2025 NCAA Tournament Bracket: Top Picks, Upsets, and Cinderella Teams
The excitement of March Madness 2025 is here, and top seeds have historically dominated the tournament. With 13 of the last 17 champions being No. 1 seeds, the trend suggests backing a top-ranked team to go all the way. However, defending champion UConn, now a No. 8 seed, could shake things up with a potential run past Oklahoma and Florida.
Key Matchups to Watch
🔹 Mississippi State (No. 8) vs. Baylor (No. 9) – East Region
Mississippi State has struggled recently, losing five of its last seven games. Star guard Josh Hubbard (18.7 PPG) leads their attack, but only one other player averages double digits. Baylor counters with freshman sensation VJ Edgecombe (15.0 PPG) and Miami transfer Norchad Omier (15.9 PPG). Both teams have been inconsistent, making this a tough call.
🔹 BYU (No. 6) vs. VCU (No. 11) – East Region
A classic upset watch. BYU has a strong NET ranking (25) but faces a VCU squad ranked close behind at 31. The Cougars play an up-tempo offense, but VCU’s stifling defense (allowing just 62 PPG) could cause problems. This game could go down to the wire.
🔹 Wisconsin (No. 3) vs. Montana (No. 14) – East Region
Wisconsin boasts wins over three top-10 teams and leads the nation in free-throw shooting (83%). However, Montana, the Big Sky champs, ranks second in Division I with a 50.2% field goal percentage. If the Grizzlies stay hot from the field, an upset could be brewing.
Bracket-Busting Upsets and Cinderella Runs
SportsLine’s advanced model, which has predicted 24 double-digit seed upsets since 2016, has simulated the 2025 tournament 10,000 times. The results? Expect surprises and potential deep runs from lower-seeded teams.
Will a Cinderella team emerge? Can UConn defy the odds again? Stay tuned for the madness!
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