The men's NCAA Tournament is officially underway, with the anticipation building as teams vie for glory in March Madness. The South Region features the tournament's No. 1 overall seed, the Auburn Tigers, who will be looking to defend their title against other strong contenders.
This year, the South Region brings an exciting mix of talent, including No. 2 Michigan State and No. 5 Michigan, both hailing from the Big Ten. Fans will also be keeping a close eye on No. 3 Iowa State, which previously posed a significant challenge for Auburn in November, and No. 8 Louisville, who benefits from the home-state advantage in Kentucky.
As the tournament kicks off on Thursday, March 20, 2025, basketball experts at USA Today Sports have made their predictions for the South Region.
Jordan Mendoza forecasts a chalk percentage of 50%, predicting 4 of 8 games will go to higher-seeded teams. He anticipates first-round upset winners as follows: (10) New Mexico, (11) San Diego State/North Carolina, (12) UC-San Diego, and (13) Yale. Mendoza even predicts No. 12 UC-San Diego as the biggest Cinderella story, making it all the way to the Elite Eight, while he sees the tournament champion emerging from No. 1 Auburn against No. 2 Michigan State.
Paul Myerberg has a different viewpoint, giving a chalk percentage of 75%. He expects 6 of the 8 higher seeds to prevail, with an eye on (9) Creighton and (10) New Mexico to pull off first-round upsets. His forecast concludes with Auburn maintaining their momentum to champion over No. 3 Iowa State.
Meanwhile, Erick Smith also leans toward a 75% chalk percentage. He lists first-round upset winners as (10) New Mexico and (12) UC-San Diego. Smith retains faith in Auburn, predicting the Tigers will overcome No. 2 Michigan State to win the region.
Eddie Timanus’s predictions reveal yet another perspective, maintaining a chalk percentage of 50%, with upsets including (9) Creighton, (10) New Mexico, (11) San Diego State, and (12) UC-San Diego. Notably, he highlights No. 11 San Diego State and No. 12 UC-San Diego as the biggest Cinderella teams aiming for the Elite Eight, placing his bets on Auburn to conquer Michigan State.
Finally, Dan Wolken shares similar sentiments to Timanus, marking a chalk percentage of 75%, predicting first-round upset winners (10) New Mexico and (11) North Carolina, and placing his faith in Auburn once again as they look to thwart No. 2 Michigan State on their path to victory.
The tournament’s structure means that viewers will not only be learning about the game’s dynamic moments but will also have an emotional investment in the teams competing. The Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines are particularly noteworthy this year. Both have successfully secured their spots in March Madness, representing formidable challenges for their opponents. The round of 64 begins for them as well, with Michigan, as a No. 5 seed, facing No. 12 UC San Diego on Thursday, March 20, at 10 p.m. on TBS. If Michigan wins, they will match up against the winner of No. 4 Texas A&M and No. 13 Yale on Saturday, March 22.
On the other hand, Michigan State, as a No. 2 seed, clashing with No. 15 Bryant will tip off on Friday, March 21, at 10 p.m., also on TBS. Should Michigan State advance, they will compete against the victor of No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 New Mexico on Sunday, March 23. These matchups lock both teams into an exciting start as they hope to make significant runs in the tournament.
In sum, March Madness carries the thrill of uncertainty, making predictions an exciting aspect of the experience. With teams like Auburn, Michigan State, and Michigan in the hunt for glory, fans and analysts alike are eager to witness the tournament unfold, cheering for their teams and hoping for those thrilling upsets that make this time of year so special.
