2025 Men's NCAA Tournament Bracket Predictions
Updated: Monday, March 17, 2025Who will go on a six-game run and cut down the nets in San Antonio next month?
Or seven games?
Eight teams will need to win an extra game to win it all as they play on Tuesday or Wednesday as part of the First Four, the four play-in games to qualify as the 11th or 16th seed.
While no First Four team has ever won a championship, VCU advanced from the First Four to the Final Four back in 2011. A decade later, UCLA went on the same First Four to Final Four run in 2021.
Fairleigh Dickinson did not go from the First Four to the Final Four in 2023. After beating Texas Southern in their First Four matchup, they went on to stun Purdue in the second-ever 16-over-1 upset in tournament history.
Two First Four matchups will determine the 11th seed. In the South Region, San Diego State will play North Carolina, the last team in. In the Midwest Region, Texas, who has one of the best players (Tre Johnson) in the country, will play Xavier.
The other two matchups that will determine the 16th seed. American will face off against Mount St. Mary's in the East Region and St. Francis (PA) will face Alabama State in the South Region.
Final Four Teams: East: Duke; South: Auburn; Midwest: Tennessee; West: Florida
First-Round upsets (12th seed or higher): UC San Diego, Colorado State, High Point
[Click to expand to view full bracket projection.]
