The wait is over—March Madness is back! The 2025 NCAA Men’s Tournament bracket has officially dropped, and the road to glory is paved with powerhouse programs, Cinderella hopefuls, and historic stakes. Headlining this year’s field are four No. 1 seeds: Auburn (South), Duke (East), Houston (Midwest), and Florida (West), with the Tigers securing the coveted top overall seed.
But the real story? The SEC’s jaw-dropping 14 bids, smashing the previous NCAA record. From bracket-busting underdogs to title favorites, here’s your ultimate guide to the chaos ahead.
Bracket Breakdown: Regions, upset alerts, and must-watch games
South Region: Auburn’s redemption quest
The Tigers (28-5) enter as the No. 1 overall seed despite a rocky finish, banking on their nation-leading 16 Quad 1 wins. Star big man Johni Broome anchors a team hungry to deliver Auburn’s first-ever championship. But watch out for No. 3 Iowa State and defensive stalwart Tamin Lipsey, lurking as a potential Sweet 16 roadblock.
First-round fireworks:
No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 UNC/San Diego State: A play-in survivor (UNC?) could test the Rebels’ shaky perimeter defense.
No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 New Mexico: The Lobos’ backcourt duo (Donovan Dent & Jaelen House) vs. Marquette’s Tyler Kolek—a clash of tempo titans.
East Region: Duke’s blue blood ambitions
Duke (31-3) boasts the nation’s top margin of victory (20.8 PPG) and a roster dripping with NBA talent. If Cooper Flagg’s ankle holds, the Blue Devils are title favorites. But No. 2 Alabama, led by Mark Sears’ sharpshooting, looms as a potential Elite Eight nightmare.
Sleeper Alert: No. 12 Liberty, facing No. 5 Oregon, could ride Kyle Rode’s three-point barrage to a first-round stunner.
Midwest Region: Houston’s defense-first grind
Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars (30-4) stifle opponents with the nation’s No. 1 defense. But a potential second-round clash with No. 8 Gonzaga (Graham Ike vs. Jamal Shead? Yes, please) could test their resolve. Meanwhile, No. 2 Tennessee eyes redemption after last year’s Elite Eight exit.
Upset Watch: No. 12 McNeese (led by Shahada Wells) vs. No. 5 Clemson. The Cowboys’ frenetic pace could overwhelm the Tigers’ methodical attack.
West Region: Florida’s Gator chomp
Florida (27-6) rides Walter Clayton Jr.’s clutch gene and a dominant SEC title run to the No. 1 seed. But No. 2 St. John’s (Rick Pitino’s revamped roster) and No. 3 Texas Tech (Pop Isaacs’ scoring sprees) lurk as bracket wreckers.
Must-See TV: No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Arkansas – Bill Self vs. John Calipari? Yes, that rivalry just reignited.
Odds and Predictions: Who holds the edge?
Title Favorites: Florida (+350), Duke (+360), Auburn (+400) (via BetMGM).
Cinderella Candidates: No. 12 Colorado State (West) and No. 11 Drake (Midwest) boast top-40 offenses—prime giant-slayer material.
SportsLine’s model picks:
Tennessee Over Kentucky (Sweet 16): The Vols’ veteran core (Zakai Zeigler’s 7.3 APG) outlasts a banged-up Wildcats squad.
Clemson Stuns Purdue: The Tigers’ stifling defense (65.7 PPG allowed) neutralizes Purdue’s shaky backcourt.
Conference Dominance
SEC: 14 bids (record), led by Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama.
Big Ten: 8 bids, with Purdue and Illinois carrying the torch.
Cinderella Conferences: The WCC (Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s) and Mountain West (SDSU, New Mexico) eye deep runs.
This year’s bracket is a minefield of storylines: Will Auburn’s brutal schedule pay off? Can Duke’s freshman phenoms handle the pressure? And will the SEC finally end its 13-year title drought? One thing’s certain: madness awaits.