Basketball and early spring go together like peanut butter and jelly as around the world the month of March is tied to the sport like nothing else. In the NBA, it is the final stretch of the regular season where teams get their final chance to get into the playoffs or improve their position for a more favorable matchup. In Europe’s Euroleague, it is the end of the regular season as well and teams vie for a better spot in the very competitive rankings where one win or even the amount of points scored can be the difference maker. However, it is not really basketball on the professional level that is synonymous with this spring month. It is actually college basketball and March Madness of the NCAA tournament in the United States.
The most anticipated part of the college basketball season in America is upon us as the first game is on schedule today, March 18. For the next month or so, 68 teams will play in a single-elimination tournament format that will decide the NCAA Champion for the 2024/25 season. The championship game is scheduled for April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, but before now and then, plenty of basketball awaits. There is a good reason for the “Madness” monicker of this popular tournament so join us as we explore the bracket and talk about who has the best chance at glory. In the following lines, we also take a look at NCAA College Basketball Predictions and odds since this tournament is a very popular bracket and sports betting opportunity that fans wait for all year long.
What is March Madness?
So what exactly is this college tournament, why is it so big and important and why does it have this rather interesting nickname? The tournament is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments held every spring in the United States. The men’s tournament usually takes place in March and April, while the women’s tournament follows a similar timeline.
The nickname of the tournament describes the excitement, intensity, and unpredictability of the tournament as teams from various colleges and universities compete in a single-elimination format to win the national championship. The tournament begins with 68 teams (for both men’s and women’s tournaments) that are selected based on their performance throughout the season and through a selection process. These teams are divided into four regions, with each region having a bracket of games.
As the tournament progresses, there are usually upsets and surprising victories that create a frenzy of excitement. It is customary for the fans, basketball, general sports, or just wagering enthusiasts, to participate in “bracket challenges” where they predict the outcomes of each game. The final stretch of the tournament leads to the Final Four, and eventually the crowning of a national champion. Before that, it is the First Round, the Second Round, the Sweet 16, and the Elite Eight.
So the term “March Madness” captures the chaotic and thrilling nature of the games which are filled with dramatic moments, buzzer-beaters, overtime comebacks, and passionate fan support that is not even present in the NBA. It is more similar to the historic derbies and long-lasting rivalries of European and South American franchises in football and basketball than it is to the NBA, which is why it is so big nationwide while the NBA is usually just for basketball fans.
There is a great sense of pride for the alumni of the colleges people attended, with many families having multiple generations attend them while keeping the spirit of cheering and supporting their team. Some of the most popular and successful colleges over the years include UCLA, Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ucon, Indiana, and Kansas. Hatred is also there, especially between the fans of these top universities as the fans, and players, cannot stand each other, which only adds to the competition. Also, the top prospects who move onto the NBA Draft usually come from these programs.
The 2025 First Four is Set
As per customs, the First Four will open the tournament where the eight worst-ranked teams paly in four games. First off, it is a battle of the 16th seeds in Alabama State VS St. Francis Red Flash on March 18. Hare, Alabama is the favorite with 1.49 odds over St. Francis. Then there are two more games on March 19. San Diego State Aztecs will play the North Carolina Tar Heels in an 11th-seed duel where UNC is the absolute favorite with 1.48 odds to the Aztecs’ 2.60. In the other game, it is American Eagles with 1.67 odds as the favorites going up against Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers with 2.17 as the underdogs.
Finally, on March 20, the final game of the First Four takes place when the Texas Longhorns play the Xavier Musketeers, where the Texas team is the underdog with 2.29 odds to the Ohio team with 1.60. While many do not believe these games to be worth it, they really could be and are more than television filler. Teams in this position have been known to move on all the way to the Final Four, like VCU in 2011. Three other times, a team went on to the Sweet 16. Make sure to tune into these games and place some bets as they could go down to the wire and cause trouble for the stronger teams the four winners go up against.
The Full Bracket is Almost Complete
While there are four games left to be played before the entire bracket is fully complete, the majority is already familiar and the speculation, predictions, and odds are running rampant across the sporting world. The internet is full of guides and advice on how to fill out your own, but it always comes down to personal preference, historical data, current forms and rosters, and a little bit of subjective favoritism. Some of the matchups are far more interesting than others, but worry not as we talk about most of them here as we examine the games and bring you the favorites and the underdogs.
There is a plethora of games on March 20, the first official day of the tournament. Apart from the one First Four game, there are 9 more First Round games on schedule. The Louisville Cardinals are playing the Creighton Bluejays in a clash of bird-themed uni logos. The Cardinals are favored with 1.66 over 2.19 to win the game. Then, it is the Purdue Boilermakers as the heavy favorites with 1.25 odds that take on the High Point Panthers with 3.85 odds. Two of the most lopsided duels will take place when the Wisconsin Badgers with 1.03 odds play the Montana Grizzlies with 11.00, and in the big-cat matchup between cougars when the Houston Cougars with 1.01 odds face the SIU Edwardsville Cougars with 16.00.
Moving on, the Clemson Tigers are the favorite team in their duel with McNeese State, since their odds by sportsbooks right now are 1.28 and 3.60, respectively. The Brigham Young Cougars are the favorite team when they face the VCU Rams with 2.28, but VCU did overcome greater odds before so never count them out. Then we have the battle of the bulldogs when the Gonzaga Bulldogs (1.37) as the favorites play the Georgia Bulldogs (3.05) as the underdogs (no pun intended). The final game of the day is another heavily one-sided game between the Tennessee Volunteers with 1.02 odds and the Wofford Terriers with 13.00.
On March 21, there are 16 (!) games on the program, a great day for the fans of Online sports betting and wagering. Kansas Jayhawks (1.50) play the Arkansas Razorbacks (2.55), Texas A&M Aggies (1.30) face the Yale Bulldogs (3.45), the Missouri Tigers (1.36) go up against the Drake Bulldogs (3.10), and the UCLA Bruins (1.40) are the favorites against Utah State Aggies (2.90). St. John’s Red Storm (1.02) is a heavy favorite against Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (12.00), the Michigan Wolverines (1.66) play the UC San Diego Tritons (2.19), while Texas Tech Red Raiders (1.04) should have an easy time against North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks (10.00).
The day continues when the Mississippi State Bulldogs with 1.78 odds play the Baylor Bears with 2.01, and in one more lopsided affair, it will be the Alabama Crimson Tide with 1.01 facing Robert Morris Colonials with 14.00. Similarly, Iowa State Cyclones 1.07 will have an easy job against Lipscomb Bisons with 8.20. The Memphis Tigers (2.18) and Colorado State Rams (1.66) face each other as well, as do Saint Mary’s Gaels (1.52) and Vanderbilt Commodores (2.48). In the final two games of the day, it is the favorites for the championship Florida Gators (1.01) and Norfolk State Spartans (16.00) and Maryland Terrapins (1.16) versus Grand Canyon Antelopes (5.00).
The remaining 6 First Round games are on schedule on March 22. Firstly, the Kentucky Wildcats with 1.12 take on the Troy Trojans with 6.00. Then, Marquette Golden Eagles (1.54) face New Mexico Lobos (2.42) while the Arizona Wildcats (1.07) battle it out with Akron Zips (7.80). The Connecticut Huskies (1.49) play the Oklahoma Sooners (2.55) during which the Michigan State Spartans, the heavy favorites with 1.03, start their game against the Bryant Bulldogs with 11.00 odds. The final game of the First Round is between the Oregon Ducks with 1.28 and the Liberty Flames with 3.55.
Second Round games are scheduled for March 22 and 23. Sweet 16 games take place on March 27 and 28. Elite Eight duels are on program on March 29 and 30, with the Final Four taking place on April 5. As of right now, the Duke Blue Devils are the odds frontrunners to take the title with 3.90 odds, followed by the Florida Gators with 4.75, Auburn Tigers with 5.50, and Houston Cougars with 7.50. Stake.com has all of the latest odds ready and waiting.
March Madness and NCAA Basketball FAQ
1. What is a “bracket” in March Madness?
A bracket is a chart that shows the matchups in the tournament with teams facing off in each round. Fans often fill out their brackets trying to predict the winners of each game and wager on who gets the closest. The “perfect bracket” is the ultimate goal when someone guesses the entire tournament.
2. What is the “Final Four”?
The Final Four refers to the last four teams remaining in the tournament after all the rounds. These teams compete for a spot in the national championship game.
3. What is a “Cinderella” story in March Madness?
This refers to a lower-seeded team that unexpectedly advances deep into the tournament, often beating much higher-seeded teams in the process.
4. What is Selection Sunday?
Selection Sunday is the day when the NCAA announces the teams that have been selected to play in the tournament along with their seedings and matchups.
5. What are the seedings in the tournament?
Seedings rank the teams from 1 to 16 in each of the four regions. A #1 seed is considered the strongest while a #16 seed is the lowest-ranked.
6. How is the NCAA Tournament structured?
The tournament is structured as a single-elimination bracket with each round eliminating half of the teams. The rounds include the First Four, First Round, Second Round, Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final Four, and the National Championship game.
7. What is the “First Four”?
The First Four is the initial round of the men’s tournament where the four lowest-ranked at-large teams and the four lowest-ranked automatic qualifiers compete for a spot in the main bracket. There, they go up against some of the best-ranked teams.
8. How are teams selected for the tournament?
Teams are selected based on their performance during the season including conference championships and at-large bids determined by the NCAA selection committee.
9. What is a “bracket buster”?
A “bracket buster” is a team that unexpectedly wins one or multiple games, disrupting many fans’ tournament predictions as they do.
10. What is the significance of “One Shining Moment”?
“One Shining Moment” is a song played during the closing montage of the NCAA tournament. It highlights the best moments and plays and is traditionally associated with the championship game’s conclusion.
11. How long does the NCAA Basketball Tournament last?
The tournament typically lasts about three weeks beginning in mid-to-late-March and concluding with the national championship in early April.
12. When did March Madness start?
The first NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament was held in 1939. The Women’s Tournament began in 1982.
