March Madness first round predictions: NCAA bracket picks for every men’s game

March Madness is now officially set to begin, as the first round of the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament gets underway Thursday afternoon, and will last through late Friday night.

A two-day span in which 32 games will be played in all, the first round of the NCAA Tournament is historically one of the more anticipated times of year on the sports calendar, not only due to the non-stop action, but also the multiple upsets that March Madness' seems to bring annually.

So, ahead of the action officially beginning Thursday afternoon with the Round of 64, why not make some picks as to which teams will advance to play this weekend in each region of the bracket to pair with our previous Final Four predictions?

Here are predictions for every first round men's NCAA Tournament game that will be played Thursday and Friday.

Men's March Madness first round predictions - South Region

No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 16 Alabama State - Prediction: Auburn
No. 8 Louisville vs. No. 9 Creighton - Prediction: Louisville
No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 UC San Diego - Prediction: Michigan
No. 4 Texas A&M vs. No. 13 Yale - Prediction: Texas A&M
No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 North Carolina - Prediction: North Carolina
No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 14 Lipscomb - Prediction: Iowa State
No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 New Mexico - Prediction: Marquette
No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Bryant - Prediction: Michigan State

Starting with the South Region, top-seeded Auburn is expected to win their first round matchup by a sizable margin of victory, while Michigan State is also a big favorite as well. As for a potential upset to watch, the No. 6 vs. No. 11 matchup between Ole Miss and North Carolina is an intriguing one, while the best game of the South Region first round could end up being the 8/9 when Louisville and Creighton collide.

Men's March Madness first round predictions - West Region

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Norfolk State - Prediction: Florida
No. 8 UConn vs. No. 9 Oklahoma - Prediction: UConn
No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 12 Colorado State - Prediction: Memphis
No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon - Prediction: Maryland
No. 6 Missouri vs. No. 11 Drake - Prediction: Missouri
No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 UNC Wilmington - Prediction: Texas Tech
No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Arkansas - Prediction: Kansas
No. 2 St. John's vs. No. 15 Omaha - Prediction: St. John's

In the West Region, top seeds Florida and St. John's should cruise to victories, but aside from those two, there are multiple games in this past of the first round bracket that could go either way. The first round game to watch in the West Region might also be the No. 7 vs. No. 10 showdown between Kansas and Arkansas, one that pits a coaching matchup of Bill Self against John Calipari.

Men's March Madness first round predictions - East Region

No. 1 Duke vs No. 16 Mount St. Mary's - Prediction: Duke
No. 8 Mississippi State vs. No. 9 Baylor - Prediction: Mississippi State
No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Liberty - Prediction: Oregon
No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 Akron - Prediction: Arizona
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 VCU - Prediction: BYU
No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Montana - Prediction: Wisconsin
No. 7 Saint Mary's vs. No. 10 Vanderbilt - Prediction: Saint Mary's
No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 15 Robert Morris - Prediction: Alabama

Home to the Alabama Crimson Tide, the East Region first round is likely headlined by a No. 8 vs. No. 9 showdown between Mississippi State and Baylor. Duke and Alabama are also big favorites as the top seeds, while the pick to advance against the Crimson Tide in the second round is Saint Mary's.

Men's March Madness first round predictions - Midwest Region

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 SIUE - Prediction: Houston
No. 8 Gonzaga vs. No. 9 Georgia - Prediction: Gonzaga
No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 12 McNeese - Prediction: Clemson
No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 13 High Point - Prediction: Purdue
No. 6 Illinois vs. No. 11 Xavier - Prediction: Illinois
No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Troy - Prediction: Kentucky
No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Utah State - Prediction: UCLA
No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Wofford - Prediction: Tennessee

Lastly, the Midwest Region has a few games to keep an eye on, one of which is No. 5 Clemson facing off against No. 12 McNeese. Houston and Tennessee should also win as top seeds, while the Gonzaga vs. Georgia matchup of the Bulldogs in the 8/9 could be intriguing as well.

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: March Madness predictions: First round picks for men’s NCAA bracket

1d 11:45 AM ET ago

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