College basketball always seems to emulate the professional game, and lately that has meant a lot more 3-point attempts. The median team in Div. 1 currently takes 40% of their shots from beyond the arc. That sort of shooting volatility is why my March Madness bracket is leaning towards sharp-shooting teams as underdogs and fading favorites that could go cold from deep.
Here is my official bracket for this year's March Madness, where I see the Duke Blue Devils and St. John's Red Storm battling for the NCAA championship.
When you're done reading my picks be sure to check out the March Madness bracket predictions from my colleagues Jason Logan and Douglas Farmer.
Rohit Ponnaiya's March Madness Bracket for 2025
Our best March Madness picks
Most of my regions are pretty chalky with the exception of the South, where I have No. 12 UC San Diego upsetting the turnover-prone Michigan Wolverines and the No. 13 seed Yale grinding out a victory against a Texas A&M squad that can't shoot.
Those upsets will give Auburn a pretty clear path to the title game, unlike their SEC counterparts Florida, who will get tripped up in the group of death out West.
Tennessee's stifling defense will help them win the Midwest, but they aren't as well-rounded as Duke, who will knock them out in the Final Four.
Meanwhile, St. John's will ride their defensive ball pressure and up-tempo offense to upset Auburn, but their 3-point shooting will prove to be a problem in the National Championship, where Duke will be victorious.
- Round 1 upsets: 8
- Sweet 16 Cinderellas: 1
12 UC San Diego - Final Four
1 Auburn vs. 2 St. John's
1 Duke vs. 2 Tennessee - National Championship
Duke over St. John's
East Region picks
Other than an upset with No. 2 Alabama losing in Round 2, the top seeds will generally prevail here with Duke coming out on top.
Round 1 picks
1 Duke vs. 16 American/Mount St. Mary's pick: Duke
8 Mississippi State vs. 9 Baylor pick: Baylor
5 Oregon vs. 12 Liberty pick: Oregon
4 Arizona vs. 13 Akron pick: Arizona
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 Baylor pick: Duke
4 Arizona vs. 5 Oregon pick: Oregon
3 Wisconsin vs. 6 BYU pick: Wisconsin
2 Alabama vs. 7 Saint Mary's pick: Saint Mary's
Sweet 16 picks
1 Duke vs. 5 Oregon pick: Duke
3 Wisconsin vs. 7 Saint Mary's pick: Wisconsin
Elite Eight pick
1 Duke vs. 3 Wisconsin pick: Duke
Midwest Region picks
No big first-round upsets here, but the top seed in the region, Houston, does fall short of the Final Four at the hands of Tennessee.
Round 1 picks
1 Houston vs. 16 SIU Edwardsville pick: Houston
8 Gonzaga vs. 9 Georgia pick: Gonzaga
5 Clemson vs. 12 McNeese pick: Clemson
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: Utah State
2 Tennessee vs. 15 Wofford pick: Tennessee
Round 2 picks
1 Houston vs. 8 Gonzaga pick: Houston
4 Purdue vs. 5 Clemson pick: Clemson
3 Kentucky vs. 6 Illinois pick: Illinois
2 Tennessee vs. 10 Utah State pick: Tennessee
Sweet 16 picks
1 Houston vs. 5 Clemson pick: Houston
2 Tennessee vs. 6 Illinois pick: Tennessee
Elite Eight pick
1 Houston vs. 2 Tennessee pick: Tennessee
South Region picks
Double-digit seeds cause some havoc here, with No. 12 UC San Diego reaching the Sweet 16 and No. 13 Yale winning a first-round game for the second straight year, but it's Auburn — the top overall seed — coming out of this region.
Round 1 picks
1 Auburn vs. 16 Alabama State/St. Francis pick: Auburn
8 Louisville vs. 9 Creighton pick: Creighton
5 Michigan vs. 12 UC San Diego pick: UC San Diego
4 Texas A&M vs. 13 Yale pick: Yale
6 Mississippi vs. 11 San Diego State/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. 9 Creighton pick: Auburn
12 UC San Diego vs. 13 Yale pick: UC San Diego
3 Iowa State vs. 6 Mississippi pick: Mississippi
2 Michigan State vs. 10 New Mexico pick: Michigan State
Sweet 16 picks
1 Auburn vs. 12 UC San Diego pick: Auburn
2 Michigan State vs. 6 Mississippi pick: Michigan State
Elite Eight pick
1 Auburn vs. 2 Michigan State pick: Auburn
West Region picks
Before the tournament I thought that Maryland, Texas Tech, and St. John's could all reach the Final Four... and they're all in the same bracket. I still believe in one of that trio winning the regional final, with Rick Pitino's St. John's squad using its stellar defense to get past TTU and Florida.
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: Missouri
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. 6 Missouri pick: Texas Tech
2 St. John's vs. 10 Arkansas pick: St. John's
Sweet 16 picks
1 Florida vs. 4 Maryland pick: Florida
2 St. John's vs. 3 Texas Tech pick: St. John's
Elite Eight pick
1 Florida vs. 2 St. John's pick: St. John's
Final Four picks and predictions
Final four
1 Auburn vs. 2 St. John's pick: St. John's
1 Duke vs. 2 Tennessee pick: Duke
National Championship
1 Duke vs. 2 St. John's pick: Duke
