Can you feel the madness setting in? March Madness, to be specific. We sure can! Which NCAA basketball hopefuls stand the best chance of going home with coveted NCAA championship title in this year’s March Madness? Will they get there, or will one of these top dogs be sent home in one of the tournament’s famous upsets?
Let’s find out. Here’s where the top seeded teams stand across a variety of predictions and power rankings as we once again enter one of the year’s biggest sporting events. Plus, if you’re new to the festivities, we’ll explain how March Madness works.
Catch every heart-pounding moment of March Madness on DIRECTV.
What is March Madness?
March Madness is the popular name for the NCAA’s Division I basketball tournament. It’s a single elimination tournament involving 68 college basketball teams, 32 of which are the champions from each of the Division I conferences while the remaining 36 are selected by a committee and awarded “at-large” berths.
NCAA Basketball March Madness Power Rankings
So, which NCAA men’s and women’s college basketball teams have the highest chance of taking the top spot? Let’s take a look at the top 15 from each tournament:
Men’s Basketball Power Rankings
Here are the top-ranked teams for the men’s tournament:
The Top Tier
It’s tough to choose just one of the top three teams competing in March Madness for the top spot on this list. UConn is the defending champ two years running, but no team has pulled off a three-peat since the UCLA Bruins did it in the 70s. Right now, the consensus seems to point to …
1. Auburn (23-2)
Auburn has the top spot in most expert’s minds this season. Wins over Alabama and Vanderbilt vaulted them to the top of the rankings, despite a loss to Florida. They’ve been consistently dominant this season, taking down multiple top-ranked opponents on their way to the likely top seed.
2. Duke (22-3)
Duke is one of the only teams to hand a loss to our top pick, Auburn, this season, and they’re running neck-and-neck with the Tigers in the odds. They have a top-notch defense, and defense wins championships, they say.
3. Houston (22-4)
Houston was our favorite to win it all entering last year’s tournament, though they were knocked out in one of the biggest upsets of the season by Duke. The Cougars recently set the Big 12 record for consecutive road wins, and they’re poised to make a deep run in this year’s tournament.
Three More to Watch
4. Florida (23-2)
The Gators turned heads when they beat Auburn, proving they have the firepower to take down the best. Florida’s up-tempo offense and physical defense have made them a tough matchup for anyone. If they continue playing at this level, they’ll be a nightmare draw in March.
5. Alabama (21-4)
Alabama recently took an L from the top dogs on this list, Auburn, but the Crimson Tide is looking to crash through the bracket in March, and they have a strong chance of getting the job done. They have a deep roster packed with talent.
6. Tennessee (20-5)
Tennessee’s season has been defined by elite defense and efficient scoring, though a recent loss to Kentucky raised some concerns. The Volunteers were one of the top contenders in last year’s March Madness and made a deep run led by now-Laker Dalton Knecht, but still have yet to take home a title.
The Third Tier
7. Kentucky
8. UConn
9. Iowa State
10. Texas A&M
11. Texas Tech
12. St. John’s
13. Michigan
14. Perdue
15. Michigan State
Women’s March Madness Power Rankings
Since 1982, the NCAA has held a women’s basketball counterpart to the men’s tournament: the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball tournament. The two tournaments follow the same selection process and run concurrently, for the most part.
Here’s a look which teams currently top the power rankings for Women’s March Madness:
1. South Carolina
2. UCLA
3. Notre Dame
4. UConn
5. USC
6. Texas
7. LSU
8. TCU
9. Kansas State
10. Ohio State
How Does March Madness Work?
The tournament is conducted across three weekends in March and April and consists of seven rounds, each named for the number of number of teams remaining in competition at the beginning of the round:
First Week
These take place March 18 – 23.
The First Four: This round involves eight teams: the 4 lowest seeded teams and the 4 lowest-ranked at-large teams. They play each other in a seeded vs. seeded, at-large vs. at-large format, with the winners earning a spot in the Round of 64.
The First Round: 64 teams remaining.
The Second Round: 32 teams remaining.
Second Week
You can watch these matchups March 27 – 30.
Sweet Sixteen: 16 teams remaining.
Elite Eight: Eight teams remaining.
Third Week
The final games of the tournament will be played from April 5-7.
Final Four: 4 teams remaining.
Championship Game: Winners of the Final Four play each other for the NCAA championship.
When Does March Madness Start?
March Madness kicks off with Selection Sunday on March 16, 2025. The event starts at 6 p.m. on ABC.
And here are the dates for the rest of the tournament:
- First Four: March 18 – 19
- First Round: March 20 – 21
- Second Round: March 22 – 23
- Sweet Sixteen: 27 – 28
- Elite Eight: March 29 – 30
- Final Four and Championship Game: April 5 – 7
History of March Madness
March Madness was the brainchild of Ohio State coach Harold Olsen and was first held in 1939, with Oregon taking the title. In the early years, only eight teams played. After some teams protested being locked out of the tournament, the field expanded in 1950 to 16 teams.
The tournament became the most prominent college basketball tournament in the country by the 1970s and continued to expand the field through the years until it reached the current 68 team format. The 70s were also when seeding was implemented.
At the conclusion of the championship game, the winning team’s players and coach famously and ceremoniously cut down the nets while the tournament’s official anthem, One Shining Moment, plays.
The tournament was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was held in a modified format in 2021.
Watch NCAA College Basketball and March Madness on DIRECTV
Don’t miss a moment of March Madness and the rest of the NCAA college basketball season. Catch all the action on DIRECTV.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2025 Men's March Madness Tournament?
The Men's NCAA March Madness Tournament kicks off on Sunday, March 16, 2025, with Selection Sunday. The final matchup with be on April 7.
When is the 2025 Women's March Madness Tournament?
The Women's NCAA March Madness Tournament kicks off on Sunday, March 16, 2025, with Selection Sunday. The final matchup with be on April 6 at 3 p.m. ET.
Which teams are predicted to make it all the way in the March Madness Tournament?
For the Men's Tournament, experts are watching Houston, UConn & Auburn. As for the Women's Tournament, South Carolina, Notre Dame & UCLA are expected to perform well.
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