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| 2025 NCAA printable bracket, schedule for March Madness | NCAA.com |
Rick Pitino continues to demonstrate his remarkable ability to lead teams to the NCAA Tournament. At 72 years old, the head coach has successfully guided his sixth different school, St. John's, to the Round of 64 in the 2025 March Madness bracket. As the No. 2 seed in the West Region, St. John's has a promising opportunity to reach its first Sweet 16 of the 21st century. In just his second year at the helm, Pitino has played a crucial role in the program's swift turnaround, positioning St. John's as a potential favorite among the 2025 March Madness bracket predictions for a deep run.
Should St. John's aspire to reach its first Final Four since 1985, it may need to confront the formidable Florida Gators, who are the No. 1 seed in the West Region as the SEC champions. The SEC has made history by sending a record 14 teams into the 2025 March Madness field. Before finalizing any predictions for the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket, it is essential to consult the expert insights from the proven computer model available at SportsLine.
This reliable projection model has simulated every tournament game 10,000 times and has consistently excelled in its March Madness predictions, surpassing over 91 percent of all CBS Sports brackets in four of the last six tournaments. Last year, it accurately predicted UConn's championship run and identified 13 teams that advanced to the Sweet 16. It also successfully recognized Alabama's Cinderella journey to the Final Four as a 4-seed.
Moreover, the model is adept at identifying potential upsets, having correctly forecasted 24 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since 2016. With proven technology at your disposal, there is no need to rely on luck to dominate your 2025 March Madness pools.
As we anticipate the unveiling of the 2025 NCAA bracket, the model is currently simulating matchups, and the results are available exclusively at SportsLine.
One intriguing matchup to monitor in the 2025 March Madness is the clash between No. 8 seed Mississippi State and No. 9 seed Baylor in the East Region. Both teams boast two of the nation's top young guards. Mississippi State's sophomore, Josh Hubbard, ranked third in the SEC with an impressive 18.7 points per game, while Baylor's freshman, V.J. Edgecombe, standing at 6-foot-5, is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, averaging 15 points per game. Hubbard also ranked second in the SEC for 3-pointers made (104), showcasing the critical role that 3-point shooting guards play in NCAA Tournament success. However, Baylor's guards, all standing 6-4 or taller, hold a size advantage over the 5-11 Hubbard, making their defensive strategy against him pivotal in this 8 vs. 9 contest.
In another significant matchup in the East Region, BYU faces VCU in a crucial 6 vs. 11 showdown. The Cougars, still in search of their first Final Four appearance, have had a strong season with 24 wins, their only loss in the last 10 games being against Houston in the Big 12 Tournament. After a disappointing exit to No. 11 seed Duquesne in the Round of 64 last year, they are eager to avoid a repeat. VCU, on the other hand, boasts a strong record of 28 wins after securing its third Atlantic 10 Tournament title, marking its 20th NCAA Tournament appearance.
Another matchup to watch in the East Region is No. 3 seed Wisconsin against No. 14 seed Montana. The Badgers have been susceptible to upsets in recent NCAA Tournaments under head coach Greg Gard, holding a 1-3 record against double-digit seeds in their last four tournaments, including a loss to James Madison as a 5 vs. 12 seed last year. In 2022, Wisconsin advanced past the first round as a No. 3 seed but faltered against No. 11 seed Iowa State in the second round, ultimately missing the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Badgers are coming off a narrow 59-53 defeat to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game, entering as 3.5-point favorites. Meanwhile, Montana, the Big Sky champions, have won 14 of their last 15 games and possess the third-best shooting percentage in the nation at 49.6%, placing Wisconsin on high upset alert once again.
As we ponder the trajectories of these major programs and the potential for Cinderella teams to make surprising runs through the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket, it is crucial to leverage the model's impressive track record of identifying bracket-busting upsets before finalizing any predictions.
What strategies should you employ for your optimal NCAA Tournament bracket 2025? Which underdog teams are poised to create a stir during March Madness? For expert insights and reliable predictions, visit SportsLine now to discover which teams you can confidently support, backed by a model that has successfully predicted 24 upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception, outperforming over 91% of participants in four of the last six tournaments.