2025 March Madness Bracket Pool Advice: NCAA Tournament Predictions

The Madness is almost here! The 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket has been revealed, and it’s time to put together picks for your pool. We have you covered as some of our college basketball writers share their top picks and predictions for 2025 March Madness. Here are our predictions to help you put together your bracket.

2025 NCAA Tournament March Madness Bracket Strategy & Betting Picks

2025 March Madness Bracket Pool Advice

Final Four Picks from South Region

Here are our favorite teams to make the Final Four from the South Region of the 2025 March Madness bracket.

Name	Final Four Pick from South Region
Dan Servodidio	Michigan State
Mike Zelizo	Auburn
Ryan Rodeman	Auburn
Joe Williams	Michigan State

Michigan State

It’s remarkable to see in this day and age a successful team that only gets 23 percent of its points (356th-lowest) from deep. Michigan State doesn’t have the most efficient offense, ranking 29th offensively in KenPom and outside the top 40 in their final month of play on Bart Torvik. But the Spartans still found ways to win, and that’s all that matters.

Michigan State does have impressive shot volume, transition play, and defense. Let’s start with shot volume. While the Spartans may not take many threes, Michigan State can get to the rim, ranking 13th in near-proximity shooting percentage. Their top-50 free throw rate and offensive rebounding percentage help their numbers when they aren’t efficient with shooting, and they are relatively solid at ball control. Over 20% of their points come in transition, which is one of the highest rates in the nation, so an opponent that slows it down and forces MSU to play in the halfcourt might lead to problems for Sparty.

Defensively, Michigan State can be menacing, allowing minimal second-chance looks, limiting opponents to 28% from deep, and ranking as the third-best defense in the nation over the last month. MSU’s team profile comps also bode well, as eight of the nine most similar teams reached at least the Sweet 16, with two of them making the finals — one of those teams being the 2009 Michigan State squad. It’s also important to note that Tom Izzo’s squad is up to 36% shooting from deep over their final nine games — a much more respectable number than 30.8%.

This is a tough team to handicap. Michigan State might have one of the largest ranges of outcomes among any tournament team. Their nonconference play wasn’t the most impressive, but the Spartans finished the year strong and have one of the best coaches in the tournament. Izzo in March holds a lot of weight, but without any perimeter shooting, it’s unclear what this team’s ceiling can be.

Final Four Picks from West Region

Here are our favorite teams to make the Final Four from the West Region of the 2025 March Madness bracket.

Name	Final Four Pick from West Region
Dan Servodidio	Florida
Mike Zelizo	Florida
Ryan Rodeman	Maryland
Joe Williams	St. John’s

Florida

The Florida Gators have emerged as one of college basketball’s biggest surprises and are now regarded as one of the title favorites. Ranked No. 21 in the AP preseason poll, Coach Todd Golden’s squad has shattered expectations to become an SEC powerhouse poised for a deep tournament run.

Florida’s success stems from its elite shooting efficiency and pure shot volume. The Gators boast a top-five offense via KenPom’s efficiency metrics and a top-10 defense, making them one of the most complete teams in the country.

Walter Clayton Jr.’s senior year provided the perfect foundation, giving Florida one of college basketball’s most skilled scorers at point guard. If Johni Broome didn’t exist, Clayton would have been the front-runner for SEC Player of the Year, but he’ll just have to settle for first-team honors. Clayton was part of a devastating perimeter trio along with Alijah Martin and Will Richard, creating what might be the nation’s most dangerous backcourt. Meanwhile, Alex Condon has emerged as a defensive force inside, helping Florida rank in the top five in defensive effective field goal percentage, top 10 from the perimeter, and top five in near-proximity. I haven’t even gotten to Thomas Haugh, whose impressive sophomore leap has positioned him as a top-10 DI player per EvanMiya’s Bayesian Performance Rating.

No matter where an opponent shoots against Florida, it will be a contested look. Golden’s system emphasizes attacking the paint, pushing transition, and optimizing shot selection — a formula that’s translated to relentless efficiency. And that’s what stands out. With their ability to take care of the ball and get ample second-chance looks, the Gators’ floor might be the highest in the country from the pure number of shot attempts they’ll get each game. Even when Georgia shot 55% from deep against Florida, the Gators still led on the road with a minute left — and that was one of their worst games of the year.

Forcing Florida to beat you from the perimeter can be a path to an upset. All four of the Gators’ losses came with a 46%-plus three-point attempt rate. Richard can get hot, but none of Florida’s core players are shooting abore 37% from deep. That, combined with limiting Florida on the offensive glass, is the way you take down this juggernaut. But with their elite interior shooting efficiency, tenacious defense, and blend of veteran leadership and emerging talent, Florida has positioned itself as a legitimate contender poised for a deep March Madness run.

Final Four Picks from East Region

Here are our favorite teams to make the Final Four from the East Region of the 2025 March Madness bracket.

Name	Final Four Pick from East Region
Dan Servodidio	Duke
Mike Zelizo	Duke
Ryan Rodeman	Alabama
Joe Williams	Alabama

Duke

Any Duke preview obviously starts with the elephant in the room: Cooper Flagg’s injury. Head coach Jon Scheyer and Co. informed the selection committee that Flagg will be healthy for the NCAA Tournament, but of course they would. Flagg is the third-most indispensable player in hoops, per EvanMiya, and it would be ill-advised for him to risk his future NBA status to play in a first-round game.

Without Flagg, though, Duke didn’t seem to miss a beat. They held a 52-28 second-half lead against North Carolina before a near collapse, but the Blue Devils found a way to win and beat Louisville in the championship game of the ACC Tournament. Duke has shown it can handle adversity by ways of Kon Knueppel, Tyrese Proctor, and the rest of the roster, which ranks as the strongest in the nation, also per EvanMiya.

The Blue Devils’ defense forces team deeper into the shot clock more than any team in DI. Duke makes it hard for opponents to score inside the arc, with the third-lowest opponent 2pt% shooting. They won’t give up free points, with few fouls and a solid rebounding unit with the tallest average height in America. That’s in large part because of Khaman Maluach and his 7-2 frame. The freshman plays 52 percent of minutes but is one of the most efficient hoopers in basketball with the third-best offensive rating.

The Blue Devils have the 24th-highest field goal attempt rate with their second-chance looks and ball control, and they shoot with the fifth-best effective field goal percentage in basketball. Even away from home, they stayed consistent with shooting, and their offense didn’t falter.

Of course, if Flagg is limited at all, that is a huge detriment to this team. But all things point to Flagg at least being full-go by the Round of 32, which would be when they really need him. This is by far Scheyer’s best squad, and despite losses to Kansas and Kentucky early this season, they dominated the rest of the way, including a win over another title favorite, Auburn.

A concern for Duke could be the lack of competition the Blue Devils faced in the ACC. But that shouldn’t matter for a team with a combination of talent, experience, and the ability to handle the absence of its best player. That’s a recipe that screams Final Four, if not better.

Final Four Picks from Midwest Region

Here are our favorite teams to make the Final Four from the Midwest Region of the 2025 March Madness bracket.

Name	Final Four Pick from Midwest Region
Dan Servodidio	Houston
Mike Zelizo	Tennessee
Ryan Rodeman	Houston
Joe Williams	Clemson

Houston

Kelvin Sampson has somehow gotten the reputation of not showing up in the NCAA Tournament, but people seem quick to forget Houston’s Final Four run in 2021 and Elite 8 appearance in 2022. Houston took a while to find its footing this season, but since Dec. 1, the Cougars have gone 26-1, with their one loss coming in overtime, as they ran through the Big 12.

Houston is known for its defense, but let’s start with the offense. L.J. Cryer, Milos Uzan, and Emmanuel Sharp have given Houston one of their better shooting teams in recent memory, with nearly a 40% perimeter shooting clip. If you’re on team shot volume, Houston leads that charge with the highest field goal rate in the nation, courtesy of their ball control and offensive rebounding rates, both in the top 30 in the country. Let me emphasize that: No team puts up more shots per 100 possessions than the Cougars. For a sport with such offensive volatility, shot quantity is remarkably important in March.

Of course, the Houston defense is pretty good too. They allow very little inside, with the third-best near-proximity defensive shooting percentage and second-best midrange defense. The Cougars allow a good number of threes, but considering that’s the only thing they really allow, it’s not too concerning.

If we’re looking for weaknesses, the ShotQuality folks will pipe up, as Houston attempts more midrange shots than anyone else in the nation. The Cougars are susceptible to opponents getting hot from the perimeter, and despite an undefeated true road record, their early-season neutral-court losses are perhaps concerning for games against non-conference opponents.

There is nothing that can beat effort, and you can make a case that Houston is the highest-effort squad in America. The Cougars were down six with 20 seconds to go against Kansas but eventually won in double overtime with some late clutch moments. This is a team that will never be out of any game they are in, and Houston might have the highest floor of any team in the tournament. The Cougars’ ceiling is yet to be found, but this might be the season they get there, despite all the focus on Auburn and Duke this year.

National Championship Picks

Here are our favorite teams to make the 2025 NCAA Tournament National Championship Game, along with our pick to take home the title.

Name	National Champion Pick
Dan Servodidio	Duke over Michigan State
Mike Zelizo	Florida over Duke
Ryan Rodeman	Auburn over Houston
Joe Williams	Michigan State over Alabama

Favorite Cinderellas (No. 12 Seed or Higher that can Bust Brackets)

Here are our favorite sleepers who could bust brackets this March.

Name	Favorite Cinderella (12 seed or higher)
Dan Servodidio	UC San Diego
Mike Zelizo	Yale
Ryan Rodeman	McNeese
Joe Williams	Akron

UC San Diego

The UC San Diego Tritons burst onto the NCAA Tournament scene in their first year of eligibility after completing their four-year transition to Division I. They boast an eye-popping 30-4 record as Big West championship, entering the tourney with the longest winning streak in hoops. Coach Eric Olen’s squad emerges as one of the tournament’s most intriguing mid-major threats, ranking 36th nationally on KenPom with a balanced attack that excels on both ends of the floor.

Defensively, the Tritons suffocate opponents with elite pressure, forcing teams to the second-highest turnover rate in the nation, leading to momentum-swinging fast breaks off turnovers with the 19th-highest points per possession off steals. They rarely send opponents to the free throw line and keep teams away from the hoop, forcing looks from deep.

Their modern offensive system revolves around relentless pick-and-roll actions while spacing the floor with accurate three-point shooting that accounts for a significant portion of their offensive arsenal. Their catch-and-shoot percentage ranks second-highest in the nation. Leading to 40 percent of their points coming from deep, a top-20 clip.

The backcourt duo of playmakers Hayden Gray and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones orchestrates this attack with contrasting styles: the smaller Gray attacks the paint aggressively while still able to shoot from deep while the 6’6″” Tait-Jones uses his size advantage creatively. The Big West player of the year has come to his own out of New Zealand and draws fouls at one of the highest clips in the nation. Tyler McGhie provides spacing and the ability to get hot from deep, while Nordin Kapic offers a versatile frontcourt option that allows the Tritons to stretch defenses with five-out lineups.

It’s tough to trust a team that hasn’t played a top-50 unit all year. But with their unique offensive system, defensive tenacity, and remarkable ball security, UC San Diego presents a stylistic challenge that could frustrate higher-seeded opponents unprepared for their disciplined execution and deep shooting range.

Yale

Yale earned their auto-bid after cruising through the Ivy League, suffering just one loss in conference all year. Their perimeter shooting is elite, they take care of the ball, and the Ivy rep in the tournament always seems like a tough out come March. Three different players average double-digit scoring and the highlight is John Poulakidas. Few players have better ball control than the 6-6 forward and he’s a capable microwave from deep. Their outside-in defense allows few attempts near the hoop with a top-100 near-proximity percentage. Samson Aletan is an effective shot blocker and Nick Townsend is a do-it-all frontcourt piece that elevates this offense.

Their defense is what leaves more to be desired. They rank outside the top 100 and don’t force many turnovers while allowing 40 percent of opponent points to come from deep. This allows volatile scoring against them and sunk them in a lot of non-conference games.

Which is another concern. In non-conference games, Yale’s efficiency drops further with a sub-150 ranked defense. I’m not sure if their defense will cause any issues in the opening round as a relatively straightforward team to prepare for. But the Ivy has surprised before, and Yale is coming off a tournament win only a year ago. They’ll compete with anyone and everyone, it’s just a matter of their ability to string wins together that seems unlikely.

McNeese

McNeese enters the NCAA Tournament as not just the best team in the Southland Conference but a legitimate mid-major force with a roster that resembles a high-major squad. Under second-year head coach Will Wade, the Cowboys have surged to a 27-6 overall and 19-1 conference record. McNeese has a top-70 offense and defense, making it one of the most balanced mid-majors in the field.

The Cowboys’ offensive philosophy is simple but brutally effective: attack the rim relentlessly. The Cowboys rank 16th in the country in near-proximity shot attempts, converting at a strong 57.5% clip. Their ability to limit turnovers while also forcing takeaways fuels an offense that scores over 1.14 points per possession.

McNeese’s defensive scheme is equally imposing, ranking 18th in the nation in points off breakaway steals, and the high turnover rate helps. They pressure full-court at one of the highest rates in the country and feature a versatile, switch-heavy defensive system designed to cause chaos.

The Cowboys’ formula is clear: pressure, disrupt, and attack. They play fast, force mistakes, and convert in transition. With four players averaging double-digits points, any given player can go off beyond just Javohn Garcia. If their defensive intensity holds up and their deep roster of scorers clicks, McNeese has the potential to make serious noise in March.

It’s tough to forget what they did last year against Gonzaga, barely even competing, but new year, new team. This isn’t just a strong mid-major — this is a dangerous team built to win.

Akron

Coming out of the MAC, Akron enters March Madness with a dynamic yet unpredictable profile. Playing at breakneck speed, the Zips generate abundant scoring opportunities and have a top-35 effective field goal rate. They won’t get to the charity stripe all that often, but they don’t give up the ball easily and manufacture second-chance points.

Their defensive approach forces tough two-pointers and limits second-chance opportunities, but it leaves more to be desired. Nate Johnson, the lone returning starter from last year’s tournament team, provides clutch scoring in tight situations, while Tavari Johnson has stepped up in his junior campaign.

Tournament success hinges on whether Akron’s high-major talent can overcome consistency issues. The Zips only played three teams in the KenPom top 100 and lost to all of them. In 2025, Akron is 21-1 with the ninth-best effective field goal rate, and its offense is playing its best ball of late. At their best, the Zips’ uptempo style and efficient offense make them a genuine bracket-buster candidate capable of surprising higher-seeded opponents.