NCAA Tournament: Bracket Odds, Projections, and Expert Picks
📅 March 20, 2025
The Men’s NCAA Tournament is in full swing, and basketball fans are eagerly following the latest bracket projections and tournament odds. Experts have analyzed team performances, potential upsets, and championship contenders as March Madness unfolds.
🔹 Key Tournament Projections
🏀 Top Seeds’ Dominance:
Historically, No. 1 seeds have performed well in March Madness, with 13 of the last 17 national champions being top-seeded teams. However, upsets and Cinderella runs remain a staple of the tournament.
🏀 Illinois’ Deep Run?
CBS Sports analyst Jon Rothstein predicts a strong tournament for Illinois, projecting them to reach the Elite Eight, based on their season-long dominance and favorable matchups.
🏀 Texas Teams in the Spotlight:
Texas Governor Greg Abbott predicts that three Texas teams—University of Houston, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech—could make the Final Four, with Houston emerging as the 2025 national champion.
📌 Matchups to Watch
🔸 Mississippi State (No. 8) vs. Baylor (No. 9) – East Region
Both teams have struggled with inconsistency, but Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe (15.0 PPG) and Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard (18.7 PPG) are expected to be key players in this closely contested matchup.
🔸 BYU (No. 6) vs. VCU (No. 11) – East Region
With BYU ranked No. 25 in NET rankings and VCU close behind at No. 31, this game could be an upset alert. VCU’s defense (allowing just 62 PPG) will be tested against BYU’s high-scoring offense.
🔸 Wisconsin (No. 3) vs. Montana (No. 14) – East Region
Wisconsin leads NCAA Division I in free-throw shooting (83%), while Montana boasts a 50.2% field goal percentage—ranking second in the nation. If Montana stays hot from the floor, this game could be an upset to watch.
📝 Expert Picks & Analysis
📊 ESPN’s Dick Vitale has released his full bracket, providing insights on potential Cinderella teams and bracket-busting upsets.
📊 Jay Bilas’ projections break down each team’s strengths and weaknesses, helping fans make informed picks throughout the tournament.
📊 SportsLine’s advanced model, which has successfully predicted 24 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since 2016, has simulated the 2025 NCAA bracket 200,000 times, revealing the teams most likely to cut down the nets on April 7.
📍 Bracket Resources
📌 Printable 2025 NCAA Tournament Bracket
📌 ESPN Bracketology Predictions
📌 Expert Bracket Picks & Analysis
🏆 What’s Next?
With the First Four matchups completed, the main draw of March Madness is set. Will a No. 1 seed dominate the tournament, or will Cinderella teams shake up the bracket? Fans can expect thrilling upsets, buzzer-beaters, and unforgettable moments as the road to San Antonio’s Final Four continues.
🔔 Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament progresses!
📍 Follow NGN News for the latest NCAA Tournament coverage.
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