Games and Insight 3-22-25

March Madness Recap — Friday, March 21, 2025: The Madness is Officially Here

If you thought the first day of the tournament brought chaos, last night said, “Hold my bracket.” Upsets were flying everywhere, and the underdogs showed they came to play.

Let’s start with the classic 12-over-5 upset — because what’s March without it? Colorado State took down Memphis, and honestly, it felt inevitable. Memphis was missing their star guard Tyrese Hunter, and Colorado State took full advantage. They controlled the tempo, hit clutch shots, and hung on in a nail-biter to move on.

Then there’s North Carolina — an 11-seed that looked like anything but. After grinding out a First Four win, they carried that momentum straight into their matchup with Ole Miss. The Tar Heels were just sharper and steadier down the stretch, pulling away late and proving they’re not just happy to be here.

But the biggest splash of the night? New Mexico knocking off Marquette. A 10-seed sending home a 7-seed isn’t shocking on paper, but the way it happened was pure March magic. Richard Pitino’s squad made big plays late, and you could almost feel the energy from his dad, Rick, watching from the stands. That family storyline made it even better.

A couple of other teams flirted with upsets — Grand Canyon gave Maryland a scare, and Akron pushed Arizona for most of the game — but ultimately fell short. Still, the message was loud and clear: the lower seeds aren’t scared, and this tournament is wide open.

The madness is here, and we’re just getting started.

Here's the complete schedule for today's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Second Round games on Saturday, March 22, 2025, including matchups, times, TV channels, point spreads, moneylines, and over/under totals:

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament — Saturday, March 22, 2025

All times Eastern

1. (12) McNeese vs. (4) Purdue

Time: 12:10 p.m.
TV: CBS
Spread: Purdue -8.5
Moneyline: Purdue -400, McNeese +320
Over/Under: 145.5
Note: McNeese aims to continue its Cinderella run after upsetting Clemson, but Purdue's disciplined play poses a significant challenge.

2. (10) Arkansas vs. (2) St. John's

Time: 2:40 p.m.
TV: CBS
Spread: St. John's -6.5
Moneyline: St. John's -280, Arkansas +230
Over/Under: 152.5
Note: Both teams are known for their high-paced offenses; expect a high-scoring affair.

3. (9) Creighton vs. (1) Auburn

Time: 5:15 p.m.
TV: CBS
Spread: Auburn -10.5
Moneyline: Auburn -550, Creighton +400
Over/Under: 148.0
Note: Auburn's strong defense will be tested against Creighton's sharpshooters.

4. (6) BYU vs. (3) Wisconsin

Time: 6:10 p.m.
TV: TNT
Spread: Wisconsin -4.0
Moneyline: Wisconsin -180, BYU +150
Over/Under: 142.5
Note: Wisconsin's methodical offense contrasts with BYU's fast-paced style.

5. (8) Gonzaga vs. (1) Houston

Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: TBS
Spread: Houston -7.0
Moneyline: Houston -300, Gonzaga +240
Over/Under: 151.0
Note: Gonzaga faces a tough test against top-seeded Houston's balanced attack.

6. (7) UCLA vs. (2) Tennessee

Time: 9:40 p.m.
TV: CBS
Spread: Tennessee -5.5
Moneyline: Tennessee -225, UCLA +185
Over/Under: 146.5
Note: Tennessee's smothering defense will look to stifle UCLA's dynamic offense.

7. (11) Drake vs. (3) Texas Tech

Time: 9:45 p.m.
TV: TNT
Spread: Texas Tech -8.0
Moneyline: Texas Tech -350, Drake +275
Over/Under: 144.0
Note: Drake seeks another upset after defeating Missouri, but Texas Tech's defense is formidable.

8. (5) Michigan vs. (4) Texas A&M

Time: 9:55 p.m.
TV: TBS
Spread: Texas A&M -2.5
Moneyline: Texas A&M -140, Michigan +120
Over/Under: 147.5
Note: A closely matched game where turnovers could be the deciding factor.