The NCAA March Madness tournament is officially upon us as the brackets for the 2025 men’s and women’s tournaments were unveiled this past Sunday, March 16, and fans are already buzzing with excitement. This year’s tournament promises to deliver high-stakes drama and thrilling upsets as teams from across the nation vie for the championship title.
On the men’s side, the Auburn Tigers earned the coveted No. 1 overall seed, edging out the Duke Blue Devils. Throughout the regular season, Auburn demonstrated strong performance, but Duke has its eyes set on making history under head coach Jon Scheyer, hoping to drive their team to its sixth national championship. Auburn is scheduled to kick off its tournament run against the winner of the Mount St. Mary’s and American play-in game slated for March 21, 2025.
Another notable aspect of this year’s tournament is the Southeastern Conference (SEC) shattering records by securing 14 teams out of its 16 to qualify. This remarkable achievement reflects the increasing competitiveness of the SEC, which has consistently emerged as a powerhouse in college basketball.
The women's tournament is being led by UCLA, who also took the No. 1 overall seed. Southeast rivals South Carolina, Texas, and USC round out the other top seeds. Their path to the championship will begin with the First Four games, starting on March 19, 2025.
Among the intriguing first-round matchups on the men’s side, Gonzaga, typically known for its consistent high seeding, has found itself at No. 8, which is surprising for many. This marks only the second time since 2016 they have fallen outside of the top five. Gonzaga will face Georgia, who is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015. With Gonzaga’s 17-year streak of winning at least one tournament game on the line, this matchup is sure to be fiercely contested.
According to CBS Sports, Gonzaga is facing off against Georgia, making for one of the tournament’s most compelling showdowns. The enticing 8 vs. 9 matchup has historically been known for its unpredictability, with upsets commonplace.
The models and experts have been weighing-in on potential upsets this year. A notable surprise identified by SportsLine’s advanced computer model is the prediction of No. 13 seed Yale defeating No. 4 seed Texas A&M. Yale has shown resilience, famously pulling off significant upsets over the years.
Another upset to pay attention to is Creighton, another formidable No. 9 seed, who is predicted to triumph over the No. 8 seed Louisville. Given Creighton’s experienced roster, featuring fifth-year senior players like Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth, they certainly have the firepower to claim victory.
Fans will not want to miss the East Region matchups, especially the anticipated contest between No. 8 seed Mississippi State and No. 9 seed Baylor. Mississippi State has the sixth-best scoring offense and has several key players leading the charge. Expect this game to be closely contested, with Josh Hubbard from Mississippi being the player to watch.
Adding to the excitement, BYU faces VCU, and Wisconsin takes on Montana—two matchups generating buzz among basketball analysts. Wisconsin ranks second nationally for free throw conversion percentage, showcasing their ability to convert under pressure—a skill often decisive during tournament play.
The 2025 NCAA Championship is set to be held at the Alamodome on April 7, 2025, for the men’s tournament, with the women’s final taking place the day before at Amalie Arena. Fans across the nation will surely be glued to their screens as these games kickoff. With so much at stake, the drama of March Madness is not only contained to the court but also spills over as fans contend to fill out their brackets and predict which teams will emerge as the favorites.
The tournament is set to begin with the focus on the First Four games, starting with the men's bracket on March 18. The excitement will fully ramp up when the first full day of action takes place on March 20-21 for the men's and women's tournament rounds. The anticipation is palpable, with sports professionals and casual viewers alike tuning in to see how their bracket predictions play out.
So whether you are rooting for your favorite college team or just hoping to point out last-minute predictions from your friends and family, make sure to watch closely. March Madness is here, and with it, the thrill of college basketball’s biggest tournament.
