March Madness 2025 Predictions: Top Contenders and Bubble Teams

Image credits: ESPN

The 2025 NCAA men's basketball tournament is just around the corner, with Selection Sunday scheduled for March 16. ESPN experts Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf have identified the top contenders for the national title, including Alabama, Auburn, and Duke. These teams have consistently performed well throughout the season, with Alabama leading the nation in scoring and Auburn ranking first in adjusted offensive efficiency.

Alabama's offense is incredibly explosive, with the team ranking third in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency and top 15 in 3-pointers made per game. The Crimson Tide also play at the fastest tempo in the country and have hit the 100-point mark seven times. However, the team's defense has been a concern, giving up more than 80 points per game and ranking 10th in the SEC in defensive efficiency. Despite these issues, Alabama's ceiling and potential are too high to ignore, making them a top contender for the national title. The offense is led by Mark Sears, an All-American who was one of five Tide players featured in ESPN's top 100 NBA draft rankings last month.

Auburn, on the other hand, has been the best team in college basketball for the bulk of the season, with a dominant offense and top-notch defense. The Tigers are the nation's best offensive team and one of its top defensive teams, ranking first and 11th in KenPom's adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, respectively. With the bulk of last season's team back, including potential Wooden Award winner Johni Broome, and the addition of new players like Miles Kelly and Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn has built on its end-of-season spark to emerge as the No. 1 team in America. The team's defense has been particularly impressive, ranking first in the SEC in defensive efficiency.

Other top contenders include Duke, Florida, Houston, Iowa State, and St. John's. Duke has a top-five offense and defense, led by freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, who has been arguably the best player in the country this season. Florida has a balanced team with a top-10 offense and defense, led by senior Walter Clayton Jr., who has been playing like an All-American. Houston has the best offense in the Big 12, scoring nearly 1.17 points per possession in conference play, and a stout defense that ranks in the top five in the country in 2-point defense and block percentage. Iowa State has a balanced team with a top-20 offense and defense, led by Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert, who have been playing like All-Americans. St. John's has an elite defense, ranking No. 2 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, and a talented trio of players in RJ Luis Jr., Kadary Richmond, and Zuby Ejiofor.

Meanwhile, several teams are fighting for a spot in the Big Dance, including Nebraska, North Carolina, and other bubble teams. These teams will need to perform well in their conference tournaments to secure a bid to the NCAA tournament. The competition for these spots will be fierce, with several teams vying for a limited number of spots. Here are the odds to make the 68-team field for some of the most prominent bubble teams:

• Nebraska: -150
• North Carolina: -120
• Other bubble teams: +150 to +500

• Auburn: +400
• Duke: +500
• Alabama: +600
• Other contenders: +800 to +2000