Thu Mar 20 17:00:00 UTC 2025: ## March Madness Tips Off: UConn Seeks Three-peat Despite Long Odds

**San Antonio, TX** – The 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, better known as March Madness, began Thursday, with 64 teams vying for the championship title. Last year, the University of Connecticut (UConn) defeated Purdue University 75-60 to secure their sixth national championship, marking their second consecutive win. This year, however, the eight-seeded Huskies face a challenging path, with a potential second-round matchup against top-seeded Florida.

The odds of predicting a perfect bracket are astronomically low – 1 in 9.22 quintillion, according to CBS Sports. While data and algorithms can help, upsets are common, making a perfect prediction nearly impossible. SportsLine, a sports betting site, uses simulations to predict winners, and while their method has been successful in the past, a perfect bracket remains elusive.

CBS Sports analysts offer diverse predictions, with Duke, Florida, Houston, and Auburn receiving the most mentions as potential Final Four contenders. These teams also have high odds at Fanduel Sportsbook. The average combined final score since 2010 is 135.7 points, ranging from a low of 94 to a high of 162.

The tournament spans six rounds, culminating in the final game on Monday, April 7th, at 8:50 PM ET at the Alamodome in San Antonio, airing on CBS. The first-round games are airing on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, and are also available for streaming via Paramount+, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV. For the complete schedule and broadcast details, visit CBS Sports.

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