2025 March Madness Bracket Advice: Optimal Strategy (Large Pools)

by BettingPros Staff |
Mar 17, 2025

The 2025 NCAA Tournament is officially here! The March Madness Bracket is set, and first-round NCAA Tournament matchups are in place. It’s time to make your picks and predictions for the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament! We’re here to help as we’ll have picks and predictions for each of the first-round 2025 NCAA Tournament games. Below we dive into the optimal 2025 March Madness bracket strategy for large pools.

2025 March Madness Bracket Strategy: Large Pools

Let’s dive into our 2025 March Madness bracket strategy and advice for large pools.

Optimal 2025 March Madness Bracket for Large Pools

Final Four & Championship Picks

Tennessee

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Tennessee has banked on its defense this season, entering the NCAA Tournament with high hopes.

The Vols have forced the lowest three-point shooting percentage in the nation, slow teams down to a snail’s pace, and play some feisty ball that has won them games despite facing the fourth-toughest slate of offenses this season. Tennessee’s undefeated non-conference record shows just how difficult it is to prepare for the Volunteers. Tennessee ranked fourth on Bart Torvik in non-conference efficiency.

SEC Defensive Player of the Year Zakai Zeigler embodies everything about his team's identity, and his playmaking helps find sharpshooter Chaz Lanier, who had some excellent showings leading into the tournament.

The Vols are probably due for negative regression when it comes to opponent shooting, and they keep everything outside, so it could take just one hot shooting night to sink them. Their defense has also taken a small step back of late, ranking outside the top 50 over the last month, per Bart Torvik. That is an extreme difference from the start of the year.

Tennessee’s recent play doesn’t match its seeding, but if you look at the season as a whole, this is a team that never lost outside of the conference and has the chance to do the same in the tournament. Head coach Rick Barnes is known for coming up short in March, and the Vols don't have the most consistent offense, but man oh man, is this a dangerous tournament team.

Check out all of our 2025 NCAA Tournament Bracket & Betting Coverage >>

2025 NCAA Tournament Sports Betting Picks

For those looking to place bets on the matchups, let's take a look at the early odds and picks for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

EAST REGION

MIDWEST REGION

SOUTH REGION

WEST REGION

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