I picked every game in March Madness bracket. Here's who wins 2025 NCAA Tournament | Estes

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It's that time again.

Time for me to brew a bracket, chug the confidence over my selections and then be sick later when it doesn't work out and that team you had, say, losing in the first round makes the Final Four.

This has happened before.

You keep trying, though. It's a new year, and undaunted, I present to you my picks for the entire 2025 NCAA Tournament. Some might say I am too reckless (Auburn losing early?), but most would probably say I was too safe, picking high seeds into the Final Four and putting two obvious selections in the championship game.

But it's honest. I believe Duke and Florida are the two best teams of the 68. I believe the SEC will have its moments, but it won't dominate the tournament.

And yes, I believe I'll probably regret much of this by next weekend.

Be gentle, dear readers:

Who wins March Madness? Predictions, picks for every game

First Four picks: Off we go

• (11) San Diego State over (11) North Carolina
• (11) Texas over (11) Xavier
• (16) St. Francis over (16) Alabama State
• (16) American over (16) Mount St. Mary's

South Region

Round of 64: The Bisons bow out

• (1) Auburn over (16) St. Francis
• (8) Louisville over (9) Creighton
• (12) UC San Diego over (5) Michigan
• (4) Texas A&M over (13) Yale
• (6) Ole Miss over (11) San Diego State
• (3) Iowa State over (14) Lipscomb
• (10) New Mexico over (7) Marquette
• (2) Michigan State over (15) Bryant

Round of 32: A stunner in Lexington

• (8) Louisville over (1) Auburn
• (4) Texas A&M over (12) UC San Diego
• (3) Iowa State over (6) Ole Miss
• (2) Michigan State over (10) New Mexico

Sweet 16 picks: Cinderella Cards keep dancing

• (8) Louisville over (4) Texas A&M
• (2) Michigan State over (3) Iowa State

Elite Eight picks: Sparty too tough

• (2) Michigan State over (8) Louisville

West Region

Round of 64: Watch out for Drake

• (1) Florida over (16) Norfolk State
• (8) UConn over (9) Oklahoma
• (5) Memphis over (12) Colorado State
• (4) Maryland over (13) Grand Canyon
• (11) Drake over (6) Missouri
• (3) Texas Tech over (14) UNC Wilmington
• (10) Arkansas over (7) Kansas
• (2) St. John's over (15) Omaha

Round of 32: Pitino bests old pal Calipari

• (1) Florida over (8) UConn
• (4) Maryland over (5) Memphis
• (11) Drake over (3) Texas Tech
• (2) St. John's over (10) Arkansas

Sweet 16 picks: Gators survive a close one

• (1) Florida over (4) Maryland
• (2) St. John's over (11) Drake

Elite Eight picks: Chomp, chomp

• (1) Florida over (2) St. John's

East Region

Round of 64: 'Dores get past the first one

• (1) Duke over (16) American
• (9) Baylor over (8) Mississippi State
• (5) Oregon over (12) Liberty
• (4) Arizona over (13) Akron
• (6) BYU over (11) VCU
• (3) Wisconsin over (14) Montana
• (10) Vanderbilt over (7) Saint Mary's
• (2) Alabama over (15) Robert Morris

Round of 32: The Tide's football revenge

• (1) Duke over (9) Baylor
• (5) Oregon over (4) Arizona
• (6) BYU over (3) Wisconsin
• (2) Alabama over (10) Vanderbilt

Sweet 16 picks: Devils over Ducks

• (1) Duke over (5) Oregon
• (2) Alabama over (6) BYU

Elite Eight picks: End of the road for Bama

• (1) Duke over (2) Alabama

Midwest Region

Round of 64: McNeese!

• (1) Houston over (16) SIUE
• (8) Gonzaga over (9) Georgia
• (12) McNeese over (5) Clemson
• (4) Purdue over (13) High Point
• (6) Illinois over (11) Texas
• (3) Kentucky over (14) Troy
• (7) UCLA over (10) Utah State
• (2) Tennessee over (15) Wofford

Round of 32: Big Blue bested

• (1) Houston over (8) Gonzaga
• (4) Purdue over (12) McNeese St.
• (6) Illinois over (3) Kentucky
• (2) Tennessee over (7) UCLA

Sweet 16 picks: Vols fall again in Indy

• (1) Houston over (4) Purdue
• (6) Illinois over (2) Tennessee

Elite Eight picks: Cougars move on

• (1) Houston over (6) Illinois

Final Four picks: Two classic games

• Florida over Michigan State
• Duke over Houston

National championship prediction

Duke 78, Florida 77

Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social