It's officially March Madness time. After the First Four games on Tuesday and Wednesday, the first full day of the NCAA tournament kicks off on Thursday with 16 men's games spread out over 12 hours. Creighton and Louisville get things started in the first game of the day, while Texas Tech and UNC Wilmington will wrap up the opening day of action late tonight.
The game schedule for Thursday includes:
- 12:15 p.m.: No. 9 Creighton vs. No. 8 Louisville (CBS)
- 12:40 p.m.: No. 13 High Point vs. No. 4 Purdue (TruTV)
- 1:30 p.m.: No. 14 Montana vs. No. 3 Wisconsin (TNT)
- 2:00 p.m.: No. 16 SIU Edwardsville vs. No. 1 Houston (TBS)
- 2:50 p.m.: Alabama State vs. No. 1 Auburn (CBS)
- 3:15 p.m.: No. 12 McNeese vs. No. 5 Clemson (TruTV)
- 4:05 p.m.: No. 11 VCU vs. No. 6 BYU (TNT)
- 4:35 p.m.: No. 9 Georgia vs. No. 8 Gonzaga (TBS)
- 6:50 p.m.: No. 15 Wofford vs. No. 2 Tennessee (TNT)
- 7:10 p.m.: No. 10 Arkansas vs. No. 7 Kansas (CBS)
- 7:25 p.m.: No. 13 Yale vs. No. 4 Texas A&M (TBS)
- 7:35 p.m.: No. 11 Drake vs. No. 6 Missouri (TruTV)
- 9:25 p.m.: No. 10 Utah State vs. No. 7 UCLA (TNT)
- 9:45 p.m.: No. 15 Omaha vs. No. 2 St. John's (CBS)
- 10:00 p.m.: No. 12 UC San Diego vs. No. 5 Michigan (TBS)
- 10:10 p.m.: No. 14 UNC Wilmington vs. No. 3 Texas Tech (TruTV)
Follow along for live reaction, highlights and more from Yahoo Sports. The action kicks off at 12:15 ET when Louisville and Creighton get things started.
As the tournament progresses, fans are also turning to technology to enhance their March Madness experience. For instance, Joe explored using AI to fill out his 2025 March Madness bracket. One standout feature was ChatGPT, which last year served more like a tutor rather than providing outright answers. However, this year, it has advanced significantly in its capacity to offer predictions regarding potential upsets and teams likely to advance through the rounds.
When searching for potential upsets, ChatGPT recommended three 12 seeds: UC San Diego, Colorado State, and High Point, a 13 seed (Yale), and an 11 seed (Drake) as worthwhile considerations. It even suggested that Drake and Yale might have the potential to reach the Sweet Sixteen.
One of the most critical metrics mentioned was KenPom's Adjusted Efficiency Margin, which historically predicts setup well. Most championship teams rank in the top 20 for both Adjusted Offensive and Defensive Efficiency and often sit in the top 5-10 for Adjusted Efficiency Margin.
For teams seeded 5th or lower with prospects for the Final Four, AI suggested No. 5 Clemson, No. 8 Gonzaga, and No. 5 Michigan were the teams to watch. Notably, ChatGPT believes that UC San Diego has a strong chance to upset Michigan in their first-round encounter.
Looking ahead in the bracket, the AI expects Florida to beat Michigan State, Tennessee to win against Alabama, and predicts Florida to come out on top over Tennessee.
Interestingly, ChatGPT even estimated that the total points scored in the title game would likely land between 140 and 150, noting recent scoring patterns during matchups.
As March Madness unfolds, many fans are grappling with bracket decisions and hoping for predictions to pay off as the tournament progresses. The excitement and unpredictability remain at the heart of March Madness, challenging fans as teams vie for the coveted championship.
Overall, the conversation around technology and basketball predictions is rapidly evolving, and it's fascinating to see how AI plays a role in enhancing the experience for fans during this nail-biting tournament.
