The NCAA Tournament is finally here, and excitement is high as fans eagerly anticipate how the 2025 March Madness will play out. With teams ready to compete, the First Four games kicked off on March 18, leading to the thrilling first round starting on March 20. Will we see upsets and surprises or will the favored teams dominate as they often do?
One of the most intriguing matchups occurs on March 18 at 3:40 p.m. MST when No. 16 Alabama State (19-15) faces No. 16 Saint Francis (16-17) as both teams come off six-game winning streaks. The matchup promises to be close, but the consensus prediction is for Alabama State to take the lead with a final score of 71-69.
Shortly after, at 6:10 p.m. MST, No. 11 North Carolina is set to play against No. 11 San Diego State. Despite being criticized for their entry to the tournament, North Carolina is expected to triumph with predictions stating they will win 77-70.
On March 19, more excitement brews as Mount St. Mary's (22-12) takes on American (22-12) at 3:40 p.m. MST. Both teams have been performing well, but experts favor Mount St. Mary's to squeak past with a close 68-66 victory. At 6:10 p.m. MST, Xavier goes against Texas, with predictions leaning toward Xavier winning 75-70, benefiting from their previous momentum.
The first round continues on March 20 with high-stakes matchups across the board. At 9:15 a.m. MST, No. 8 Louisville faces off against No. 9 Creighton, where Louisville is anticipated to maintain momentum with a 72-67 win. Just 25 minutes later, No. 4 Purdue's struggles may lead to trouble against No. 13 High Point, with High Point getting the nod for victory at 78-75.
Wisconsin's strong tournament performance places them as favorites against Montana at 10:30 a.m. MST, with the predicted score of 80-67 solidifying their potential to advance. The day continues with the No. 1 seed Houston expected to dominate No. 16 SIUE at 11:00 a.m. MST with predictions showing them winning by 30 points, 85-55.
Another pivotal matchup occurs at 11:50 a.m. MST as No. 1 Auburn is set to take on the winner of Alabama State/Saint Francis, predicted to score 79-50 if they face Alabama State.
Matches at noon involve No. 5 Clemson going against No. 12 McNeese State at 12:15 p.m. MST, where Clemson should edge out with 68-64, followed by BYU facing off against VCU at 1:05 p.m. MST; the prediction is for BYU to win 79-73.
At 1:35 p.m. MST, No. 8 Gonzaga faces No. 9 Georgia, and the prediction of 68-67 implies it’ll be one of the day’s most heated matches, with Gonzaga narrowly taking the edge.
Looking at powerhouses, Tennessee is predicted to crush No. 15 Wofford 80-52 at 3:50 p.m. MST, followed closely by No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Arkansas, where Kansas should win 69-67. Texas A&M vs. Yale at 4:25 p.m. MST will also be interesting, as predictions favor Texas A&M winning 73-65, though Ivy teams are known for surprises.
Missouri takes on Drake at 4:35 p.m. MST, and experts are hinting at Drake pulling off 71-67 upset victory. The final games for the day will culminate with No. 2 St. John's expected to win comfortably against Omaha with predictions pointing to 83-63.
March 21 brings even more action with significant matchups set to enthuse fans. Starting early at 9:15 a.m. MST, No. 8 Mississippi State takes on No. 9 Baylor, where Baylor is touted to win 73-71, closely followed by No. 2 Alabama hyped to beat Robert Morris with a substantial 91-72 predicted score.
Iowa State needs to confront Lipscomb at 10:30 a.m. MST, with forecasts showing them advancing smoothly with 83-65 victory expectations. Memphis faces Colorado State at 11:00, where predictions lean toward Colorado State winning 73-69.
The tournament's fervor reaches fever pitch as No. 1 Duke tussles with the winner of Mount St. Mary's/American at 11:50, expected to close it out with another resounding win at 84-60. Meanwhile, Saint Mary's has to beat Vanderbilt at 12:15, where they have plans to pull off 69-65 and make their mark.
The entire March Madness is living up to its name, generating fanfare, uncertainty, and predictions on who will make it to the Final Four and, eventually, the champion title. The tournament atmosphere is tangible with excitement for possible upsets and statistical showdowns, as fans near and far engage with the passion of college basketball.
Final thoughts bring us to the potential outcomes of brackets with anticipation on who will win, raising names like Alabama, Auburn, and St. John's as possible victors. Who will rise through the ranks and claim the coveted championship? Will it be one of the powerhouses or will the underdogs steal the show this year? Only time will tell as the tournament moves forward, with all eyes glued to the countdown of thrilling games and unforgettable moments.
