2025 March Madness predictions: NCAA bracket expert picks against the spread, odds in Thursday’s Round 1 games

The 2025 NCAA Event Initiates its Primary day of wall-to-wall action with Primary-Stage Contests from all four regions with 16 Contests on Thursday . Upsets, buzzer beaters and thrilling highlights will fill our day Beginning soon, and if your bracket is set to be busted Timely there’s always chances to get back in the action with some best bets. 

On a day loaded with action from the Primary tip-off between No. 8 Louisville and No. 9 Creighton at 12:15 p.m. ET on CBS to the nightcap between No. 3 Texas Tech and No. 14 UNC Wilmington at 10:10 p.m. ET on TruTV, they’re plenty to choose from when it comes to expert picks. We’ve crunched the numbers, broken down the matchups and Secured our five favorite bets of the day. They include a Duo of underdogs capable of advancing in the bracket, a fan-forward rooting angle for points in an Timely game and riding a conference Event champion to keep the momentum going into the Big Dance. 

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Odds via SportsLine consensus | All times Eastern 

2025 NCAA Event bracket predictions: March Madness expert picks, winners, upsets, favorites to Secure

Kyle Boone

(3) Wisconsin vs. (14) Montana 

1:30 p.m. on TNT | March Madness Live 

One line of thinking might be to Foresee a Unhurried Begin and lower scoring in the Timely tip out of Denver, but that would ignore the type of Clubs involved and how they Game up against Every other. Wisconsin should be able Picking its number against a Montana Club that was already middling defensively in Big Sky Shift and faces a big Leap up in Event against this new edition of the Badgers. Since Montana’s best chance to spring an Surprise is to try and get its Charge going — something that’s very possible as the Grizzlies have a Duo of Sturdy shooters that can Cosmos the floor — I think we see a higher scoring affair. The over cashed at a 61% rate in road or neutral situations for both Clubs this year, and I think we get another here on Thursday. Picking: Over 151.5 

(5) Clemson vs. (12) McNeese 

3:15 p.m. on TruTV | March Madness Live 

There’s a Plenty of talk about the future of McNeese Mentor Will Wade now that it’s been reported he’s heading to NC State once the Cowboys’ season is over, and it’s overshadowed another huge aspect of this game. Clemson losing veteran guard Dillon Hunter to a hand Wound takes away someone who Brad Brownell called a “glue guy” for this Club. Hunter will be missed when Clemson needs veteran experience at the guard position to break through McNeese’s Tension, and while I do Foresee the Tigers to advance this is too many points against a Cowboys Club that covered the spread against both Alabama and Mississippi State in non-conference Shift. Picking: McNeese +7.5   

(8) Gonzaga vs. (9) Georgia 

4:35 p.m. on TBS | March Madness Live 

Gonzaga has thrown together lots of different lineups through the season as Mark Few tries to push the right buttons for a Club that has not quite Secured that Top-tier gear we’ve come to Foresee from this program. As a whole the Shielding profile wasn’t Outstanding for the Zags, and though they showed the ability to flip a switch (like in the conference title game Secure against Saint Mary’s) it’s going to be tough to limit Georgia’s size Edge inside with 6-11 breakout Primary-year Asa Newell. The Bulldogs’ ability to get extra shots with offensive rebounding is how they keep this game close against the high offensive ceiling of Gonzaga, and since an Surprise would not be a huge shock I love Seizing the multi-possession spread. Picking: Georgia +6.5 

(4) Texas A&M vs. (13) Yale 

7:15 p.m. on TBS | March Madness Live 

Another Dim horse Shift here on a Club that I would be surprised to see as an Completely winner. Texas A&M is not a Outstanding shooting Club but has overcome those deficiencies all year by being one of the best rebounding Clubs in the country. Unfortunately that Edge is not as prevalent, at least on paper, against a Yale Club that packs it in defensively and does a pretty Outstanding Role of cleaning up on the glass at both ends. If Wade Taylor IV shoots the Aggies into the second Stage by getting Scorching from deep we’ll take it, but odds are the Club that’s 31.1% on the season from behind the arc won’t be able to Streak away from a Yale Club that has Many starters back from the Club that knocked off Auburn in the Primary Stage last season. Picking: Yale +7.5 

(5) Michigan vs. (12) UC San Diego 

10 p.m. on TBS | March Madness Live 

UC San Diego has become a trendy Surprise Picking in the Primary Stage and potential bracket buster should the Tritons get past Michigan, but I think Thursday’s Delayed night slate will include Dusty May calling “midnight” on any Cinderella hopes. Michigan has an Edge with its size inside, and with a Duo of Periods to scout and prep I’m Calculating on May to have a Outstanding game plan defensively for UCSD’s versatile Charge. If Michigan guard Tre Donaldson can Halt his own against Big West Shielding Player of the Year Hayden Gray, the Big Ten Event champs should be able to keep their momentum from Indianapolis rolling. Picking: Michigan ML -146

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