The 2025 March Madness tournament is almost at a climax as we have hit the Final Four weekend, with the four number one seeds all going head-to-head.
The Duke Blue Devils will take on the Houston Cougars for a place in the final, and they will face the winner of Florida Gators' clash with the Auburn Tigers, as an excellent tournament so far enters the business stages.
But who will come out on top? We'll take a look at the two semi-final games and the eventual winner as we provide you with our best free March Madness betting picks to try and earn you some extra cash, while you enjoy the action on the court.
| March Madness 2025 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Blue Devils | -115 | EVS | -110 |
| Florida Gators | +300 | +285 | +275 |
| Houston Cougars | +400 | +400 | +425 |
| Auburn Tigers | +600 | +500 | +550 |
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March Madness 2025 Championship game information
- Monday, April 7 2025
- Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
- 20:50 ET start time
- Live on CBS
Florida Gators v Auburn Tigers - 04/05/2025 - 18:09 ET
Florida were the number one seed coming into this tournament, but they almost didn't make it to the Final Four. A dominant first-round win over Norfolk State was easy progression, but the second-round clash against UConn saw them need a comeback to claim a win. They then waltzed to victory over Maryland, before yet another comeback win over Texas Tech in the Elite Eight stage.
Auburn have been in excellent form themselves and have earned dominant victories over Alabama State, Creighton, Michigan and Michigan State to get to this stage without any real concerns.
March Madness Picks: Florida -2.5 @ -110
Florida come into this game as one of the very best teams in the country, and they boast an excellent record against the spread this season.
Two of their games so far have provided difficult circumstances against UConn and Texas Tech, but in both games, Florida’s depth, defense, and clutch free-throw shooting proved decisive, and that is always something positive to look for in these latter-stage games.
Auburn will have a size advantage in the frontcourt and with their physical style of play, but the Tigers may find themselves exposed if this game comes down to free throws.
Bruce Pearl will no doubt make some changes to his team after their 90–81 defeat to Florida back in February and ended their 14-game winning streak, but this game should be quite close.
Florida’s guard depth and ability to generate offense late in games should be the difference-maker, and it could help them pull away if needed. Both teams are likely to be content with a slower style and just staying in the game until the fourth-quarter, so take Florida on the handicap and to book their place in the final.
Duke Blue Devils v Houston Cougars - 04/05/2025, 20:49 ET
Duke came in as the pre-tournament favorites this year and they have shown why. The Blue Devils have dominated everyone in their path with wins over Mount St Mary's, Baylor, Arizona and Alamaba with a points differential of +95.
Houston on the other hand have had an excellent performance so far themselves, with a dominant first-round win over SIU Edwardsville, before victories against Gonzaga, Purdue and Tennessee to reach the Final Four.
March Madness Picks: Duke -4.5 @ -115
The Blue Devils have led the way throughout the tournament so far, and the only time they were really under any sort of pressure was in their clash with Arizona. But they managed to hit 100 points in the game, showing their offensive power, and they're the only team of the four remaining to have hit that milestone.
Cooper Flagg has been impressive as usual, and in his one off-game his teammates stepped up in his place, showing a real togetherness among the roster. Duke’s starting five may be the most complete and versatile unit in the field, blending size, shooting, and athleticism.
The Cougars however will no doubt cause them issues, coming into this game with 30 wins in their last 31 games. Houston are elite defensively and lethal from three-point range, shooting close to 40% from beyond the arc.
If they want to win they will need to control the tempo, stop any fast-breaks and continue to shoot well from long-range to stay in the game.
The -4.5 point spread is the lowest Duke have had in the entire tournament and if they get off to a fast start, they could well run away with things by putting Houston's game plan on it's head.
Khaman Maluach is likely to be a key player in this game with his size, meaning he should dominate both ends in the paint. Back the pre-tournament favorites to cover the spread as a result and reach the final.
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March Madness Final
The final most people are expecting and want to see is Duke v Florida, and that is what we believe we will get after the Final Four comes to an end.
The performances of both teams so far this season mean it should be an incredibly exciting and close battle too once they're on the court, but the form of each side so far in the tournament means Duke will likely go into the game as favorites.
Their elite scoring, top-level coach and the benefit of having likely No.1 NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg in their roster means they should have enough to get the job done too, so take Duke to win the whole tournament at +100 while you can.
