2025 NCAA Tournament Online Betting
The Florida Gators won the 2025 NCAA National Championship, defeating the Houston Cougars by a score of 65-63. It is the third national title for Florida, as they also won it in 2006 and 2007. Houston had a 31-28 advantage at the half and was up 42-30 early in the second half. However, Todd Golden's team persevered, going on a 12-3 run to reduce the lead to only 45-42 and Florida prevailed down the stretch. Florida’s 12-point comeback is tied for the third-largest comeback in the history of the national championship. The biggest was in 2022, when Kansas overcame a 16-point deficit to beat North Carolina. Over the last 8:31 of play, Florida and Houston were no more than three points apart. Only three lead changes occurred during the championship, despite the teams being tied twelve times. After only four fouls in the first twenty minutes, Florida had nine and Houston had sixteen in the second half. The Gator scored 15 of their 37 points in the second half at the free throw line. The Cougars coughed up the ball four times in the final 2:05, a crucial swing that helped Florida win the game. The Gators only committed four turnovers in the second half, while Houston turned it over nine times.
Following his 34-point performance against Auburn in the Final Four and his 11 points and seven assists against Houston, Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. was named the Most Outstanding Player. Will Richard, who finished with a team-high 18 points, was a major spark in the first half with 14 points. L.J. Cryer of Houston scored 19 points on 6 of 18 shooting to lead the Cougars.
Since Duke defeated Butler 61-59 in 2010, Florida's two-point victory is the narrowest margin of victory in a men's championship game. It was Florida's third championship in school history and its first under head coach Todd Golden.
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
2025 NCAA Tournament Results
First Four
Tuesday, March 18
(16) Alabama State vs. (16) Saint Francis, 70-68
(11) North Carolina vs. (11) San Diego State, 95-68
Wednesday, March 19
(16) Mount St. Mary's vs. (16) American University, 83-72
(11) Xavier vs. (11) Texas, 86-80
First Round/Round of 64
Thursday, March 20
(9) Creighton vs. (8) Louisville, 89-75
(4) Purdue vs. (13) High Point, 75-63
(3) Wisconsin vs. (14) Montana, 85-66
(1) Houston vs. (16) SIU Edwardsville, 78-40
(1) Auburn vs. (16) Alabama St., 83-63
(12) McNeese vs. (5) Clemson, 69-67
(6) BYU vs. (11) VCU, 80-71
(8) Gonzaga vs. (9) Georgia, 89-68
(2) Tennessee vs. (15) Wofford, 77-62
(10) Arkansas vs. (7) Kansas, 79-72
(4) Texas A&M vs. (13) Yale, 80-71
(11) Drake vs. (6) Missouri, 67-57
(7) UCLA vs. (10) Utah State, 72-47
(2) St. John's vs. (15) Omaha, 83-53
(5) Michigan vs. (12) UC San Diego, 68-65
(3) Texas Tech vs. (14) UNC Wilmington, 82-72
Friday, March 21
(9) Baylor vs. (8) Mississippi State, 75-72
(2) Alabama vs. (15) Robert Morris, 90-81
(3) Iowa State vs. (14) Lipscomb, 82-55
(12) Colorado State vs. (5) Memphis, 78-70
(1) Duke vs. (16) Mount St. Mary's, 93-49
(7) Saint Mary's vs. (10) Vanderbilt, 59-56
(6) Ole Miss vs. (11) North Carolina, 71-64
(4) Maryland vs. (13) Grand Canyon, 81-49
(1) Florida vs. (16) Norfolk State, 95-69
(3) Kentucky vs. (14) Troy, 76-57
(10) New Mexico vs. (7) Marquette, 75-66
(4) Arizona vs. (13) Akron, 93-65
(8) UConn vs. (9) Oklahoma, 67-59
(6) Illinois vs. (11) Xavier, 86-73
(2) Michigan State vs. (15) Bryant, 87-62
(5) Oregon vs. (12) Liberty, 81-52
Second Round/Round of 32
Saturday, March 22
(4) Purdue vs. (12) McNeese, 76-62
(10) Arkansas vs. (2) St. John's, 75-66
(5) Michigan vs. (4) Texas A&M, 91-79
(3) Texas Tech vs. (11) Drake, 77-64
(1) Auburn vs. (9) Creighton, 82-70
(6) BYU vs. (3) Wisconsin, 91-89
(1) Houston vs. (8) Gonzaga, 81-76
(2) Tennessee vs. (7) UCLA, 67-58
Sunday, March 23
(1) Florida vs. (8) UConn, 77-75
(1) Duke vs. (9) Baylor, 89-66
(3) Kentucky vs. (6) Illinois, 84-75
(2) Alabama vs. (7) Saint Mary's, 80-66
(4) Maryland vs. (12) Colorado State, 72-71
(6) Ole Miss vs. (3) Iowa State, 91-78
(2) Michigan State vs. (10) New Mexico, 71-63
(4) Arizona vs. (5) Oregon, 87-83
Regional Semifinals/Sweet 16
Thursday, March 27
(2) Alabama vs. (6) BYU, 113-88
(1) Florida vs. (4) Maryland, 87-71
(1) Duke vs. (4) Arizona, 100-93
(3) Texas Tech vs. (10) Arkansas, 85-83 (OT)
Friday, March 28
(2) Michigan State vs. (6) Ole Miss, 73-70
(2) Tennessee vs. (3) Kentucky, 78-65
(1) Auburn vs. (5) Michigan, 78-65
(1) Houston vs. (4) Purdue, 62-60
Regional Finals (Elite 8)
Saturday, March 29
(1) Florida vs. (3) Texas Tech, 84-79
(1) Duke vs. (2) Alabama, 85-65
Sunday, March 30
(1) Houston vs. (2) Tennessee, 69-50
(1) Auburn vs. (2) Michigan State, 70-64
National Semifinals (Final Four)
Saturday, April 5
(1) Florida vs. (1) Auburn, 79-70
(1) Houston vs. (1) Duke, 70-67
National Championship Game
Monday, April 7
(1) Florida vs. (1) Houston, 65-63
NCAA Tournament History
The NCAA Tournament began in 1939, growing in size and stature over the years. The first tournament consisted of eight teams, and the format remained unchanged until 1951, when the field was doubled to 16. The number of participating schools doubled again to 32 in 1975 and reached 64 in 1985.
Now, there are slots for 68 of the best D-I college basketball squads in America. There are 32 spaces reserved for automatic qualifiers – teams that win their end-of-the-season conference tournament. The selection committee picks the other 36 teams as at-large entrants based on their overall record, RPI, net rating, and other factors.
We may see another big change coming to March Madness in the very near future. The NCAA Transformation Committee recommended expanding the number of teams in the NCAA Tournament to accommodate the growing number of Division I teams in the country. There are now more than 350 Division I college basketball teams, and the committee wants to guarantee that at least a quarter of those programs can potentially make the NCAA Tournament. That could mean an expansion to a 96-team March Madness in the future.
National Championship Game Winners (2000)
| YEARS |
WINNER |
RUNNER-UP |
LOCATION |
| 2025 |
Florida |
Houston |
Alamodome |
| 2024 |
Connecticut |
Purdue |
State Farm Stadium |
| 2023 |
Connecticut |
San Diego State |
NRG Stadium |
| 2022 |
Kansas |
North Carolina |
Caesars Superdome |
| 2021 |
Baylor |
Gonzaga |
Lucas Oil Stadium |
| 2020 |
Event Canceled |
| 2019 |
Virginia |
Texas Tech |
U.S. Bank Stadium |
| 2018 |
Villanova |
Michigan |
Alamodome |
| 2017 |
North Carolina |
Gonzaga |
University of Phoenix Stadium |
| 2016 |
Villanova |
North Carolina |
NRG Stadium |
| 2015 |
Duke |
Wisconsin |
Lucas Oil Stadium |
| 2014 |
Connecticut |
Kentucky |
AT&T Stadium |
| 2013 |
Louisville |
Michigan |
Georgia Dome |
| 2012 |
Kentucky |
Kansas |
Mercedes-Benz Superdome |
| 2011 |
Connecticut |
Butler |
Reliant Stadium |
| 2010 |
Duke |
Butler |
Lucas Oil Stadium |
| 2009 |
North Carolina |
Michigan State |
Ford Field |
| 2008 |
Kansas |
Memphis |
Alamodome |
| 2007 |
Florida |
Ohio State |
Georgia Dome |
| 2006 |
Florida |
UCLA |
RCA Dome |
| 2005 |
North Carolina |
Illinois |
Edward Jones Dome |
| 2004 |
Connecticut |
Georgia Tech |
Alamodome |
| 2003 |
Syracuse |
Kansas |
Louisiana Superdome |
| 2002 |
Maryland |
Indiana |
Georgia Dome |
| 2001 |
Duke |
Arizona |
Metrodome |
| 2000 |
Michigan State |
Florida |
RCA Dome |
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