There will be more than a few stomach-turning moments for March Madness brackets over the next month.
In those times of queasiness, the best prescription is a dose of calcium carbonate: Not only is that the key ingredient for most antacids; but it’s also the primary mineral in chalk — and you’ll find lots of that in my NCAA Tournament bracket.
Here is my official bracket for this year's March Madness, where No. 1 seeds should see plenty of success.
Jason Logan's March Madness Bracket for 2025
Our best March Madness picks
I have three of the four No. 1 seeds advancing to the Final Four, with No. 3 Texas Tech as the lone outlier. There’s been a notable gap between top No. 1’s (Auburn and Duke) and the rest of the contenders, with quality teams cycling into those final two top-seed spots.
Houston doesn’t draw much pushback in the Midwest Region until the Elite Eight, outside of a possible Round of 32 game with Gonzaga. Duke should also dominate on its way to San Antonio (with Cooper Flagg good to go). Auburn can also coast in a soft South Region.
As for the West Region, there are plenty of pitfalls along the way. Florida is the favorite but could get defending national champ UConn in the Round of 32. I have the West coming down to Maryland and TTU, giving a slight nod to the Red Raiders.
As for the Final Four, we’ve seen Auburn’s aura of invincibility crumble in recent games and I believe Texas Tech can stand toe-to-toe. Duke’s star power will push it past UH. In the final, the Blue Devils add another banner to Cameron Indoor, cementing Flagg’s place in Duke history.
- Round 1 upsets: 8
- Sweet 16 Cinderellas: 4
10 New Mexico
12 UC San Diego
12 McNeese
13 Akron - Final Four
1 Auburn vs. 3 Texas Tech
1 Duke vs. 1 Houston - National Championship
Duke over Texas Tech
East Region picks
No. 13 Akron makes a statement by getting to the Sweet 16, while sixth-seeded BYU makes a run to the Regional Final, but ultimately it's Duke emerging from the East.
Round 1 picks
1 Duke vs. 16 American/Mount St. Mary's pick: Duke
8 Mississippi State vs. 9 Baylor pick: Mississippi State
5 Oregon vs. 12 Liberty pick: Oregon
4 Arizona vs. 13 Akron pick: Akron
6 BYU vs. 11 VCU pick: BYU
3 Wisconsin vs. 14 Montana pick: Wisconsin
7 Saint Mary's vs. 10 Vanderbilt pick: Saint Mary's
2 Alabama vs. 15 Robert Morris pick: Alabama
Round 2 picks
1 Duke vs. 8 Mississippi State pick: Duke
5 Oregon vs. 13 Akron pick: Akron
3 Wisconsin vs. 6 BYU pick: BYU
2 Alabama vs. 7 Saint Mary's pick: Alabama
Sweet 16 picks
1 Duke vs. 13 Akron pick: Duke
2 Alabama vs. 6 BYU pick: BYU
Elite Eight pick
1 Duke vs. 6 BYU pick: BYU
Midwest Region picks
Another Cinderella run happens here, with No. 12 McNeese reaching the second weekend, but again it's the No. 1 seed coming out on top, with Houston topping third-seeded Kentucky.
Round 1 picks
1 Houston vs. 16 SIU Edwardsville pick: Houston
8 Gonzaga vs. 9 Georgia pick: Gonzaga
5 Clemson vs. 12 McNeese pick: McNeese
4 Purdue vs. 13 High Point pick: Purdue
6 Illinois vs. 11 Xavier/Texas pick: Illinois
3 Kentucky vs. 14 Troy pick: Kentucky
7 UCLA vs. 10 Utah State pick: UCLA
2 Tennessee vs. 15 Wofford pick: Tennessee
Round 2 picks
1 Houston vs. 8 Gonzaga pick: Houston
4 Purdue vs. 12 McNeese pick: McNeese
3 Kentucky vs. 6 Illinois pick: Kentucky
2 Tennessee vs. 7 UCLA pick: Tennessee
Sweet 16 picks
1 Houston vs. 12 McNeese pick: Houston
2 Tennessee vs. 3 Kentucky: Kentucky
Elight Eight pick
1 Houston vs. 3 Kentucky pick: Houston
South Region picks
I have two double-digit seeds winning in the first round here — with both reaching the Sweet 16. No. 10 New Mexico actually takes it one step further, losing in the Regional Final to Auburn, the top overall seed in the bracket.
Round 1 picks
1 Auburn vs. 16 Alabama State pick: Auburn
8 Louisville vs. 9 Creighton pick: Louisville
5 Michigan vs. 12 UC San Diego pick: UC San Diego
4 Texas A&M vs. 13 Yale pick: Texas A&M
6 Mississippi vs. 11 UNC pick: Mississippi
3 Iowa State vs. 14 Lipscomb pick: Iowa State
7 Marquette vs. 10 New Mexico pick: New Mexico
2 Michigan State vs. 15 Bryant pick: Michigan State
Round 2 picks
1 Auburn vs. 8 Louisville pick: Auburn
4 Texas A&M vs 12 UC San Diego: UC San Diego
3 Iowa State vs. 6 Mississippi pick: Mississippi
2 Michigan State vs. 10 New Mexico: New Mexico
Sweet 16 picks
1 Auburn vs. 12 UC San Diego pick: Auburn
6 Mississippi State vs. 10 New Mexico pick: New Mexico
Elite Eight pick
1 Auburn vs. 10 New Mexico pick: Auburn
West Region picks
Finally, a one-seed failing to deliver, as I have Florida losing in the Sweet 16, and an Elite Eight matchup between No. 3 Texas Tech and No. 4 Maryland — with the Red Raiders riding on to the Final Four.
Round 1 picks
1 Florida vs. 16 Norfolk State pick: Florida
8 UConn vs. 9 Oklahoma pick: UConn
5 Memphis vs. 12 Colorado State pick: Colorado State
4 Maryland vs. 13 Grand Canyon pick: Maryland
6 Missouri vs. 11 Drake pick: Drake
3 Texas Tech vs. 14 UNC Wilmington pick: Texas Tech
7 Kansas vs. 10 Arkansas pick: Arkansas
2 St. John's vs. 15 Omaha pick: St. John's
Round 2 picks
1 Florida vs. 8 UConn pick: Florida
4 Maryland vs. 12 Colorado State pick: Maryland
3 Texas Tech vs. 11 Drake pick: Texas Tech
2 St. John's vs. 10 Arkansas pick: St. John's
Sweet 16 picks
1 Florida vs. 4 Maryland pick: Maryland
2 St. John's vs. 3 Texas Tech pick: Texas Tech
Elight Eight pick
3 Texas Tech vs. 4 Maryland pick: Texas Tech
Final Four picks and predictions
Final four
1 Auburn vs. 3 Texas Tech pick: Texas Tech
1 Duke vs. 1 Houston pick: Duke
National Championship
3 Texas Tech vs. 1 Duke pick: Duke
