The most exciting tournament in sports has arrived as the 2025 March Madness tournament tips off this week. Sixty-four teams are battling for the title of National Champion, and the 2025 edition is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory.
One of the most thrilling aspects of March Madness is the futures market. This uniquely designed tournament creates opportunities for underdog teams to defy the odds. Last year, NC State reached the Final Four with +20,000 odds to win the title, further emphasizing the power of the underdog in March Madness.
What are March Madness futures?
March Madness futures are picks and predictions that are made on how far a team will go in the March Madness tournament. These picks do not revolve around any one game, but rather on what stage of the tournament a team will reach.
For example, Duke is the favorite to win March Madness with +290 odds. However, you can also bet on Duke to advance to the Final (+185), the Final Four (-125), the Elite Eight (-278), and the Sweet Sixteen (-910). Each of these NCAA March Madness futures are individual picks and will be treated as such when determining if they are a winner or loser.
March Madness future odds will be drastically different depending on each team’s seed and path to the Final Four. A couple of upsets can completely reshape your March Madness futures outlook
March Madness Schedule
- First round: March 20th and 21st
- Second round: March 22nd and 23rd
- Sweet 16: March 27th and 28th
- Elite Eight: March 29th and 30th
- Final Four: April 5th
- March Madness championship game: April 7th
What are the most common March Madness Futures?
The most common March Madness futures focus on the Final Four and beyond. While selecting the outright winner of the 2025 March Madness tournament will be the most popular selection for casual fans, the diehard March Madness viewers will target futures throughout the tournament.
Each of the four regions sends one representative to the Final Four, and predicting the winner of each region is among the most common March Madness futures. However, there is no shortage of options for your future predictions, as you can make picks for any team to reach the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, or the entire 2025 March Madness tournament.
Why predicting March Madness futures is popular
Several factors have contributed to the rise in popularity of March Madness futures. Most of the players in the 2025 March Madness tournament will never play competitive basketball again, with just 60 players worldwide drafted into the NBA each year. This means these young men and women will be giving everything they have to make a deep tournament run. For many, it represents their best and final chance to catch the attention of pro team scouts.
Additionally, the tournament’s unpredictable nature creates countless opportunities for upsets, giving casual sports fans a legitimate chance to outperform even diehard March Madness supporters.
Top teams to watch during March Madness 2025
Duke Blue Devils: Championship Odds +290
Duke is the favorite to win the 2025 March Madness tournament and will be one of the most popular picks in March Madness futures. Consensus No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg headlines a star-studded roster featuring multiple NBA-level talents. Flagg is the face of college basketball this season, and his presence in the tournament cements Duke as one of the top teams to watch.
Duke not only secured the No. 1 seed in the East region, but they enter March Madness as the tournament’s top-ranked team. Flagg projects as an NBA superstar next season, and Duke has a long history of deep tournament runs.
Florida Gators: Championship Odds +390
Florida has fallen well short of expectations in recent seasons, failing to win multiple March Madness games for four straight tournaments. However, the Gators dominated college basketball in 2006 and 2007, and they would love nothing more than to bring another National Championship home.
Florida is led by Walter Clayton Jr., who averages 17.5 PPG and 4.3 assists. Clayton Jr. declared for the 2024 NBA Draft but elected to play one more year with the Gators in pursuit of a deep tournament run.
Auburn Tigers: Championship Odds +440
Auburn has undergone a dramatic transformation as a basketball program. The school had reached the Final Four just once in its long history but now enters the 2025 tournament as the No. 1 seed in the South region.
Johni Broome, projected as a first-round NBA draft pick next season, is a true difference-maker for Auburn. Broome averages 18.9 PPG with 10.6 rebounds and is a machine on the defensive end with 2.3 blocks per game. Although Auburn may lack the depth of some other contenders, a dominant big man like Broome could be enough to take them all the way to the National Championship.
Houston Cougars: Championship Odds +640
Houston enters March Madness with the longest title odds of any No. 1 seed this season. The Cougars lack the star power and depth of other contenders, but they compensate with relentless defense.
Houston has the highest-rated defense this season, and that is unlikely to change throughout March Madness. L.J. Cryer and Milos Uzan lead the way offensively, but Houston’s championship aspirations depend on their ability to stifle opponents on the defensive end.
Michigan State Spartans: Championship Odds +2400
Michigan State earned the No. 2 seed in the South region and ranks among the best underdogs to watch this season. This team found success in the regular season due to their strong defense and balanced scoring.
Their leading scorer, Jaden Akins, averages 12.7 PPG—far lower than the leading scorers on other teams of their caliber. Michigan State relies on a 10-man rotation, and their depth and defensive effort make them a legitimate threat at March Madness.
Maryland Terrapins: Championship Odds +4400
Maryland doesn’t have the same depth as other contenders, but what Derik Queen brings to this team cannot be overlooked. Queen uses his towering frame to dominate in the paint, but what sets him apart is his basketball IQ and exceptional agility.
Maryland enters the tournament as the No. 4 seed in the West region and has the potential to make a deep run behind Queen’s leadership.
Pro Tips for March Madness Futures Predictions
Don’t be afraid of the underdog in early NCAA March Madness futures:
March Madness is known for its upsets, so don’t be nervous about picking an underdog you like to go on a deep tournament run. Although it’s unlikely a double-digit seed will win the title, 22 teams seeded 10th or lower have reached the Elite Eight in the last 40 years. Underdogs will emerge—it’s up to you to find the right ones for your NCAA March Madness futures.
Stick to the favorites for the Final Four and onwards:
While underdogs can shake up the early rounds, history suggests it’s too much to ask for them to reach the National Championship. No. 1 seeds have won 25 of the last 39 March Madness titles, and only seven teams seeded outside the top five have ever reached the final game.
