The field is set for the 2025 NCAA March Madness Tournament! The 68 teams have been selected, and the first four tip off on Tuesday, while the Round of 64 tip off on Thursday. The Auburn Tigers got the #1 overall seed in the tournament and get the #1 seed for the South Region of the tournament. Let’s take a look at the 2025 March Madness bracket South Region best bets and predictions.
San Diego State and North Carolina will play Tuesday as part of the “first four” to determine the #11 seed for the south bracket and the right to play #6 Ole Miss. Alabama State and Saint Francis will also play Tuesday for the right to be the #16 team and play #1 Auburn.
Here are the 18 teams that made the South Region of the bracket and who they’ll play. I’ll take a look at and pick each first-round game, as well as make my Sweet 16 picks from this region.
2025 March Madness Bracket South Region Best Bets and Predictions
1. Auburn (28-5)
16. Alabama State/Saint Francis
8. Louisville (27-7)
9. Creighton (24-10)
5. Michigan (25-9)
12. UC San Diego (30-4)
4. Texas A&M (22-10)
13. Yale (22-7)
6. Ole Miss (22-11)
11. San Diego State/North Carolina
3. Iowa State (24-9)
14. Lipscomb (25-9)
7. Marquette (23-10)
10. New Mexico (26-7)
2. Michigan State (27-6)
15. Bryant (23-11)
2025 March Madness Bracket South Region Best Bets and Predictions
(8) Louisville vs (9) Creighton Thursday 12:15
Creighton is a perennial tournament team that makes it to at least the second round. They’ve done so in three of the last four seasons, while Louisville is in its first tournament in five seasons. Creighton gave St. John’s a run for their money in the Big East Tournament Championship game. They have depth and experience with Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth. The Bluejays not only cover, but win.
Pick: Creighton Blue Jays +2.5 (-120)
(4) Texas A&M vs (13) Yale Thursday 7:25
Yale is no stranger to upsets in March. They knocked off Auburn in the first round last year and have won 15 of their last 16 games. Guard John Poulakidas shined for the team in last year’s upset, and he’ll be the key to their chances this year. They may not win it, but they’ll keep it close.
The Aggies finished fifth in the loaded SEC but fell short early in the tournament against a tough Texas team. Watch out for them sleepwalking coming into this one.
Pick: Yale Bulldogs +7.5 (-110)
(5) Michigan (12) UC San Diego Thursday 10:00
#12 seeds over #5 seeds- that’s always the big one that busts brackets early. And that could be the case in the South Region. The Wolverines are hot off a Big 10 Tournament Championship, running through one of the toughest conferences in the nation. With two 7-footers, they are a matchup nightmare and peaking at just the right time, which can be scary.
UC San Diego is no slouch of an opponent, though. They are 30-4 on the season and are 36th in KenPom, Big West Conference Champions. UCSD was considered by many to be the most dangerous 12 seed. We’ve seen this story before: a team goes on a magical conference tourney run and then falls. If the Tritons don’t win, I think they’ll keep it close.
Pick: UC San Diego Tritons +2.5 (-118)
2025 March Madness Bracket South Region Best Bets and Predictions
(3) Iowa State vs (14) Lipscomb Friday 1:30
This one is simple for me, and it comes down to depth. Iowa State is a deep team. They’ll be without star Keshon Gilbert, but this is when everyone else steps up.
Lipscomb has certainly had an impressive run. They are a smaller team, that likes to slow the game down. The problem is, if they can’t slow it down. It’ll be hard for them to keep it close. That’s how I see this one playing out.
Pick: Iowa State -14.5 (-102)
(7) Marquette vs (10) New Mexico Friday 7:25
This should be a close one whichever way it goes. When that is the case, you have to take the underdog. Marquette had impressive wins this season but struggled in the Big East Tournament. They are just 90th in the nation in scoring and only shoot 32.5% from 3-point.
New Mexico, coached by Rick Pitino’s son, Richard, is in the second tournament in a row. Donovan Dent is one of the nation’s best point guards, averaging north of 20 points per game on just under 50 percent shooting. The Lobos are also a big team with three guys 6-9 or taller.
Pick: New Mexico Lobos +3.5 (-110)
(2) Michigan State vs (15) Bryant Friday 10:00
There are always a few blowouts in the first round, and this feels like one of them. This Michigan State team is for real, and losing in the Big 10 tournament may be the best thing that could have happened to them. With a coach like Tom Izzo, he knows how to use that to motivate a team.
Michigan State is a team expected to compete for the title, and while Bryant is capable of scoring, it’s going to be tough to keep up with a team like this. The Spartans will roll in the first round.
Pick: Michigan State -18.5 (-110)
Sweet 16 Predictions
Auburn
Iowa State
Michigan State
UC San Diego
Not unexpected for Auburn, Michigan State, and Iowa State to get through, but the way the bracket is set up I don’t see them having big upsets. The part that could result in the big upset is if Yale can beat Texas A&M and Michigan loses to UC San Diego; that’s the part of this bracket that seems like it could provide the biggest upsets. A bonus pick for you, give me Michigan State to win it all at 22/1.
