As we head into the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, all No. 1 seeds have successfully advanced to the second round. The only double-digit seed remaining is the preseason No. 16 Arkansas, now competing as a No. 10 seed. Despite this semblance of order, the tournament has been rife with surprises, resulting in bracket chaos across the board. As of Sunday, no perfect brackets survived at CBS Sports, including my own. With our CBS team's brackets in disarray (although our title picks are still intact), I have graciously allowed our experts to reset their brackets in preparation for the Sweet 16.
Our CBS Sports team has made their predictions on which teams will emerge victorious in the upcoming matchups. For comprehensive picks and predictions for every college basketball game, be sure to visit SportsLine, which utilizes a model that simulates every game 10,000 times. Below, we delve into each expert's insights as they reset their brackets.
Gary Parrish, our college basketball insider, originally picked Auburn as his champion. While he acknowledges the opportunity to reset his bracket, he intends to maintain Auburn as his projected winner. Despite their recent 3-3 record over the past six games and a drop to 32nd in national rankings on BartTorvik.com, Parrish believes Auburn's earlier dominance means they can reclaim their top form. He confidently predicts Auburn will face Houston in the final match on the first Monday night in April.
Matt Norlander, a senior writer for college basketball, reports that although his bracket isn't a total loss, he is forced to make a change in the West. While he initially had Auburn facing Michigan State and Duke against Alabama, he has now opted for Texas Tech to advance. With a top-five offense and All-American JT Toppin leading the charge, Norlander believes Texas Tech will excel against their competition. He remains committed to Houston as his title pick, citing their impressive offensive capabilities under coach Kelvin Sampson.
Senior writer Dennis Dodd has been closely watching Houston's performance, especially their recent success in the Big 12 Tournament. He notes that the Cougars possess multiple failsafes; if any part of their game falters, another can step in to compensate. Although their defense showed some vulnerabilities against Gonzaga, standout guard LJ Cryer scored a career-high 30 points, showcasing the depth of talent on the team. Dodd believes the Cougars are poised to advance with a balanced squad that includes formidable big men and a strong backcourt.
College basketball writer Kyle Boone expresses hope for a thrilling matchup between Auburn and Duke, teams that have dominated throughout the season. Boone has consistently backed Duke as his national title pick, highlighting their scoring margin and seamless performance in the tournament so far. He predicts Duke will emerge victorious over Auburn, mirroring their earlier win this season in Durham.
David Cobb, another college basketball writer, remains loyal to his initial champion, Florida. Despite a challenging second-round match against No. 8 seed UConn, he believes Florida's exceptional guard play will be crucial in their quest for the title. Under the leadership of third-year coach Todd Golden, Cobb feels the Gators have the talent to overcome their inexperience in high-stakes situations.
Cameron Salerno also maintains his faith in Duke, asserting that they have consistently looked like the best team in the tournament. He anticipates a potential clash between Duke and Florida in the national title game, reinforcing his belief in Duke's capability to secure the championship.
Chip Patterson echoes the sentiments of his colleagues, reporting no changes to his Final Four predictions, as all teams remain in contention. He emphasizes Duke's impressive tournament run, likening their dominance to that of past champions. With Tyrese Proctor peaking at the right moment, Patterson remains steadfast in his belief that Duke will prevail.
Bracketology expert Jerry Palm is also sticking with Florida, despite their recent struggles against UConn. He acknowledges the challenges the Gators faced but remains confident in their strength as a team, especially given their success against other SEC teams. Palm believes Florida has the potential to navigate through the tournament successfully.
Finally, Isaac Trotter stands by his original champion pick of Duke, convinced they will continue their strong performance throughout the tournament. With all eyes on the Sweet 16, Trotter shares the prevailing optimism surrounding Duke's chances of making a deep run.
As we prepare for the Sweet 16, bracket predictions are more exciting than ever. Who will emerge victorious? Stay tuned for the latest updates and insights as the NCAA Tournament unfolds!
