PLAYBOY chats to myriad consultants across the sporting group on what to anticipate from this 12 months’s March Insanity.
Authentically, there isn’t a occasion in sports activities fairly just like the NCAA males’s basketball event. Higher generally known as “March Insanity,” 64 universities will quickly put all of it on the road, craving to achieve the Ultimate 4 in San Antonio, Texas.
With St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon, there’s a luxurious of on-court storylines this March Insanity—there all the time are. Personally, I’m hoping my alma-mater UC San Diego can go dancing for the primary time at school historical past! For Tritons basketball, that is their inaugural marketing campaign with postseason eligibility on the Division I degree. Behind a 28-4 general file, UCSD has already gained the Large West convention.
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It would take talent, grit, self-discipline and extra to achieve the Alamodome. Certainly, a number of squads are as much as activity, however as of March 14/coming into the massive dance, the Auburn Tigers (+350 odds, or a 22.2% implied chance), Duke Blue Devils (+360) and Florida Gators (+700) are listed because the top-three betting favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook to win the 2025 males’s nationwide championship. Nonetheless, the UConn Huskies are back-to-back defending champions.
In that very same vein, the NCAA event creates rampant fandom — offering the motion to again it up — each 12 months. It’s a spot on the sporting calendar than seemingly everybody has circled. Heading for March Insanity 2025, PLAYBOY’s Gabriel Santiago straight linked with varied consultants within the fields of sports activities media and sports activities betting—let’s see what related insights they needed to supply.
March Insanity 2025
Minty Bets
Like most of us, FanDuel social character & betting guru Minty Bets is ecstatic for this 12 months’s massive dance, informing PLAYBOY, ”I’m most intrigued by the Rick Pitino-led St. Johnnies. He’s had an incredible historical past of turning groups round and making a deep postseason run. St. John’s gained the Large East Convention for the primary time in 40 years they usually could be the most talked about staff proper now. I can’t wait to see how far they go!”
Natalie Bode
Subsequent, Natalie Bode of KOAT echoed some very comparable sentiments, additionally bearing on the Pitino household. “I’m trying ahead to seeing how far Coach Rick Pitino and St. John’s can go in March. Additionally, trying ahead to watching his son, Richard Pitino, and the Mountain West-leading New Mexico Lobos, who’re additionally hoping to make a run in March,” exclaimed Natalie. “Donovan Dent of UNM is without doubt one of the finest level guards within the nation and I’m excited to look at him play on the nationwide stage.”
Sara Blake
SEC specialist Sara Blake has combined emotions on the massive dance in 2025. “What the hell is happening with Kansas?! I’ve by no means seen a Invoice Self-coached staff be so terrible. From there, can anybody problem Duke or the deep SEC? As a Tennessee homer, I’d like to see Rick Barnes take this Volunteers staff all the way in which.” Sara could be on to one thing, because the Vols have the fifth-best odds (per DraftKings Sportsbook) to win the upcoming title.
Lucy Burdge
A betting-industry trendsetter, Lucy Burdge (affiliated with Audacy Sports activities and BetMGM) is bullish on Duke in 2025. She confidently tells PLAYBOY, “I’m taking Duke to win the entire thing, however it doesn’t matter what, I’m actually hoping for a Cinderella staff to make it to the Ultimate 4. It will simply make it extra intriguing to have a scrappy underdog to root arduous for and can be an incredible story!”
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Lucy additionally has eyes on a sure powerhouse program from her neck of the woods, stating that she’s “hoping for UConn to make a run within the event! They’ve the most effective coach in faculty basketball and it might be enjoyable to see them get to perhaps the Ultimate 4.”
Lauren Cowling
To hop again on the Pitino prepare, Lauren Cowling of Bookit Sports activities shared that she is ”tremendous excited to see what Rick Pitino and this St. John’s staff can do. I’d actually wish to see them take all of it.” Switching gears, Cowling places her consideration on one of many favorites. “I’m additionally actually excited to see Cooper Flagg play in his first and final event and see what sort of noise he could make.”
Earlier than parting, Lauren factors to an particularly fascinating potential event crop of 64 colleges. “I’m excited for this event as a result of this subject of groups has essentially the most potential for insanity in March like we haven’t seen in a very long time! It looks like anybody can win it.”
Greg Ivory
Yahoo Sports activities’ Greg Ivory believes the 2025 NCAA males’s basketball event can be one for the canine—underdogs, that’s. He explains to PLAYBOY, “I’m trying ahead to that first week of the event when there’s going to be a whole lot of underdogs dealing with heavy favorites. I’ll be betting each underdog and praying I’m up after the primary spherical. In that case, and relying on the percentages, perhaps I’ll repeat that strategy for Spherical of 32.” It’s a daring technique, however let’s see if it pays off for Ivory.
Bonnie-Jill Laflin
Audacy Dallas host and former assistant GM inside the Los Angeles Lakers group, Bonnie-Jill Laflin, additionally wished to get in on the dialog. When PLAYBOY requested she is most excited for this event, she exclaimed, “Cooper Flagg! Because the NBA’s first feminine scout, I’ve had the prospect to see a whole lot of rising expertise, however Flagg’s efficiency this season has actually stood out.
“In Duke’s current win over Auburn — the reigning quantity #1 seed — he demonstrated a sophisticated talent set that additional solidifies his standing as the highest prospect for the 2025 NBA Draft. What’s much more spectacular is that he’s solely 18 years outdated and a real freshman!”
Jo Madden
SportsGrid host & analyst Jo Madden was keen to speak on March Insanity. “This 12 months, I’m trying ahead this to who would be the Cinderella staff that busts brackets and makes a deep run. If San Diego State punches their ticket I believe they should alternative to just do that. They’ve probably the greatest defenses within the nation they usually have had some actually spectacular wins together with a 73-70 win over Houston!”
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Kendra Middleton
Kendra Middleton of Boston’s 98.5 The Sports activities Hub is focusing on a pair squads from down south, claiming, ”I’ve been telling everybody to get Ultimate 4 cash in on Houston and Auburn! I believe [Auburn] would possibly wrestle somewhat by means of the gauntlet of the SEC event and decide up once more in March Insanity.” I don’t assume everyone seems to be as wholesome as they’re saying after the final two weeks, so the worth would possibly get higher.” Middleton additionally offers an general tourney evaluation, telling PLAYBOY, “Duke, Auburn, Florida, Houston, and perhaps Alabama are the cream of the crop. From there, the drop off is large.”
Tracy Sandler
NFL beat reporter and Fangirl Sports activities Community founder Tracy Sandler is often on the gridiron, however for PLAYBOY, she weighed in on this 12 months’s massive dance. Sandler states, “I’m hoping that my Michigan Wolverines make it to not less than the Candy 16! Dusty Might and pals have been so enjoyable to look at and I’d simply like to be singing the Victors for an additional month or so.” Naturally, Tracy by no means lacks spirit for the NCAA event or the Maize & Blue.
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