2025 Final Four Predictions: Who Will Reach the NCAA Championship Game?

Florida Gators vs. Auburn Tigers Preview and Prediction

The Florida Gators and Auburn Tigers tip off in what oddsmakers expect to be a tightly contested matchup. Florida is the favored team in this spot, but not by much.

According to the latest NCAA Final Four 2025 odds on the moneyline, Florida has a 59.2% implied probability of advancing to the national championship. The Gators are coming off a come-from-behind 84-79 victory to seal the deal versus Texas Tech.

Florida put together a feverish run in the final minutes to win by five points. This is not the first time that the Gators have had to dig deep to pull out a victory in the waning minutes. They nearly fell to UConn in the Round of 32 but came through in the clutch for a 77-75 win.

Nevertheless, Florida’s 85.4 points per game this season puts them in an elite tier of squads. They are third in scoring, but the defense has gotten careless at times. Texas Tech and UConn both nearly did just enough to bounce the Gators because of missed assignments on defense.

WALTER CLAYTON JR IS NOT HUMAN pic.twitter.com/0y3QLxaTGL

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 30, 2025

Overall, Florida is 87th, with an average of 69.7 points against per game. They’ve managed to ride the hot hand of Walter Clayton Jr. to this point.

Clayton Jr. has been on fire with 22.3 points per game on 45.8% shooting from the field. He’s scored at least 23 points in three games and is coming off a 30-point effort versus the Red Raiders!

It’s both a blessing and a curse because if Clayton Jr. isn’t shooting lights out against UConn or Texas Tech, they lose those games. The Tigers, the No. 1 overall seed of the tournament, have an offense that can keep pace with the Gators. They’ve logged 83.2 points per game, for 11th in the NCAA.

Johni Broome. Absolute cinema 🙌

He returns from the locker room to a HUGE ovation and immediately knocks down the triple 👏#MarchMadness @AuburnMBB pic.twitter.com/pCNSPfCZuV

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 30, 2025

Auburn’s star forward Johni Broome holds the keys to this matchup. Broome exited the Tigers’ 70-64 win over the Michigan State Spartans with a hyperextended elbow but returned to knock down a huge shot.

He’s banged up, but I’d be surprised if Broome doesn’t suit up. Even without Broome at 100%, Auburn should hold a sizable advantage in the paint. Alex Codon and Rueben Chinyelu don’t have the physical tools to contain Auburn’s frontcourt in this matchup.

I suspect that Broome plays better than anticipated despite the injury. In short, a battle down to the wire is the only way I see this one unfolding! Consider taking the points in a nail-biter for your NCAA basketball Final 4 predictions and picks!

Houston Cougars vs. Duke Blue Devils Preview and Prediction

Duke is rolling through the field and making it look easy against opponents! Led by Cooper Flagg, the 2025 Final Four betting odds suggest the Blue Devils have a 70.6% implied probability to beat the Houston Cougars.

At -120, they are also the favorites in the men’s NCAA National Championship odds! The public is hammering Duke to win, but will they cover the spread against a pesky Cougars squad? There were no surprises in Duke’s 85-65 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.

COOPER FLAGG BEATS THE HALFTIME BUZZER 🔥#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/hOvI6cow4B

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 28, 2025

Alabama’s defense is one of the worst units in college basketball, though. They were going to get ripped by Duke regardless of their effort.

I don’t expect the same results against Houston. While Flagg and the Blue Devils are the most dangerous offense in the nation, they haven’t played a defense as locked in as the Cougars yet.

Houston’s defense ranks first with 58.3 points allowed per game. They also lead the nation in defensive efficiency. Heading into the Final Four, the Cougars held two very dangerous offenses down. Tennessee scored just 50 points in a 69-50 game, while Purdue came up short in a 62-60 loss to the Cougars.

Shutting down Duke completely is a pipe dream, but Houston has the tools to at least limit and prevent them from going off. There isn’t another team in the tournament that has the defense to bother the Blue Devils. Houston matches up reasonably well enough to make Duke work for points.

The Cougars’ offense isn’t any slouch, either. They have averaged 74 points per game and can get into a run-and-gun game if need be. LJ Cryer is one of the most underrated players in this tournament! The guard posted seven rebounds, four assists, and 17 points in the win over the Volunteers.

LJ Cryer steps back from deep 👌#MarchMadness @UHCougarMBK pic.twitter.com/FMrYNZj7Mk

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 30, 2025

However, Houston would like to slow things right down and turn this into a low-scoring, grind-it-out type of affair! I believe Houston will have some success in getting it done, so consider taking the points here.

As one of our best NCAA Final 4 2025 predictions, Houston is the play in a two or three-point thriller in San Antonio!