2025 March Madness Preview: South Region

South Region

Overall Analysis

This region is headlined by number one overall seed Auburn, despite coming into the tournament having lost three of their last four games. They are the weakest one seed in my opinion despite earning that number one overall tag, and while I think there is a sizable gap between all the ones and everyone else this year, if I were going to pick one to lose early it would be the Tigers. They don’t have an easy draw either with the winner of Louisville/Creighton in Round 2 and a potential match-up with Texas A&M in the Sweet 16 – a team that just beat them by nine albeit on their home floor. 

The bottom of the region is headlined by two big name coaches in Tom Izzo and Shaka Smart. I’ve been higher than consensus on Michigan State all season, and I’m not a big fan of this Marquette team so I will be selecting Sparty to at least the Sweet 16 in my bracket pools. 

Iowa State is the three here, and if they were fully healthy they would be my pick to advance. They will get back Tamin Lipsey who missed time in the Big 12 tournament, but won’t have Keshon Gilbert which is a huge loss. I still think there’s value on them to make a run, but when it all boils down it would be hard to make the Final 4 in a good region without one of your best players. 

Potential Cinderella: Ole Miss

A 6 seed is not your normal “Cinderella” but the more I’ve analyzed this bracket I’ve seen just how disrespected Chris Beard’s bunch is. UNC beat SDSU in convincing fashion tonight, and their game against Ole Miss is now listed as a pick ‘em on the sportsbooks. I expect UNC to be a popular Cinderella pick now, but that win over SDSU doesn’t do much for me. UNC has been great all season against weaker competition going 7-0 in Quad 2 games. SDSU is another Quad 2 team, and ultimately beating them doesn’t move the needle enough. Ole Miss played a tough schedule as well and has one of the best coaches in the country on their side. If they get past the Tar Heels, I think they could beat Iowa State missing Keshon Gilbert and whoever they face in the Sweet 16 led by a big group of seniors. 

Pick to Advance: Auburn

Written by Ben Hossler