There are 32 teams remaining in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
And the second round of the Big Dance starts today with eight games across the board.
I'm giving you my quick thoughts and NCAA Tournament betting analysis for all eight games below.
(There's a parlay option below, but that's not my official recommendation with these picks.)
No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 12 McNeese
McNeese's defense is the polar opposite of High Point's, which was the perfect matchup for Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn.
The Boilermakers will need their other role players to step up (Fletcher Loyer game?) and make shots in this one, but they’ve been very hit or miss this season, especially away from home, where they shoot the 3 over 5% worse.
On the other side of the ball, McNeese relentlessly attacks the rim, which could be problematic for Purdue’s beyond shaky rim protection.
The Cowboys could also do some damage on the offensive glass.
Take the points and hope the Purdue role players aren’t hot from the outside.
I'm curious to see what tricks Will Wade has up his sleeve after flummoxing Clemson with a defensive surprise in the first round.
Pick: McNeese +6.5
No. 2 St. John's vs. No. 10 Arkansas
All of the moving parts with Arkansas' lineup makes this a tricky handicap.
The Hogs definitely have the talent to hang, especially if this turns into an up-and-down transition game.
In game adjustments will strongly favor the Johnnies, though.
Pick: Pass
No. 4 Texas A&M vs. No. 5 Michigan
A&M can play its game in this one by living on the offensive glass against a Michigan team that's struggled in that department, despite its size on the interior.
The Aggies will force you to beat them with perimeter shots, which isn't Michigan’s strong suit — although they're certainly overdue for an outlier shooting performance, which is a bit worrisome.
Ultimately, the Wolverines' persistent turnover issues (330th turnover rate) against the A&M pressure will likely do them in.
Pick: Texas A&M -2.5
No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 Drake
JT Toppin should feast in this matchup against the Drake interior, and the Red Raiders can contain Drake from dominating the offensive glass.
However, I have no interest in laying points with Tech given some of their injury issues, especially in a game that should be a complete half-court grind with limited possessions.
Pick: Pass
No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 9 Creighton
Auburn has looked lackadaisical for weeks. Has that been just a result of coasting, or are there underlying issues?
It’s definitely a concern, but this is a dream matchup for the Tigers, who have plenty of playmakers who can destroy the KalkDrop (Creighton's defensive scheme with Ryan Kalkbrenner).
Additionally, on the other end of the floor, Creighton doesn’t do any of the things that really hurt the Auburn defense: get to the line and get offensive rebounds.
If we assume the bigs neutralize each other, it’s a bloodbath in favor of Auburn on the perimeter.
I’m buying the dip with War Eagle.
Pick: Auburn -8.5
No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 6 BYU
This is a fun game featuring electric offenses, but the difference might be the Cougars' ability to better handle the quick turnaround in altitude, especially considering Wisconsin will be playing its sixth game in 11 days.
