An awesome event, the 2025 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament is on the horizon and SBS is here with a breakdown of the top four squads poised to make a run this March. Leading into this report, Duke is the favorite after having a stellar season (28-3) and most recently coming off a thrashing of their rival, North Carolina, 82-69 this past weekend. Meanwhile, another top three squad, Houston, is aiming to make a run of its own following a fantastic regular season (27-4) heading into the Big 12 Tournament. Finally, a pair of SEC teams are in the mix as Florida and Auburn are ready for a national championship. The latter squad is especially dangerous as they have been the number one team in the country most of the year, but recently dropped back-to-back games against rival Alabama and Texas A&M.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from the world of NCAA basketball, along with some additional notes and info regarding basketball betting.
| NCAA Basketball March Madness 2025 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | +325 | +325 | +325 |
| Auburn | +350 | +350 | +350 |
| Florida | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| Houston | +800 | +800 | +800 |
Head coach Jon Scheyer’s squad this season has been led by phenomenal freshman Cooper Flagg and has buoyed the Blue Devils to another successful regular season campaign. After starting the season ranked in the top ten, Duke has steadily risen up the ranks to around the second-best team in the country thanks to its fantastic core of players. While the Blue Devils did falter against then No. 1 Kansas back in November, they rebounded with a win over No. 2-ranked Auburn to start December and have run roughshod through the ACC. With an overall mark of 19-1 in the tough ACC, Duke has shown they are clearly the class of the conference and should keep that momentum going through March.
While the Tigers did drop back-to-back games to close the regular season, they still should be proud of their 15-3 mark in the SEC this year, given the fact that the conference is arguably the strongest in the country. Starting conference play with a 9-0 record, their only losses came to No. 6 Florida, the Tide (No. 7) and a physical Aggies team (22). Auburn is coached by veteran head coach Bruce Pearl so the Tigers will be able to rebound heading into the conference tournament thanks to their veteran head coach and talented group of players on their roster. In terms of players to watch, frontcourt star Johni Broome headlines the list and is the key to Auburn making a long postseason run.
Another dynamic team, the Gators have persevered from some controversy surrounding head coach Todd Golden to put together another fantastic season with an overall mark of 27-4. With a perfect mark of 13-0 in non-conference play, Florida is in an excellent position to be a dark horse contender for the national championship. Perhaps the most notable win in their season to date was an obliteration of No. 1 Tennessee at home back in January, 73-43. Another roster that lacks few weaknesses, Florida did have some tough spots in SEC play, but of course has the talent to crush its foe and hang with high-level contenders.
The last team on our list, the Cougars are led by 11th-year head coach Kelvin Sampson and most recently clinched their second straight outright Big 12 regular season championship earlier this month. With a 27-4 overall record and a mark of 19-1 in Big 12 play, the Cougars are a dynamic team who is also battle-tested. Guard LJ Cryer has been a fantastic offensive force for Houston this season and could be the key to knocking off high-level competition thanks to his superb playmaking ability. Forward J’Wan Roberts is another one to watch and is a mismatch problem for smaller players.
While it is very difficult to pick a team to make a strong run through the tournament year-in and year-out, Duke seems to be the squad surging at the right time and have a great opportunity to do some damage this year.
Once you are all up to speed in relation to your NCAA basketball tournament wagers, make sure to check out the excellent array of resources for you at SBS. Of course, for even more insights on college basketball, definitely check out the NCAAB betting sites guide which goes over all of the latest college basketball betting updates and beyond. Additionally, given the context of the NCAA Tournament, the March Madness Odds 2025 breakdown is a fantastic page to bookmark throughout the event for qualified customers. Here you can find all of the latest NCAA Tournament details going on and how you can get into the action. Finally, for those looking to maximize their wagers (and are eligible), look at the best bonus betting sites rundown where you can explore the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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