Jay Bilas releases 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket picks, crowns champion

ESPN’s Jay Bilas released his 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket picks and crowned a champion. If you want to fill out your bracket and align it with Bilas, you’ve come to the right place.

Bilas noted some of his winners are ripe for upsets, whether it’s low, moderate or high. But mostly, Bilas grinded the tape and realized the best teams are the best for a reason.

There won’t be many Cinderella runs to San Antonio for Bilas. So let’s not waste anymore time and dive into his picks.

South Region

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

No surprises in the first round here for Bilas. The only upset he has is a minor one: Creighton over Louisville. Otherwise, chalk in the Round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament in this region.

Round of 32

1. Auburn over 9. Creighton
2. Michigan State over 7. Marquette
3. Iowa State over 6. Ole MIss
4. Texas A&M over 5. Michigan

Once again, BIlas goes chalk here. The top four seeds in the South all advance to the Sweet 16 of March Madness

Sweet 16

1. Auburn over 4. Texas A&M
2. Michigan State over 3. Iowa State

Elite Eight

1. Auburn over 2. Michigan State

Spoiler alert, Bilas goes chalk once again here. Auburn was the top overall seed for a reason and Bilas opted for the Tigers to deny the Spartans a chance at a national title. Onto the next region.

East Region

1. Duke over 16. American/Mount St. Mary’s
8. Mississippi State over 9. Baylor
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

Only one upset, via seeding, here for Bilas. He has Vanderbilt taking over Saint Mary’s. On the surface, a Power Four team beating a mid-major? No big deal. But, Vandy is a 10-seed and moves on.

Round of 32

1. Duke over 8. Mississippi State
2. Alabama over 10. Vanderbilt
6. BYU over 3. Wisconsin
4. Arizona over 5. Oregon

Now we’re getting juicy! Bilas picked BYU over Wisconsin and called the potential for an upset “high.” He likes the dynamic abilities over the Cougars, compared to the Badgers.

Sweet 16

1. Duke over 4. Arizona
2. Alabama over 6. BYU

Elite Eight

1. Duke over 2. Alabama

Another No. 1 vs. 2 in the Elite Eight here. No little Cinderella run for BYU or Arizona upsetting the apple cart. Bilas went chalk again at the top as the Blue Devils advance to the Final Four out of the East Region.

Midwest Region

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

Upsets! Bilas is going with Texas over Xavier in the First Four and then past Illinois to advance to the second round. Another double digit seed advances with Utah State knocking off UCLA. Otherwise, the higher seeds move on.

Round of 32

1. Houston over 8. Gonzaga
2. Tennessee over 10. Utah State
3. Kentucky over 11. Texas
4. Purdue over 5. Clemson

Despite two double digit seeds advancing, Bilas goes with the top four in the region to advance to the Sweet 16. Although he conceded there’s a high chance for Texas and Clemson to pull off an upset in this round.

Sweet 16

1. Houston over 4. Purdue
2. Tennessee over 3. Kentucky

Elite Eight

1. Houston over 2. Tennessee

Bilas opts for top seeded Houston, making it now three No. 1 seeds off to the Final Four. Tough to see it happening in a normal year, but these teams are pretty darn good. As Bilas described this Elite Eight game though, Navy Seals should be reffing this game. It’ll be physical.

West Region

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

All chalk here for Bilas as the top eight seeds advance to the Round of 32. Florida might run this region and perhaps the biggest games he struggled with were UConn vs. Oklahoma and Kansas vs. Arkansas. High upset potential!

Round of 32

1. Florida over 8. UConn
2. St. John’s over 7. Kansas
3. Texas Tech over 6. Missouri
5. Memphis over 4. Maryland

The top three seeds are moving on but it’s Memphis getting the first upset of this region, according to Bilas. Although he loves Missouri’s chances of perhaps beating Texas Tech in this round as well. Florida and St. John’s move on with ease/.

Sweet 16

1. Florida over 5. Memphis
2. St. John’s over 3. Texas Tech

Elite Eight

1. Florida over 2. St. John’s

The quadrant is complete. Or let’s say, the Final Four is complete with all No. 1 seeds winning their regions. Bilas likes the talent too much. Although he thinks St. John’s matches up really well with the Gators and could pull off that upset.

Final Four

1. Florida over 1. Auburn
1. Houston over 1. Duke

Yes, every team here is a No. 1 seed but these are some fascinating matchups. Bilas is going with Florida to advance and “upsetting” the top overall seed. As he pointed out, this would be the first time all four No. 1 seeds are in the Final Four since 2008, also in San Antonio. Houston beating Duke isn’t an upset as he put it. BUt the run for Cooper Flagg and company comes to an end as Houston finally gets it to click.

National Championship

No. 1 Florida over No. 1 Houston

If you watched the SEC Tournament, perhaps you truly fell in love with the Florida Gators. Bilas’ national championship pick will finish their story in March Madness. The best guards in the country, Walter Clayton, Alijah Martin and Will Richard, belong in Gainesville. Houston dominates on the glass, but Florida is the team to match them. The 2025 national champions are coming from the Sunshine State.