Here are our instant picks for the 2025 men’s NCAA tournament.
Change is hard, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. That’s an important lesson to remember as it pertains to men’s college basketball entering another year of March Madness.
The college hoops landscape is almost unrecognizable from a few seasons ago. The days of FBI investigations and bag men are a thing of the past — these days, money changes hands between programs and players above-the-table with the advent of the transfer portal and the NIL. The nature of dealmaking in the sport might be a new frontier, but drama and intensity of the NCAA tournament burns as bright as ever.
This has been a fantastic men’s college basketball season. Preseason expectations have been turned on their head: UConn’s hopes for a three-peat look like a longshot at best, Kansas has looked nothing like a No. 1 team since Nov., and the many of the blue bloods expected to thrive have instead struggled. Meanwhile, new stars and new powers have emerged, providing a relatively clear look at the contenders ahead of the tournament.
Duke looks like a national championship favorite behind Cooper Flagg, the super freshman who has lived up to every ounce of hype on his way to becoming the No. 1 overall NBA draft pick. Auburn is humming fifth-year big man Johni Broome, who has so much more to his game than just bruising low-post scoring moves. Florida has been on a tear in the second half of the season, with Walton Clayton Jr. establishing himself as one of the country’s best guards and tons of talented depth around him. The Big Ten might not have an obvious national title favorite, but teams like Michigan State, Maryland, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Purdue each have established stars and believe they can make a run to the Final Four.
The 2025 men’s NCAA tournament bracket is finally out. I correctly picked the national champion in the instant bracket predictions last year. Can I do it again? Here are our instant bracket predictions.
South Region (upper left)
Auburn is the No. 1 overall seed in the field despite losing three of their last four games. The Tigers were looking like an all-time great team, but are suddenly showing some signs of vulnerability. The Tigers will advance out of the first round no problem, but the round of 32 matchup will be tough whether it’s vs. Louisville or Creighton. I’ll still take the Tigers to the Sweet 16 over Creighton.
UC San Diego is my first upset pick. I’ll take the Tritons over the Big Ten tournament champion Michigan Wolverines. Yale can give Texas A&M all everything its got. I’ll go with the Aggies over the Ivy League champ in a close one. Give me UC San Diego over Texas A&M as the first true Cinderella of the tournament. The Big West champs enter the tournament riding the nation’s longest winning streak (15 games), and they check a lot of boxes: playing tough defense (top-30 in the country), avoiding turnovers, and taking almost 50 percent of their shots from three (top-10 in the country). That should bode well for March. Sadly, the Tritons run will end to Auburn in the Sweet 16.
I like the favorites to hold in the bottom part of the bracket. Michigan State knocks off Marquette in the round of 32, while Iowa State knocks off Ole Miss. Give me Michigan State over Iowa State in the Sweet 16.
Auburn or Michigan State in the Final Four? I’ll go with the Tigers. This is still an elite team despite some tough losses against a loaded SEC slate, and I also think got a pretty easy draw if they can make it past the round of 32.
East Region (upper right)
Duke leads the East Region, and all eyes will be on Cooper Flagg’s health after missing the ACC tournament with a scary ankle injury. Duke is going to coast to the Sweet 16 anyway, beating Baylor to get there.
I like Arizona and Oregon both taking care of business to meet in an old school Pac-12 round of 32 showdown. Give me Arizona to the Sweet 16, where they will lose to Duke.
I like the favorites in the bottom half of the region … at least until we get to the Sweet 16. Alabama vs. Wisconsin should be a thriller, and I’ll take the Badgers. Give me Duke over Wisconsin in the Elite Eight. Jon Scheyer is making the Final Four for the first time in his career.
West Region (bottom right)
Houston is a worthy No. 1 seed once again. They will take care of business in the first round, but I’ll pick them as the first top seed to lose when they face Gonzaga in the round of 32. The Zags were a preseason top-10 team who were a bit up-and-down during the season, but they finally beat St. Mary’s in the WCC tournament and seem to be peaking at the right time. Gonzaga is a scary 8-seed, and they will shock the Cougars to go to the Sweet 16.
Give me Will Wade and McNeese State to pull the upset over Clemson, but they fall to Purdue. The Boilermakers reach the Sweet 16. Illinois and Kentucky both take care of business to form a fascinating round of 32 matchup between two teams who rebuilt their entire roster over the offseason. I’ll take Kentucky as the winner of that matchup to reach the Sweet 16. Tennessee has an easy path to the Sweet 16 with a win over UCLA in the round of 32. I like Tennessee over Kentucky for the Elite Eight berth.
Purdue or Gonzaga in the Sweet 16? Give me the Zags. I’ll take Gonzaga over Tennessee in the Elite Eight as a true Final Four Cinderella coming as a No. 8 seed. The Zags had Final Four hype during the preseason, so maybe this isn’t a huge surprise, but this program always feels at home as an underdog, and they are in that spot once again.
West Region (bottom left)
Florida is rolling after winning the SEC tournament. They are going to face a tough round of 32 opponent in the back-to-back defending champion UConn, but these aren’t last year’s Huskies. UConn’s defense is lackluster, and Florida’s powerhouse will coast into the Sweet 16.
I’ll pick Colorado State and Nique Clifford over Memphis in round one. Maryland knocks out the Rams in the round of 32. The Crab Five would have had Final Four potential with a different draw, but I don’t think they can beat Florida. I’ll take the Gators to the Elite Eight.
St. John’s and Rick Pitino is going to face a fascinating opponent whether it’s Bill Self’s Kansas Jayhawks or John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks. The Johnnies are rolling either way, I’ll say beating Kansas to get there.
Drake beats Missouri in the 6/11 game, and then reaches the Sweet 16 by knocking off Texas Tech. Drake’s run ends vs. St. John’s.
Rick Pitino vs. Florida for the right to go to the Final Four. I wish I could pick the Red Storm, but Florida is too damn good. Give me Florida as the regional champs.
Final Four
Duke vs. Gonzaga. Florida vs. Auburn.
I like the Blue Devils to run over the Zags. The SEC showdown between Florida and Auburn will be an instant classic. I’m going with the Gators.
Duke vs. Florida for the national championship. What a game that would be.
Duke is just too talented to fail. This championship pick is based largely on Cooper Flagg being healthy. As long as he is playing at his top level, Duke is winning it all.
Here’s my full bracket:
What an ending this would be for Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils. I’m a believer if he’s healthy.
