I picked every game in March Madness bracket. Here's who wins 2025 NCAA Tournament | Estes
It's that time again.
Time for me to brew a bracket, chug the confidence over my selections and then be sick later when it doesn't work out and that team you had, say, losing in the first round makes the Final Four.
This has happened before.
You keep trying, though. It's a new year, and undaunted, I present to you my picks for the entire 2025 NCAA Tournament. Some might say I am too reckless (Auburn losing early?), but most would probably say I was too safe, picking high seeds into the Final Four and putting two obvious selections in the championship game.
But it's honest. I believe Duke and Florida are the two best teams of the 68. I believe the SEC will have its moments, but it won't dominate the tournament.
And yes, I believe I'll probably regret much of this by next weekend.
Be gentle, dear readers:
Who wins March Madness? Predictions, picks for every game
First Four: Off we go
- (11) San Diego State over (11) North Carolina
- (11) Texas over (11) Xavier
- (16) St. Francis over (16) Alabama State
- (16) American over (16) Mount St. Mary's
South Region
Round of 64: The Bisons bow out
- (1) Auburn over (16) St. Francis
- (8) Louisville over (9) Creighton
- (12) UC San Diego over (5) Michigan
- (4) Texas A&M over (13) Yale
- (6) Ole Miss over (11) San Diego State
- (3) Iowa State over (14) Lipscomb
- (10) New Mexico over (7) Marquette
- (2) Michigan State over (15) Bryant
Round of 32: A stunner in Lexington
- (8) Louisville over (1) Auburn
- (4) Texas A&M over (12) UC San Diego
- (3) Iowa State over (6) Ole Miss
- (2) Michigan State over (10) New Mexico
Sweet 16: Cinderella Cards keep dancing
- (8) Louisville over (4) Texas A&M
- (2) Michigan State over (3) Iowa State
Elite Eight: Sparty too tough
- (2) Michigan State over (8) Louisville
West Region
Round of 64: Watch out for Drake
- (1) Florida over (16) Norfolk State
- (8) UConn over (9) Oklahoma
- (5) Memphis over (12) Colorado State
- (4) Maryland over (13) Grand Canyon
- (11) Drake over (6) Missouri
- (3) Texas Tech over (14) UNC Wilmington
- (10) Arkansas over (7) Kansas
- (2) St. John's over (15) Omaha
Round of 32: Pitino bests old pal Calipari
- (1) Florida over (8) UConn
- (4) Maryland over (5) Memphis
- (11) Drake over (3) Texas Tech
- (2) St. John's over (10) Arkansas
Sweet 16: Gators survive a close one
- (1) Florida over (4) Maryland
- (2) St. John's over (11) Drake
Elite Eight: Chomp, chomp
- (1) Florida over (2) St. John's
East Region
Round of 64: 'Dores get past the first one
- (1) Duke over (16) American
- (9) Baylor over (8) Mississippi State
- (5) Oregon over (12) Liberty
- (4) Arizona over (13) Akron
- (6) BYU over (11) VCU
- (3) Wisconsin over (14) Montana
- (10) Vanderbilt over (7) Saint Mary's
- (2) Alabama over (15) Robert Morris
Round of 32: The Tide's football revenge
- (1) Duke over (9) Baylor
- (5) Oregon over (4) Arizona
- (6) BYU over (3) Wisconsin
- (2) Alabama over (10) Vanderbilt
Sweet 16: Devils over Ducks
- (1) Duke over (5) Oregon
- (2) Alabama over (6) BYU
Elite Eight: End of the road for Bama
- (1) Duke over (2) Alabama
Midwest Region
Round of 64: McNeese!
- (1) Houston over (16) SIUE
- (8) Gonzaga over (9) Georgia
- (12) McNeese over (5) Clemson
- (4) Purdue over (13) High Point
- (6) Illinois over (11) Texas
- (3) Kentucky over (14) Troy
- (7) UCLA over (10) Utah State
- (2) Tennessee over (15) Wofford
Round of 32: Big Blue bested
- (1) Houston over (8) Gonzaga
- (4) Purdue over (12) McNeese St.
- (6) Illinois over (3) Kentucky
- (2) Tennessee over (7) UCLA
Sweet 16: Vols fall again in Indy
- (1) Houston over (4) Purdue
- (6) Illinois over (2) Tennessee
Elite Eight: Cougars move on
- (1) Houston over (6) Illinois
Final Four: Two classic games
- Florida over Michigan State
- Duke over Houston
National championship
Duke 78, Florida 77
Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: March Madness predictions for every game in 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket
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