College Basketball: 2024-25 Regular Season Final Predictions

The regular season has officially ended for the Power 5 Conferences: the ACC, SEC, Big 12, Big East, and Big Ten. Seeding for conference tournaments is underway, with the tournaments officially tipping off on Tuesday, March 11. Which teams won their regular season, and which teams look like solid plays to score conference tournament victories? Check out a lowdown of the college basketball regular season winners, conference tournament predictions, basketball betting odds to win the NCAA Tournament, and seeding predictions.

2025 College Basketball Regular Season Winners & Conference Tournament Predictions

Duke and Houston jump to 1-2 in AP Top 25 followed by 3 SEC teams as championship week arrives in men's basketball.

Full poll: https://t.co/ZJG5mgWrsa pic.twitter.com/MGuq2BuSrp

— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) March 10, 2025

ACC

Favorites: Duke Blue Devils

• Predicted Conference Tournament Finish: 1st
• 2025 March Madness Odds: +325
• 2025 March Madness Seed Prediction: East #1

The Duke Blue Devils have dominated since two early season losses to Kentucky and Kansas. By early, we mean before the calendar turned to 2025. Duke has lost a single game this year, led by super frosh Cooper Flagg.

It came against Clemson on the road, 77-71. Since then, the Dookies have crushed their opponents, including destroying Big Ten power Illinois 110-67. Duke is a power that won’t be stopped and must be considered a serious NCAA Tournament title contender.

Dark Horse: Clemson Tigers

• 2025 March Madness Odds: +6500

The Tigers went 13-1 straight up in their last 14 games. Clemson will likely attract a 3 or 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament because this is a down year for the ACC. But Clemson beat Duke and dominated North Carolina by 20 in back-to-back wins.

The Tigers are for real. So, if you’re looking for an ACC dark horse and a Big Dance dark horse from the ACC, Clemson is your team.

SEC

Favorites: Auburn Tigers

• Predicted Conference Tournament Finish: 1st
• 2025 March Madness Odds: +375
• 2025 March Madness Seed Prediction: South #1

Auburn is looking like the best team in the country. The Tigers have been the top squad since before 2025 began, crushing Houston, beating Iowa State by 5, and only losing to Duke by 6 at Cameron.

College hoops fans have waited all season for Auburn to take a backward step. Bruce Pearl’s squad hasn’t. In this year’s deepest Power 4 Conference, Auburn has beaten Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky.

The Tigers aren’t perfect—their recent loss to Texas A&M shows they can fall. But when it comes to the conference tournament, Pearl will have his fellows ready.

Dark Horse: Alabama Crimson Tide

• 2025 March Madness Odds: +1100

Bama takes on Auburn on the road on March 8. Check out what happens in that game. The Crimson Tide head into the hardcourt Iron Bowl after two straight losses to Florida and Tennessee.

The losses could bolster Alabama’s play in their final regular-season game and the SEC Tournament. Let’s not forget that Alabama made it to the NCAA Tournament Championship game last season. The Tide deserves a long look to win the SEC and NCAA tournaments.

Big 12

Favorites: Houston Cougars

• Predicted Conference Tournament Finish: 1st
• 2025 March Madness Odds: +750
• 2025 March Madness Seed Prediction: West #1

Houston has emerged as one of the best college basketball teams. After the Big 12 added former Pac 12 hoops to power Arizona, many thought the Cougars might lose their place atop the conference.

Not so. Kelvin Sampson’s bunch went a ridiculous 18-1 in the Big 12, with the lone loss coming against Texas Tech. The Big 12 may not be as deep as the SEC this season, but there are some good teams and Blue Bloods like Zona, Kansas, and Baylor. The Cougs beat them all and should win the conference tournament, sealing a one-seed in the Big Dance.

Dark Horse: Arizona Wildcats

• 2025 March Madness Odds: +5000

Zona’s regular season ends with a game against Kansas on March 8. Like dark horse Alabama in the SEC, the Wildcats have played great basketball and so-so hoops in the past couple of weeks, falling to BYU and Iowa State while dominating Utah and Arizona State.

What Zona does have is Caleb Love, one of the top players in the country who can take a game over on both sides of the court. Love should have the Cats poised for a deep Big 12 Conference Tournament run while the odds on the Cats haven’t fallen, which means believers are still out there that Arizona could be a dark horse to lift the NCAA Tournament trophy.

Big Ten

Favorites: Michigan State Spartans

• Predicted Conference Tournament Finish: 1st
• 2025 March Madness Odds: +2000
• 2025 March Madness Seed Prediction: Midwest #1

Most have the Florida Gators grabbing the final 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. But if Michigan State wins the Big Ten Tournament, Sparty already has the Big Ten Regular Season in the bag; they deserve the 1-seed in the Midwest.

The Spartans have lost 5 games this season and recently beat four straight ranked opponents: Purdue, Michigan, Maryland, and Wisconsin. Not only that, but Sparty has the profile to win the NCAA Tournament.

Tom Izzo already has rings, and few teams boast an inside-outside game like Sparty. The Spartans’ guards, Jaden Akins and Jeremy Fears Jr. will dominate opposing tandems in the Big Dance. MSU is a team to watch.

Dark Horse: Wisconsin Badgers

• 2025 March Madness Odds: +5000

The Badgers are always a dark horse to win the conference tournament and the NCAA Tournament. Once one of the best-coached teams in college basketball, Wisconsin has lost two of four and has a matchup against Penn State looming.

No problem. The Badgers will appear in the conference tourney before landing a six-seed in the NCAA Tournament and finding a way to make it to the Sweet 16. Don’t sleep on Wisconsin.

Big East

Favorites: St. John’s Red Storm

• Predicted Conference Tournament Finish: 1st
• 2025 March Madness Odds: +2000
• 2025 March Madness Seed Prediction: East #2

In Ricki Pitino’s as head coach of the St. John’s Red Storm, not much was expected. Pitino is showing why he’s one of the greatest college hoops coaches ever. The Red Storm beat Connecticut, Xavier, Marquette, and Creighton to win the Big East Regular Season.

Don’t expect Pitino and his crew to lose in the conference tournament. However, a conference tournament win won’t nail down a top seed in the NCAA Tournament because MSU, Houston, Duke, and Auburn played in more profound conferences. Still, Pitino has made magic in the Big Dance with less. So take the Red Storm as a serious contender to lift the trophy.

Dark Horse: UConn Huskies

• 2025 March Madness Odds: +8000

The Huskies have lost 9 games this season. Ah, but superstar HC Dan Hurley is already tightening the screws. Since a blowout loss to Pitino’s St. John’s squad, Hurley has gotten his team to beat Georgetown, Providence, and Marquette.

In the Big East Tournament, Hurley will have his team play better and better with every game. The Huskies may not upset St. John’s and take the tournament title, but Hurley will push his team towards a peak performance in the NCAA Tournament. There is no better Big Dance coach on the planet than Dan Hurley. If you believe three straight NCAA Tournament titles are possible, grab the massive +6500 odds.

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