Mar 21, 2025, 09:32 AM ET
The 2025 men’s NCAA tournament began with 68 teams looking to raise a banner and write their name into college basketball history. The Auburn Tigers, the overall No. 1 seed in the South, are looking to avenge their SEC tournament loss and claim the title as the best team in the country.
The SEC made a big statement in sending 14 teams to the Big Dance but faces stark competition from a formidable Houston team and the return of a healthy Cooper Flagg to the Duke Blue Devils.
Here are the lines, spreads and totals from each of Friday’s first-round matchups and Saturday’s second-round games.
Odds are accurate as of publication time. All times Eastern. For the latest odds, go to ESPN BET.
Friday – Round 1
(9) Baylor Bears
(8) Mississippi State Bulldogs -1.5
East Region 12:15 p.m. Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Baylor: 19-14, 10-10 in Big 12 play
Mississippi State: 21-12, 8-10 in SEC play
BPI Projection: Baylor by 3, straight up: 61.6%
(15) (2) Alabama Crimson Tide -22.5
East Region 12:40 p.m. Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Robert Morris: 26-8, 15-5 in Horizon play
Alabama: 25-8, 13-5 in SEC play
Odds by ESPN BET
Moneyline: Alabama (-7500), Robert Morris (+2000) Total: 166.5
BPI Projection: Alabama by 21, straight up: 96.7%
(14) Lipscomb Bisons
(3) Iowa State Cyclones -14.5
South Region 1:30 p.m Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Lipscomb: 25-9, 14-4 in ASUN play
Iowa State: 24-9, 13-7 in Big 12 play
BPI Projection: Iowa State by 15.6, straight up: 92.4%
(12) Colorado State Rams -1.5
(5) Memphis Tigers
West Region 2 p.m. Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
Colorado State: 25-9, 16-4 in MW play
Memphis: 28-5, 16-2 in American play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: Colorado State (-120), Memphis (+EVEN) Total: 146.5
BPI Projection: Memphis by 0.8, straight up: 53.3%
(16) Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers
(1) Duke Blue Devils -32.5
East Region 2:50 p.m. Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Mount St. Mary’s: 22-12, 12-8 in MAAC play
Duke: 31-3, 19-1 in ACC play
BPI Projection: Duke by 30.6, straight up: 99.3%
(10) (7) Saint Mary’s Gaels -4.5
East Region 3:15 p.m. Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Vanderbilt: 20-12, 8-10 in SEC play
Saint Mary’s: 28-5, 17-1 in WCC play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: Saint Mary’s (-190), Vanderbilt (+160) Total: 135.5
BPI Projection: Saint Mary’s by 4.2, straight up: 66.2%
(11) North Carolina Tar Heels -1.5
(6) Ole Miss Rebels
South Region 4:05 p.m. Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
North Carolina: 22-13, 13-7 in ACC play
Ole Miss: 22-11, 10-8 in SEC play
BPI Projection: North Carolina by 1.6, straight up: 56.3%
(13) Grand Canyon Lopes
(4) Maryland Terrapins -10.5
West Region 4:35 p.m. Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
Grand Canyon: 26-7, 13-3 in WAC play
Maryland: 25-8, 14-6 in Big Ten play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: Maryland (-650), Grand Canyon (+425) Total: 149.5
BPI Projection: Maryland by 11.4, straight up: 86.2%
(16) (1) Florida Gators -28.5
West Region 6:50 p.m. Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Norfolk State: 24-10, 11-3 in MEAC play
Florida: 29-4, 14-4 in SEC play
BPI Projection: Florida by 22.3, straight up: 97.2%
(14) Troy Trojans
(3) Kentucky Wildcats -11.5
Midwest Region 7:10 p.m. Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Troy: 23-10, 13-5 in Sun Belt play
Kentucky: 22-11, 10-8 in SEC play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: Kentucky (-750), Troy (+475) Total: 151.5
BPI Projection: Kentucky by 12.9, straight up: 88.8%
(10) New Mexico Lobos
(7) Marquette Golden Eagles -3.5
South Region 7:25 p.m. Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
New Mexico: 26-7, 17-3 in MW play
Marquette: 23-10, 13-7 in Big East play
BPI Projection: Marquette by 5.6, straight up: 70.9%
(13) Akron Zips
(4) Arizona Wildcats -14.5
East Region 7:35 p.m. Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
Akron: 28-6, 17-1 in MAC play
Arizona: 22-12, 14-6 in Big 12 play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: Arizona (-1200), Akron (+700) Total: 167.5
BPI Projection: Arizona by 15.8, straight up: 92.7%
(9) Oklahoma Sooners
(8) UConn Huskies -5.5
West Region 9:25 p.m. Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Oklahoma: 20-13, 6-12 in SEC play
Uconn: 23-10, 14-6 in Big East play
BPI Projection: Uconn by 5.4, straight up: 70.5%
(11) Xavier Musketeers
(6) Illinois Fighting Illini -3.5
Midwest Region 9:45 p.m. Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Xavier: 21-11, 13-7 in Big East play
Illinois: 21-12, 12-8 in Big Ten play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: Illinois (-155), Xavier (+135) Total: 160.5
BPI Projection: Illinois by 2.6, straight up: 60.1%
(15) Bryant Bulldogs
(2) Michigan State Spartans -18.5
South Region 10 p.m. Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Bryant: 23-11, 14-2 in Am. East play
Michigan State: 27-6, 17-3 in Big Ten play
BPI Projection: Michigan State by 17.1, straight up: 93.9%
(12) Liberty Flames
(5) Oregon Ducks -6.5
East Region 10:10 p.m. Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
Liberty: 28-6, 13-5 in C-USA play
Oregon: 24-9, 12-8 in Big Ten play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: Oregon (-290), Liberty (+240) Total: 139.5
BPI Projection: Oregon by 7.1, straight up: 75.6%
Saturday – Round 2
(12) McNeese Cowboys
(4) Purdue Boilermakers -5.5
Midwest Region 12:10 p.m. Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI
McNeese: 27-6, 19-1 in Southland play
Purdue: 22-11, 13-7 in Big Ten play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: Purdue (-240), McNeese (+200) Total: 143.5
BPI Projection: Purdue by 7.5, straight up: 76.8%
(10) Arkansas Razorbacks
(2) St. John’s Red Storm -7.5
West Region 2:40 p.m. Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI
Arkansas: 20-13, 8-10 in SEC play
St. John’s: 30-4, 18-2 in Big East play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: St. John’s (-300), Arkansas (+250) Total: 144.5
BPI Projection: St. John’s by 5.7, straight up: 71.3%
(5) (4) Texas A&M Aggies -2.5
South Region 5:15 p.m. Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Michigan: 24-9, 14-6 in Big Ten play
Texas A&M: 22-10, 11-7 in SEC play
BPI Projection: Texas A&M by 2.1, straight up: 58.1%
(11) Drake Bulldogs
(3) Texas Tech Red Raiders -7.5
West Region 6:10 p.m. INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
Drake: 30-3, 17-3 in MVC play
Texas Tech: 25-8, 15-5 in Big 12 play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: Texas Tech (-380), Drake (+290) Total: 127.5
BPI Projection: Texas Tech by 10.4, straight up: 84.1%
(9) (1) Auburn Tigers -8.5
South Region 7:10 p.m. Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
Creighton: 24-10, 15-5 in Big East play
Auburn: 28-5, 15-3 in SEC play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: Auburn (-450), Creighton (+340) Total: 150.5
BPI Projection: Auburn by 7.4, straight up: 76.5%
(6) BYU Cougars 1.5
East Region 7:45 p.m. Ball Arena, Denver, CO
BYU: 24-9, 14-6 in Big 12 play
Wisconsin: 26-8, 13-7 in Big Ten play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: BYU (-115), Wisconsin (-115) Total: 154.5
BPI Projection: Wisconsin by 0.8, straight up: 53.2%
(8) Gonzaga Bulldogs
(1) Houston Cougars -4.5
Midwest Region 8:40 p.m. INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
Gonzaga: 25-8, 14-4 in WCC play
Houston: 30-4, 19-1 in Big 12 play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: Houston (-225), Gonzaga (+190) Total: 139.5
BPI Projection: Houston by 6.2, straight up: 72.8%
(7) UCLA Bruins
(2) Tennessee Volunteers -4.5
Midwest Region 9:40 p.m. Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
UCLA: 22-10, 13-7 in Big Ten play
Tennessee: 27-6, 12-6 in SEC play
Odds by ESPN BET Moneyline: Tennessee (-195), UCLA (+165) Total: 132.5
BPI Projection: Tennessee by 4.6, straight up: 67.6%
