March Madness kicked off with a bang on Thursday, March 20, 2025, as the opening day of the NCAA men's basketball tournament brought unexpected twists and turns, leaving many fans cheering and their brackets hanging by a thread. Out of over 34 million brackets submitted to various platforms, only approximately 36,000 remained perfect by the end of the day, thanks to a series of thrilling upsets that kicked off the tournament.
The biggest upset of the initial round was no. 12 seed McNeese State University, which defeated no. 5 seed Clemson University in a nail-biting game that ended with a score of 69-67. This unexpected win slashed the number of perfect brackets from 11 million to just under 2 million. Another noteworthy upset occurred when no. 10 Arkansas took down no. 7 Kansas, winning 79-72 and causing fewer than 1% of brackets to remain flawless.
No. 11 Drake University also pulled a surprise victory, outlasting no. 6 Missouri with a final score of 67-57. Creighton University's victory over the University of Louisville (89-75) erupted into bracket chaos, busting thousands more entries on the very first day. With these outcomes, fans found themselves grappling with unpredictable and emotionally charged results.
The odds of picking a perfect bracket are astonishingly low, at one in 9.22 quintillion if one were to guess randomly. Even for those familiar with NCAA basketball, the odds are still an improbable one in 120.2 billion. Compounding the excitement, X, formerly known as Twitter, announced extravagant rewards for those who submit perfect brackets. The platform is offering a trip to Mars or a generous $250,000, along with other experiences to lure fans into making predictions for the dominating tournament.
As anticipation builds over what will come next in March Madness, it is important to look at who is favored to win the tournament this year. Duke University tops the list with +320 odds, meaning a $100 bet could net bettors $320 if successful, followed closely by the University of Florida at +380, Auburn University at +450, and the University of Houston at +600.
Interestingly, historical records from previous tournaments illustrate just how difficult it is to find that perfect bracket. No contestant has ever accurately predicted outcomes across all 63 games in the tournament's history, with the closest recorded attempt occurring in 2019. A participant from Ohio, Greg Nigl, astoundingly predicted 49 out of 63 games correctly before losing his streak during the Elite Eight rounds.
Fans' emotions soared as they picked teams with high hopes and rooted for their favorites, yet the outcome often led to heartbreak. This level of expectation often fuels the thrill and excitement surrounding March Madness. As the tournament progresses, each game becomes increasingly crucial not only for teams but also for the millions of fans competing in bracket challenges for a shot at significant prizes, including $1 million for a perfect bracket offered by USA Today Sports.
The NCAA also hosts a Bracket Challenge Sweepstakes, offering contestants a chance to win two tickets to next year’s men’s Final Four, a four-night hotel stay, $1,500 for airfare, and $750 in spending money. Such incentives motivate fans to engage further in the tournament, rooting for teams and hoping for success in predictions.
Ultimately, this year's March Madness has delivered thrilling action and has set the stage for even more upcoming exciting matchups in the round of 32. As teams battle for advancement, the stakes are high, and fans remain glued to the edge of their seats, wondering which teams will emerge victorious and how many more brackets will fall prey to the unpredictability of the game.
