. 11. Drake Bulldogs (30-3)
West Region – 3/20, 6:35 PM CST – truTV – Wichita, Kansas
Drake has lost only three games this season. They solidified their March Madness appearance with the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, and are ready to make the noise they are absolutely capable of. However, Missouri was my preseason dark horse team with their incoming transfers, and they continue to get better. It’s set to be an interesting clash.
5. Memphis Tigers (29-5) vs. 12. Colorado State Rams (25-9)
West Region – 3/21, 1:00 PM CST – TBS – Seattle, Washington
Colorado State is hitting their stride at the perfect time and are now coming off a Mountain West Tournament Title. They are very suited to win multiple games in the tournament if they play up to par, and Memphis open up as only 2.5 point favorites.
Champion Favorites
Here are the two teams I have high expectations for and predict to win the National Championship.
Florida has some of the most impressive wins all year long. Beating Auburn, Tennessee twice, and Alabama twice. Scoring a plethora in all of those games really made me a believer. This Florida team seems unstoppable, and they would love to run it back to 2007. They have the third best offense in adjusted efficiency, and I do not think there are many teams in their path that can slow that down.
Houston shoots the ball so well down the stretch. In March, the teams that make the sprint to the trophy will find themselves in very close contests. I believe Houston is extremely battle tested, and they have found ways to win plenty of tough games against great opponents. This alone gives me the idea that it may be their year to win it all. However, I think they will have an incredibly difficult matchup in the second-round with Gonzaga, which would be a top 10 matchup, so my theory may be tested extremely early. Their offensive pace is a little slower than the other top teams in the country, but they are still right there in the “Trapezoid of Excellence” which measures the country’s best teams by NET ranking and pace of place.
First-Time Dancers
Now for some fun. There are quite a few teams who will be learning how to groove for the first time in their program’s history, so here’s a quick look at their matchups.
12. UC San Diego Tritons (30-4)
The program has been eligible for the tournament for one season, and they jumped right at the opportunity. They’ll face 5. Michigan on Thursday, March 30th at 9:00 PM CST on TBS.
13. High Point Panthers (29-5)
This is another team I could see making a run, including an upset over their first round opponent 4. Purdue on Thursday, March 30th at 11:40 AM CST on truTV.
Hide your trash cans! If the Big Sky Champs pull off the improbable upset, they’ll celebrate by smashing a trash can in their locker room. Their first tournament appearance sets them on a date with Rick Pitino’s 2. St John’s on Thursday, March 30th at 8:45 PM CST on CBS.
16. SIU Edwardsville Cougars (22-11)
I loved seeing head coach Brian Barone break out the scissors that he had framed to cut down the net after their Ohio Valley Conference Championship win. They’ll be in the Midwest Region against 1. Houston on Thursday, March 30th at 1:00 PM CST on TBS.
Happy researching, happy bracketing, and happy March as we watch our favorite stories of the year unfold in front of us and our brackets crumble. We Sleep in May.
