NCAAB · 5 months ago

NCAA MBB: Predicting the 2025 College Basketball Crown Bracket

Grant White

Host · Writer

Boise State Broncos Over Villanova Wildcats
Where to Watch the CBC Final
- Arena: T-Mobile Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Sunday, April 6
- Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
The Boise State Broncos and Villanova Wildcats should be the last teams standing. The Wildcats' longstanding defensive issues will again come back to haunt them. The Broncos prevail in a high-scoring affair, earning the inaugural College Basketball Crown title.
Utah Utes Over Butler Bulldogs
Where to Watch Utah vs Butler
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Monday, March 31
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: Butler -1.5 | Total: 155.5
- Moneyline: BUT -113 | UT -106
- SportsGrid Matchup Page
The Butler Bulldogs and Utah Utes tip off the inaugural College Basketball Crown tournament in Las Vegas. The Bulldogs are installed as short favorites, but their defense remains a staggering liability. Utah needs to be at its best defensively, but we expect it to pull off the modest upset.
Boise State Broncos Over George Washington Revolutionaries
Where to Watch George Washington vs Boise State
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Monday, March 31
- Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
- Spread: Boise State -7.5 | Total: 141.5
- Moneyline: BSU -350 | GW +275
- SportsGrid Matchup Page
The George Washington Revolutionaries put together an outstanding 21-10 record in the A10 this season, but they're still well short of competing against the Boise State Broncos. Boise State has a substantive advantage on both ends of the court, and the Broncos should be able to coast to a first-round victory.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Over Arizona State Sun Devils
Where to Watch Nebraska vs Arizona State
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Monday, March 31
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Spread: Nebraska 5.5 | Total: 154.5
- Moneyline: NEB -225 | ASU +184
The Arizona State Sun Devils sputtered down the stretch, winning just one of their last nine games. Unfortunately, their outlook doesn't improve in the CBC tourney. The Nebraska Cornhuskers play a rugged defensive brand of basketball that will only exacerbate the Sun Devils' woes.
Washington State Cougars Over Georgetown Hoyas
Where to Watch Georgetown vs Washington State
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Monday, March 31
- Time: 11:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: Georgetown -3.5 | Total: 159.5
- Moneyline: GTWN -164 | WSU +136
The Georgetown Hoyas versus Washington State Cougars tilt will be one of the most exciting contests of the opening round. Georgetown's offense struggled down the stretch, but they should be able to get back on track versus a lackluster Cougars' defense. Washington State is more than capable of upsetting the Hoyas in this one.
Cincinnati Bearcats Over DePaul Blue Demons
Where to Watch DePaul vs Cincinnati
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Tuesday, April 1
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: Cincinnati -9.5 | Total: 139.5
- Moneyline: CIN -480 | DEP +360
- SportsGrid Matchup Page
The Cincinnati Bearcats played their way out of an NCAA Tournament berth, but they still have impressive defensive acumen. The DePaul Blue Demons were an afterthought in the Big East, and we don't expect them to reverse course against the Bearcats.
Oregon State Beavers Over UCF Knights
Where to Watch Oregon State vs UCF
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Tuesday, April 1
- Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
- Spread: UCF -5.5 | Total: 159.5
- Moneyline: UCF -235 | OSU +190
- SportsGrid Matchup Page
The Oregon State Beavers will be more than happy to trade buckets with the UCF Knights on Tuesday. Both teams play efficiently on offense, albeit the Knights with much more pace. Oregon State makes the most of its offensive possessions, enough to advance past the Knights.
Villanova Wildcats Over Colorado Buffaloes
Where to Watch Colorado vs Villanova
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Tuesday, April 1
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Spread: Villanova -3.5 | Total: 140.5
- Moneyline: Villanova -154 | Colorado +128
The Villanova Wildcats were another fringe NCAA Tournament team that fell out of favor down the stretch. We expect them to easily advance past a Colorado Buffaloes team that refuses to play offense.
USC Trojans Over Tulane Green Wave
Where to Watch Tulane vs USC
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Tuesday, April 1
- Time: 11:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: USC -8.5 | Total: 154.5
- Moneyline: USC -365 | Tulane +285
The gap between the USC Trojans and Tulane Green Wave is much greater than the betting line implies. Tulane struggled to keep pace in the AAC while the Trojans put up some crooked numbers in the Big Ten. USC cruises to Round 2.
Boise State Broncos Over Utah Utes
Where to Watch Quarterfinal #1
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Wednesday, April 2
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
The first quarterfinal matchup could potentially showcase the Broncos taking on the Utes. Boise State wields an advantage in both halves of the court. Not only will they open as favorites, but the Broncos should easily cash.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Over Washington State Cougars
Where to Watch Quarterfinal #2
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Wednesday, April 2
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Nebraska and Washington State play two very different styles of basketball. The Cougars force the issue on offense, whereas the Cornhuskers value defense. Still, Nebraska's offense will have no problems setting the bar, and Washington State won't be able to break through the Huskers' defense.
Cincinnati Bearcats Over Oregon State Beavers
Where to Watch Quarterfinal #3
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Thursday, April 3
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Cincinnati will need to be at its best defensively to contain Oregon State's offense. However, we've seen the Bearcats stack up well against superior opponents. They should have no problem punching their ticket to the semis.
Villanova Wildcats Over USC Trojans
Where to Watch Quarterfinal #4
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Thursday, April 3
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Villanova versus USC in Quarterfinal #4 would be a showstopping affair. Both teams abandon their defensive responsibilities, turning this into a track meet. Still, we give the Wildcats an edge in this one.
Boise State Broncos Over Nebraska Cornhuskers
Where to Watch Semifinal #1
- Arena: T-Mobile Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Saturday, April 5
- Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
If things go as planned, the Boise State Broncos could meet the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first semifinal matchup. While the Cornhuskers would be able to contain the Broncos, they won't be able to shut them down completely. Moreover, Nebraska can't keep pace offensively. Boise State becomes the first CBC finalist in tournament history.
Villanova Wildcats Over Cincinnati Bearcats
Where to Watch Semifinal #2
- Arena: T-Mobile Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Saturday, April 5
- Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Villanova and Cincinnati is the poetic semifinal of what could have been. The one-time Big East rivals had their March Madness dreams squashed over the season's final games, and only one could advance to the College Basketball Crown. Villanova should cruise.
Boise State Broncos Over Villanova Wildcats
Where to Watch the CBC Final
- Arena: T-Mobile Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Sunday, April 6
- Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
The Boise State Broncos and Villanova Wildcats should be the last teams standing. The Wildcats' longstanding defensive issues will again come back to haunt them. The Broncos prevail in a high-scoring affair, earning the inaugural College Basketball Crown title.
Utah Utes Over Butler Bulldogs
Where to Watch Utah vs Butler
- Arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: FS1
- Date: Monday, March 31
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: Butler -1.5 | Total: 155.5
- Moneyline: BUT -113 | UT -106
- SportsGrid Matchup Page
The Butler Bulldogs and Utah Utes tip off the inaugural College Basketball Crown tournament in Las Vegas. The Bulldogs are installed as short favorites, but their defense remains a staggering liability. Utah needs to be at its best defensively, but we expect it to pull off the modest upset.