The anticipation is palpable as the NCAA Tournament 2025 gears up for its opening rounds. The tournament kicks off with the First Four games, set to take place on March 18 and 19, 2025, followed by the highly awaited first round on March 20 and 21. This year's March Madness promises excitement, as fans look to see which teams rise and which underdogs make their mark.
On Tuesday, March 18, two matchups will commence the festivities at the iconic Dayton location. Alabama State, with the spread set at -3.5, takes on St. Francis (PA) who holds the +3.5 line. The moneyline shows Alabama State favored at -180 and St. Francis (PA) at +150. The projected over/under total for this game is 138.5. Fans can tune in to truTV at 6:40 p.m. ET to catch this matchup.
Also on March 18, North Carolina is up against San Diego State. North Carolina is seen as the favorite with a spread of -4.5 and a moneyline of -205, whereas San Diego State is at +170. The over/under for this nail-biter is pegged at 142.5, with the game beginning on March 19 at 9:10 p.m. ET on truTV.
The excitement continues on March 19 as Mt. St. Mary's faces American, with American highlighted at -2.5 on the spread and -142 on the moneyline. The total points line for this matchup rests at 129.5. This game is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET, also on truTV. Later, Xavier takes on Texas, with Xavier favored by -2.5 and set at -166 on the moneyline; Texas is at +140 with an over/under of 149.5, slated for 9:10 p.m. ET.
Things heat up on Thursday, March 20, as the first round of the tournament begins. Key matchups include Montana taking on Wisconsin with the Badgers highly favored at -16.5 and moneyline odds climbing to -2381 versus Montana's +1200 odds. The point total for this game is set at 152.5, starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on TNT live from Denver, Colorado.
Another anticipated matchup on the same day will have Purdue going up against High Point. Purdue is favored with an -8.5 spread, and at -375 on the moneyline, putting High Point at +295. Expect plenty of scoring, with the over/under total reaching 153.5. This game kicks off at 12:40 p.m. ET on truTV.
The No. 1 seed, Houston, makes its debut at the tournament on March 20 against SIU-Edwardsville, boasting staggering betting odds with -28.5 on the spread and -9091 on the moneyline—making it the massive favorite coming to the game. The total points line for the game is projected at 126.5. This contest starts at 2:00 p.m. ET, and viewers can watch it on TBS.
On Friday, March 21, another full day of action awaits. Some standouts include Alabama, with their outrageous spread of -23.5 against Robert Morris, who is seen as the clear underdog with +1800 odds. This game starts at 12:40 p.m. ET and will also feature high-scoring potential with the total over/under at 165.5, available on truTV.
Baylor faces Mississippi State, and this clash is anticipated to be tightly contested with Baylor slightly favored by -1.5. The moneyline odds reflect the evenness, sitting at Baylor -115 and Mississippi State -105. The game is set for 12:15 p.m. ET on CBS from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Looking forward to the latter matchups on Friday, Michigan faces UC San Diego and carries the spread at -2.5 and moneyline odds of -148. The total for this game is projected at 142.5, starting at 10 p.m. ET on TBS.
Overall, the 2025 NCAA Tournament setting promises exhilarating moments, with betting and game strategy amplifying the excitement. Fans and bettors alike are already concocting theories and strategies based on these lines. With the unpredictability of March Madness, anything can happen, making it one of the most thrilling periods of the sports calendar. "March Madness offers excitement, unpredictability, and the chance for upsets, making it one of the most thrilling periods of the sports calendar," stated by USA Today.
Calling basketball fans to join the spectacle as teams compete for glory and underdogs try to transform expectations. With each passing game, March Madness enthralls audiences and participants, making the entire experience memorable.
