The excitement is building as the 2025 NCAA Tournament kicks off, bringing with it the anticipation of thrilling matchups and the familiar chaos of March Madness.
Among the notable teams to watch are the double-digit seeds that have a history of giving higher seeds a run for their money. Yahoo Sports’ Scott Pianowski identified four double-digit seeds with potential to upset. Notably, No. 12 UC San Diego Tritons are coming into their first-round matchup against No. 5 Michigan with a 15-game winning streak—the longest in the country. This includes a decisive victory in the Big West championship, and they rank 36th overall in KenPom efficiency, just behind Michigan at 25th.
According to Pianowski, the odds are favorable for UCSD, who is a modest 3.5-point underdog going into their game on Thursday, March 20, 2025. While Michigan’s Big Ten tournament championship win was impressive, the selection committee seemed hesitant to fully acknowledge it. UC San Diego also boasts strong statistics, ranking seventh in turnover rate and eighth in three-point shooting, making them particularly dangerous.
Another potential upset is anticipated in the No. 13 seed Yale Bulldogs versus the No. 4 Texas A&M Aggies. Yale, under the guidance of Ivy League Player of the Year Bez Mbeng, has won 16 of their last 17 games. The Bulldogs are only 7.5-point underdogs, and their strong defense allows them to limit opponents' scoring and protect the ball well, ranking 19th in turnover rate.
In addition, other analysts like ESPN’s Corey Williams are high on teams from the Big 12 conference. He predicts that the No. 3 seed Iowa State, No. 4 seed Arizona, No. 1 seed Houston, and No. 3 seed Texas Tech will all advance to the Final Four this year. Williams believes Arizona will win the championship—a sentiment echoed by fellow analysts Jerod Haase and Roxy Bernstein, although they stopped short of predicting the national title.
In another intriguing matchup, the No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks face the No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks. Arkansas is considered a solid underdog, 5.5 points behind Kansas. The Razorbacks previously defeated Kansas during a charity exhibition game, which adds to the suspense heading into their tournament game.
Interestingly, in another lower seed matchup, the Troy Trojans are aiming to defy the odds against No. 4 Kentucky, coming in as 10.5-point underdogs. Although Troy has struggled against power conference teams in the past, their effective rebounding and defensive play could keep the game close.
The official tournament begins on March 20, 2025, with many eagerly anticipating potential upsets and Cinderella stories, every corner of the NCAA Tournament buzzes with predictions and expert analysis. Expert Gary Parrish urges fans to keep an eye on both UCSD and Yale, suggesting that if executed well, the first round of this tournament could set the stage for an unforgettable march. This year, fans have a slew of decisions to make as they fill out their brackets and predict the unpredictable.
For a more in-depth breakdown, consider the potential betting picks for your brackets, where underdogs like Clemson could thrive, especially when playing against McNeese State. With solid shooting and defensive strategies, they look to extend beyond the first round.
Buckle up as March Madness 2025 promises high stakes and heart-stopping action from tip-off to championship. With the game days rolling in and brackets filling up, make your picks with all the tools at your disposal, whether they come from human experts or AI predictions. The madness is just getting started!
