This season, Clemson has achieved a record-breaking 27 wins, marking the highest tally in the program’s history. As a result, the Tigers secured the No. 5 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket. Historically, No. 5 seeds hold a favorable 101-55 record against No. 12 seeds during the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Last year, Clemson advanced to the Elite Eight, but the path to their first Final Four in San Antonio will be challenging, with formidable opponents such as Houston, Purdue, Kentucky, and Tennessee within the Midwest Region of the 2025 March Madness bracket.
The Tigers will kick off their journey toward the Final Four on Thursday, facing off against No. 12 McNeese State. As you consider your 2025 March Madness bracket selections, you might ponder whether to support Clemson for a deeper run or rally behind another No. 5 seed like Memphis, Michigan, or Oregon. Before finalizing your predictions, it is essential to browse the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket insights from the trusted computer model at SportsLine.
This proven projection model has simulated every match in the tournament a staggering 10,000 times. It has consistently outperformed its March Madness predictions in recent years, surpassing over 91 percent of CBS Sports brackets for four of the past six tournaments. Notably, the model accurately forecasted UConn’s championship journey last year and successfully identified 13 teams that progressed to the Sweet 16. Additionally, it predicted Alabama’s unexpected run to the Final Four as a 4-seed.
The model is adept at spotting potential upsets. Since its initiation in 2016, it has successfully projected 24 first-round upsets involving double-digit seeds. With proven technology at your disposal, there’s no need to rely on luck when making your 2025 March Madness bracket selections.
Now that the 2025 NCAA bracket has been unveiled, the model has simulated the matchups and compiled its results. You can discover the findings exclusively at SportsLine.
Key Matchups to Watch in the 2025 March Madness
One of the standout matchups in the 2025 March Madness is No. 5 Michigan versus No. 12 UC San Diego in the South Region. UC San Diego, boasting a remarkable 15-game winning streak and one of the nation’s stingiest defenses, will be a formidable challenge for the Wolverines. Conceding just 61.6 points per game, they rank sixth in college basketball. Meanwhile, Michigan is riding high after winning the Big Ten Tournament, benefitting from the presence of two seven-foot players, Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf, potentially creating mismatches in the paint against UC San Diego.
Another intriguing matchup in the 2025 NCAA Tournament features No. 8 Louisville versus No. 9 Creighton in the South Region. This game is packed with star potential, as Louisville has claimed 11 victories in its last 12 games thanks to standout performances from Terrence Edwards Jr. and Chucky Hepburn, each averaging over 16 points per game. Creighton counters with center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who averages 19.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. Kalkbrenner’s defensive prowess has earned him the impressive distinction of being a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, sharing the accolade with Patrick Ewing.
