Mar 17, 2025, 12:00 PM ET
The 2025 men’s NCAA tournament is set to tip off with 68 teams looking to raise a banner and write their name into college basketball history. The Auburn Tigers, the overall No. 1 seed in the South, are looking to avenge their SEC tournament loss and claim the title as the best team in the country.
The SEC made a big statement in sending 14 teams to the Big Dance but faces stark competition from a formidable Houston team and the return of a healthy Cooper Flagg to the Duke Blue Devils.
Familiar favorites such as North Carolina, UConn and Gonzaga are back in the Dance, as well as St. John’s, which after missing the tournament last year made a dominant run through the Big East.
Would it be March without some upsets? Underdogs such as St. Mary’s, Memphis and Colorado State made impressive mid-major runs this season and are ready to shock the world and bust some brackets.
Here are the lines, spreads and totals from each of the opening-round matchups.
Odds are accurate as of publication time. All times Eastern. For the latest odds, go to ESPN BET.
Tuesday — First Four
(16) St. Francis (PA) Red Flash
(16) Alabama State Hornets -3.5
South Region 6:40 p.m. UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
St. Francis (PA): 16-17, 8-8 in NEC play
Alabama State: 19-15, 12-6 in SWAC play
Moneyline: Alabama State (-175), St. Francis (PA) (+150)
Total: 142.5
BPI projection: Alabama State by 2.1, straight up: 58.4%
(11) North Carolina Tar Heels -3.5
South Region 9:10 p.m. UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
North Carolina: 22-13, 13-7 in ACC play
San Diego State: 21-9, 14-6 in MW play
Moneyline: North Carolina (-185), San Diego State (+155)
Total: 142.5
BPI projection: North Carolina by 4.4, straight up: 67.1%
Wednesday — First Four
(16) Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers
(16) American University Eagles -2.5
East Region 6:40 p.m. UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
Mount St. Mary’s: 22-12, 12-8 in MAAC play
American University: 22-12, 13-5 in PAT play
Moneyline: American University (-145), Mount St. Mary’s (+125)
Total: 131.5
BPI projection: American University by 0.9, straight up: 53.4%
(11) Xavier Musketeers -2.5
(11) Texas Longhorns
Midwest Region 9:10 p.m. UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
Xavier: 21-11, 13-7 in Big East play
Texas: 19-15, 6-12 in SEC play
Moneyline: Xavier (-150), Texas (+130)
Total: 149.5
BPI projection: Texas by 0.9, straight up: 53.7%
Odds are accurate as of publication time. All times Eastern. For the latest odds, go to ESPN BET.
Thursday — Round 1
(9) (8) Louisville Cardinals -2.5
South Region 12:15 p.m. Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Creighton: 24-10, 15-5 in Big East play
Louisville: 27-7, 18-2 in ACC play
Money line: Louisville (-145), Creighton (+125)
Total: 145.5
BPI projection: Creighton by 0.6, straight up: 52.5%
(13) High Point Panthers
(4) Purdue Boilermakers -8.5
Midwest Region 12:40 p.m. Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, Rhode Island
High Point: 29-5, 14-2 in Big South play
Purdue: 22-11, 13-7 in Big Ten play
Moneyline: Purdue (-400), High Point (+300)
Total: 153.5
BPI projection: Purdue by 9.4, straight up: 81.8%
(14) Montana Grizzlies
(3) Wisconsin Badgers -16.5
East Region 1:30 p.m. Ball Arena, Denver
Montana: 25-9, 15-3 in Big Sky play
Wisconsin: 26-8, 13-7 in Big Ten play
Moneyline: Wisconsin (-2500), Montana (+1100)
Total: 149.5
BPI projection: Wisconsin by 2.5, straight up: 59.8%
(16) (1) Houston Cougars -28.5
Midwest Region 2 p.m. INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, Kansas
SIU Edwardsville: 22-11, 13-7 in OVC play
Houston: 30-4, 19-1 in Big 12 play
Moneyline: Houston (-100000), SIU Edwardsville (+4000)
Total: 127.5
BPI projection: Houston by 30.1, straight up: 99.2%
(12) McNeese Cowboys
(5) Clemson Tigers -7.5
Midwest Region 3:15 p.m. Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, Rhode Island
McNeese: 27-6, 19-1 in Southland play
Clemson: 27-6, 18-2 in ACC play
Moneyline: Clemson (-340), McNeese (+270)
Total: 134.5
BPI projection: Clemson by 8.6, straight up: 79.8%
(11) VCU Rams
(6) BYU Cougars -2.5
East Region 4:05 p.m. Ball Arena, Denver
VCU: 27-6, 15-3 in A-10 play
BYU: 24-9, 14-6 in Big 12 play
Moneyline: BYU (-150), VCU (+130)
Total: 143.5
BPI projection: VCU by 5.8, straight up: 71.7%
(9) Georgia Bulldogs
(8) Gonzaga Bulldogs -6.5
Midwest Region 4:35 p.m. INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, Kansas
Georgia: 20-12, 8-10 in SEC play
Gonzaga: 25-8, 14-4 in WCC play
Moneyline: Gonzaga (-275), Georgia (+225)
Total: 151.5
BPI projection: Gonzaga by 5.7, straight up: 71.3%
(15) Wofford Terriers
(2) Tennessee Volunteers -18.5
Midwest Region 6:50 p.m. Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Wofford: 19-15, 10-8 in SoCon play
Tennessee: 27-6, 12-6 in SEC play
Moneyline: Tennessee (-6000), Wofford (+1800)
Total: 133.5
BPI projection: Tennessee by 19.4, straight up: 95.7%
(10) Arkansas Razorbacks
(7) Kansas Jayhawks -4.5
West Region 7:10 p.m. Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, Rhode Island
Arkansas: 20-13, 8-10 in SEC play
Kansas: 21-12, 11-9 in Big 12 play
Moneyline: Kansas (-200), Arkansas (+170)
Total: 145.5
BPI projection: Kansas by 5.6, straight up: 71%
(13) Yale Bulldogs
(4) Texas A&M Aggies -7.5
South Region 7:25 p.m. Ball Arena, Denver
Yale: 21-7, 13-1 in Ivy play
Texas A&M: 22-10, 11-7 in SEC play
Moneyline: Texas A&M (-300), Yale (+250)
Total: 141.5
BPI projection: Yale by 6.1, straight up: 72.6%
(11) Drake Bulldogs
(6) Missouri Tigers -6.5
West Region 7:35 p.m. INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, Kansas
Drake: 30-3, 17-3 in MVC play
Missouri: 22-11, 10-8 in SEC play
Moneyline: Missouri (-275), Drake (+225)
Total: 133.5
BPI projection: Missouri by 6.2, straight up: 72.9%
(10) Utah State Aggies
(7) UCLA Bruins -4.5
Midwest Region 9:25 p.m. Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Utah State: 26-7, 15-5 in MW play
UCLA: 22-10, 13-7 in Big Ten play
Moneyline: UCLA (-200), Utah State (+170)
Total: 143.5
BPI projection: UCLA by 3.1, straight up: 62.1%
(15) Omaha Mavericks
(2) St. John’s Red Storm -18.5
West Region 9:45 p.m. Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, Rhode Island
Omaha: 22-12, 13-3 in Summit play
St. John’s: 30-4, 18-2 in Big East play
Moneyline: St. John’s (-5000), Omaha (+1500)
Total: 148.5
BPI projection: St. John’s by 21, straight up: 96.6%
(12) UC San Diego Tritons
(5) Michigan Wolverines -2.5
South Region 10 p.m. Ball Arena, Denver
UC San Diego: 30-4, 18-2 in Big West play
Michigan: 24-9, 14-6 in Big Ten play
Moneyline: Michigan (-150), UC San Diego (+130)
Total: 141.5
BPI projection: Michigan by 4.3, straight up: 66.6%
(14) (3) Texas Tech Red Raiders -15.5
West Region 10:10 p.m. INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, Kansas
UNC Wilmington: 27-7, 14-4 in CAA play
Texas Tech: 25-8, 15-5 in Big 12 play
Moneyline: Texas Tech (-3000), UNC Wilmington (+1200)
Total: 143.5
BPI projection: Texas Tech by 15.5, straight up: 92.3%
Odds are accurate as of publication time. All times Eastern. For the latest odds, go to ESPN BET.
Friday — Round 1
(9) Baylor Bears
(8) Mississippi State Bulldogs -1.5
East Region 12:15 p.m. Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
Baylor: 19-14, 10-10 in Big 12 play
Mississippi State: 21-12, 8-10 in SEC play
Moneyline: Mississippi State (-120), Baylor (Even)
Total: 143.5
BPI projection: Baylor by 2.9, straight up: 61.4%
(15) (2) Alabama Crimson Tide -22.5
East Region 12:40 p.m. Rocket Arena, Cleveland
Robert Morris: 26-8, 15-5 in Horizon play
Alabama: 25-8, 13-5 in SEC play
Moneyline: Alabama (-7500), Robert Morris (+2000)
Total: 166.5
BPI projection: Alabama by 21, straight up: 96.7%
(14) Lipscomb Bisons
(3) Iowa State Cyclones -13.5
South Region 1:30 p.m. Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
Lipscomb: 25-9, 14-4 in ASUN play
Iowa State: 24-9, 13-7 in Big 12 play
Moneyline: Iowa State (-1600), Lipscomb (+800)
Total: 143.5
BPI projection: Iowa State by 15.6, straight up: 92.4%
(12) Colorado State Rams -2.5
(5) Memphis Tigers
West Region 2 p.m. Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
Colorado State: 25-9, 16-4 in MW play
Memphis: 28-5, 16-2 in American play
Moneyline: Colorado State (-145), Memphis (+125)
Total: 145.5
BPI projection: Memphis by 6.6, straight up: 74.3%
(10) (7) Saint Mary’s Gaels -4.5
East Region 3:15 p.m. Rocket Arena, Cleveland
Vanderbilt: 20-12, 8-10 in SEC play
Saint Mary’s: 28-5, 17-1 in WCC play
Moneyline: Saint Mary’s (-195), Vanderbilt (+165)
Total: 136.5
BPI projection: Saint Mary’s by 4.1, straight up: 65.8%
(13) Grand Canyon Lopes
(4) Maryland Terrapins -10.5
West Region 4:35 p.m. Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
Grand Canyon: 26-7, 13-3 in WAC play
Maryland: 25-8, 14-6 in Big Ten play
Moneyline: Maryland (-650), Grand Canyon (+425)
Total: 150.5
BPI projection: Maryland by 11.4, straight up: 86.1%
(16) (1) Florida Gators -28.5
West Region 6:50 p.m. Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
Norfolk State: 24-10, 11-3 in MEAC play
Florida: 29-4, 14-4 in SEC play
Moneyline: Off
Total: 154.5
BPI projection: Florida by 0.5, straight up: 52%
(14) Troy Trojans
(3) Kentucky Wildcats -10.5
Midwest Region 7:10 p.m. Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
Troy: 23-10, 13-5 in Sun Belt play
Kentucky: 22-11, 10-8 in SEC play
Moneyline: Kentucky (-600), Troy (+400)
Total: 152.5
BPI projection: Kentucky by 13.1, straight up: 89%
(10) New Mexico Lobos
(7) Marquette Golden Eagles -3.5
South Region 7:25 p.m. Rocket Arena, Cleveland
New Mexico: 26-7, 17-3 in MW play
Marquette: 23-10, 13-7 in Big East play
Moneyline: Marquette (-175), New Mexico (+150)
Total: 152.5
BPI projection: Marquette by 5.4, straight up: 70.4%
(13) Akron Zips
(4) Arizona Wildcats -13.5
East Region 7:35 p.m. Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
Akron: 28-6, 17-1 in MAC play
Arizona: 22-12, 14-6 in Big 12 play
Moneyline: Arizona (-1400), Akron (+750)
Total: 166.5
BPI projection: Arizona by 15.9, straight up: 92.7%
(9) Oklahoma Sooners
(8) UConn Huskies -4.5
West Region 9:25 p.m. Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
Oklahoma: 20-13, 6-12 in SEC play
UConn: 23-10, 14-6 in Big East play
Moneyline: UConn (-195), Oklahoma (+165)
Total: 146.5
BPI projection: UConn by 5.3, straight up: 69.9%
(15) Bryant Bulldogs
(2) Michigan State Spartans -18.5
South Region 10 p.m. Rocket Arena, Cleveland
Bryant: 23-11, 14-2 in Am. East play
Michigan State: 27-6, 17-3 in Big Ten play
Moneyline: Michigan State (-5000), Bryant (+1600)
Total: 150.5
BPI projection: Michigan State by 17.1, straight up: 93.9%
(12) Liberty Flames
(5) Oregon Ducks -6.5
East Region 10:10 p.m. Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
Liberty: 28-6, 13-5 in C-USA play
Oregon: 24-9, 12-8 in Big Ten play
Moneyline: Oregon (-300), Liberty (+250)
Total: 140.5
BPI projection: Oregon by 7.1, straight up: 75.8%
