NCAA Tournament: Bracket Odds, Projections, and Expert Picks

March 20, 2025 – The Men’s NCAA Tournament is in full swing, and basketball fans are closely 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. 13 of the last 17 national champions were 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. His prediction is based on their season-long dominance and favorable matchups.

🏀 Texas Teams in the Spotlight:
Texas Governor Greg Abbott forecasts that three Texas teams—University of Houston, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech—will make the Final Four. Abbott also predicts that Houston will win the national title in 2025.

📌 Matchups to Watch

🔸 Mississippi State (No. 8) vs. Baylor (No. 9) – East Region
Both teams have struggled with consistency, but key players like Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe (15.0 PPG) and Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard (18.7 PPG) will play a crucial role in this close matchup.

🔸 BYU (No. 6) vs. VCU (No. 11) – East Region
Ranked No. 25 in NET rankings, BYU faces a challenge from VCU, which comes in at No. 31. The VCU defense (allowing just 62 PPG) will be tested against BYU’s high-scoring offense.

🔸 Wisconsin (No. 3) vs. Montana (No. 14) – East Region
Leading NCAA Division I in free-throw shooting (83%), Wisconsin will try to keep Montana’s high shooting percentage (50.2%) in check. If Montana remains hot from the floor, this game could be an exciting upset.

📝 Expert Picks & Analysis

📊 Dick Vitale from ESPN has released his full bracket, providing insights into potential Cinderella teams and possible upsets.

📊 Jay Bilas offers a breakdown of each team’s strengths and weaknesses, giving fans the tools to make informed picks.

📊 SportsLine’s advanced model, which has accurately 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?

After the First Four matchups, the main draw of March Madness is set. The question remains: will a No. 1 seed dominate, or will Cinderella teams steal the spotlight? Fans can expect thrilling upsets, buzzer-beaters, and unforgettable moments as the road to San Antonio’s Final Four continues.