Top seeds have dominated the NCAA Tournament in recent years, which presents a case to back a No. 1 seed to advance all the way through the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket. Thirteen of the past 17 tournament champions have been top seeds, and amazingly, UConn accounts for three of the four titles during that span not won by a top seed. The Huskies are back-to-back champions, including winning as a No. 4 in 2023. As a No. 8 seed this year, however, they could still be 2025 March Madness bracket busters since they’ll have to get past Oklahoma and Florida to make it to the second weekend.
How far will the Huskies advance in the 2025 NCAA bracket and which No. 1 seeds should you back to make it all the way to the Final Four in San Antonio? Before making any 2025 March Madness bracket predictions, be sure to check out the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
Their proven projection model has simulated every game in the tournament 10,000 times. It has absolutely crushed its March Madness picks recently, beating over 91 percent of all CBS Sports brackets in four of the past six tournaments. It was all over UConn’s championship run a year ago and nailed 13 teams in the Sweet 16. It also nailed Alabama’s Cinderella run to the Final Four as a 4-seed.
It knows how to spot an upset as well. The same model has produced brackets that have nailed 24 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016. There’s simply no reason to rely on luck when there’s proven technology to help you dominate your 2025 March Madness pools.
Now, with the 2025 NCAA bracket being revealed, the model is simulating the matchups and its results are in. You can only see it over at SportsLine.
2025 March Madness bracket games to watch
One of the 2025 March Madness matchups to keep an eye on: No. 8 seed Mississippi State vs. No. 9 seed Baylor in the East Region. The Aggies limp into the tournament having lost five of their last seven games, including by 12 points to Missouri in the SEC Tournament. Guard Josh Hubbard leads the team in scoring with 18.7 points per game, though only forward KeShawn Murphy also averages double-digits (11.8 points per game) on this balanced squad. Baylor is led by talented freshman guard VJ Edgecombe (15.0 points per game) and former Miami forward Norchad Omier (15.9). Both teams have been inconsistent this season and picking a winner more confidently is worthy of more due-diligence.
Also in the East Region, BYU vs. VCU figures to be a pivotal 6 vs. 11 matchup. The gap between these teams might not be as much as the seeds would indicate. BYU, the No. 6 seed, has a NET ranking of 25, while VCU is close behind at 31. The Cougars played the better schedule overall, though VCU had a top-100 strength-of-schedule as well, so the A-10 champions won’t be intimidated. The Rams give up just 62 points per game and how that unit fares against a BYU squad that ranks in the top 30 nationally in scoring offense will likely decide this one.
The third matchup to watch in the East Region features No. 3 seed Wisconsin vs. No. 14 seed Montana. The Badgers have three victories over teams that were ranked in the top 10, and they also do something better than the other 363 Division I teams. That is converting from the line, which is paramount in March, as Wisconsin knocks down 83% of its attempts from the charity stripe. Montana, meanwhile, swept the Big Sky regular season and tournament thanks to an offense that does something better than all but one other DI team. Montana ranks second in the nation with a 50.2% field goal percentage, with five of its top seven scorers converting at least 50% from the field. You can see how far all these teams go over at SportsLine.
How to make 2025 NCAA bracket predictions
How far will those major programs go? And which Cinderella teams will make surprising runs through the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket? With the model’s track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it is calling this year before locking in any 2025 NCAA bracket picks.
So what’s the optimal NCAA Tournament bracket 2025? And which 2025 March Madness underdogs will shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine now to see which teams you can back with confidence, all from the model that’s nailed 24 upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception and beat over 91% of players in four of the last six tournaments.
