Celina (Texas) Top247 quarterback Bowe Bentley continues to rise in the rankings as more programs intensify their pursuit for him. Bentley is in the middle of a spring visit…
Celina (Texas) Top247 quarterback Bowe Bentley continues to rise in the rankings as more programs intensify their pursuit for him. Bentley is in the middle of a spring visit tour that took him to Oklahoma and LSU, and will continue on with several more schools.
At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Bentley is ranked as the No. 7 quarterback in the nation and No. 12 overall prospect in Texas, according to 247Sports.
Bentley’s first visit to LSU received high marks, and the Tigers made Bentley feel like he was a big part of their future plans.
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Iowa Men’s Basketball Head Coach 4.0 Hot Board: With Fran McCaffery out, who could be the next head coach?
Who are the top names in play to be the new head coach at Iowa?
Fran McCaffery is no longer the head coach of the Iowa men’s basketball program. Who are the top names to know to be Iowa’s next head coach? Here is the latest from David Eickholt and Sean Bock on what they are hearing and the top targets who are in play for the Hawkeyes.
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This article originates on HawkeyeInsider.com.
March Madness 2025: Betting odds for NCAA Tournament first-round games
The March Madness spreads are in, and there are a few eyebrow-raising numbers.
The upsets should be aplenty in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, but forecasting which underdogs make the biggest first-round splashes is never a straightforward task. The betting market likes Colorado State to notch a 12-5 upset, and even if that comes to fruition, it may not be the biggest surprise from Thursday’s and Friday’s slates. Many favorites will fall and longshots will rise if this year’s March Madness is anything like those of the past.
FanDuel set its odds for the First Four and each of the first-round games in the NCAA Tournament, and there are a few surprising numbers on the board. While top-seeded teams like Florida and Houston are massive favorites, others do not hold as much confidence from the public.
Four teams await the results that will unfold Tuesday and Wednesday before they receive their betting odds, but each of Auburn, Duke, Ole Miss and Illinois will likely be favorites when the First Four is complete.
RELATED (VIP): Predictions and intel on Indiana, Iowa, NC State, and all the high major openings in college basketball
Here are the betting odds for each first-round game in the 2025 NCAA Tournament:
March Madness 2025: Most common NCAA tournament upsets by seed line in first, second rounds
The numbers say to pick these upsets in the March Madness bracket.
Picking the correct upsets in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament is difficult. While some lower seeds generate March Madness buzz as potential bracket-busters after the field of 68 is announced, there are always surprise Cinderella runs that catch everyone off guard — just ask Florida Atlantic, NC State, Oral Roberts or Saint Peter’s. Every year, at least a few teams defy the odds, busting brackets and making history in the process.
Some of these upsets have become more predictable over time, with certain matchups historically favoring lower-seeded teams — like the No. 12 over No. 5 seed or No. 11 over No. 6. Others, however, remain complete shockers given their rarity. While trends emerge over the years, no tournament is the same, and past results do not always guarantee future outcomes. Still, history provides a blueprint for identifying which lower seeds have the best shot at advancing.
So, which upsets are the most common during the first two rounds of March Madness?
RELATED (VIP): Predictions and intel on Indiana, Iowa, NC State, and all the high major openings in college basketball
Below is a look at which first- and second-round upsets in the NCAA Tournament are most common:
NCAA Tournament 2025: Auburn, Duke highlight 10 March Madness contenders for national championship
The 2025 college basketball national champion is likely featured on this list.
Only one of the 68 teams in the 2025 March Madness bracket can cut down the nets in San Antonio. Will it be Auburn, the No. 1 overall seed who dominated quality competition all season, or will another squad uproot the Tigers from their pedestal atop the college basketball world? Three weeks of NCAA Tournament play will answer that question. The Tigers are far from the only national championship contender, so the run to the Final Four should deliver plenty of fireworks.
Duke was in lockstep with Auburn all season as the other national title frontrunner, but with Cooper Flagg battling an ankle injury in advance of the tournament, the Blue Devils have more questions now than they did just a week ago.
History suggests one of the four No. 1 seeds will likely stand atop the bracket at the end of the tournament, but 36% of champions since the field expanded to 64 teams came from lower seed lines.
RELATED (VIP): Predictions and intel on Indiana, Iowa, NC State, and all the high major openings in college basketball
Here are the top 10 national championship contenders in the NCAA Tournament:
March Madness 2025: 10 names to know heading into the women’s basketball NCAA Tournament
Selection Sunday helped introduce a handful of names that fans should keep in mind when filling out their women’s NCAA Tournament brackets.
The women’s NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday had no shortage of entertainment. Along with the slew of TikTok dances that accompanied program selections, there was also brewing drama surrounding the No. 1 overall seed. The UCLA Bruins finished the season strong by winning the Big Ten tournament. This afforded them the right to be crowned the tournament’s top-seeded team. However, it also left a bad taste in the mouths of programs like South Carolina and USC — which were both seeded at No. 1 teams in their respective regions.
RELATED: Women’s NCAA Tournament: Predicting 5 teams to shake up March Madness
Aside from the underlying tensions, Selection Sunday helped introduce a handful of names that fans should keep in mind when filling out their women’s NCAA Tournament brackets.
Ta’Niya Latson

Florida State phenom Ta’Niya Latson might not have the household recognition of a JuJu Watkins or Hannah Hidalgo, but she’s just as impactful on the offensive end. The junior guard averaged 25 points per game for the Seminole, finishing as the nation’s leader in that statistic. She’s not just jacking up shots, either. Latson shoots over 45% from the floor and close to 36% from three. This is more efficient than Watkins who sits directly behind Latson in the nation’s points per game category. Latson and her scoring are a big reason why Florida State is the No. 6 seed in this year’s Spokane Region. If she starts off the tournament hot, then the Seminoles could be an interesting team to watch this year.
Kenny Brooks and Georgia Amoore

Kenny Brooks and Georgia Amoore came to Kentucky this offseason from Virginia Tech as a two-for-one package. And, together, they’ve turned the Wildcats into a dark horse NCAA championship contender.
Prior to the star of the season, Kentucky was ranked as the nation’s No. 22 team in AP’s Preseason Top 25 poll. It was assumed that the Wildcats would have a solid, but not stellar, season under new head coach Kenny Brooks and finish as a respectable team in a tough SEC conference. But, what the media didn’t consider is the way Brooks navigated the transfer portal.
Brooks brought in Amoore and Clara Strack with him from the Hokies. He, then, paired them with great portal finds like Dazia Lawrence, Teonni Key and others. Amoore commands this retooled roster, averaging 19.1 points per game along with seven assists and a steal. It’ll take her being in control of the game for the Wildcats to navigate the Spokane Region.
Talaysia Cooper

Similar to Kentucky, Tennessee has a chance to make a run in this year’s NCAA Tournament. But, if they want to make it out of the Birmingham Region, they’ll need some big performances from Talaysia Cooper. Cooper’s definitely up for the task. The sophomore transfer guard from South Carolina leads the Volunteer in scoring with 16.7 points per game. She’s also a reliable rebounder and playmaker. On defense, she plays the passing lanes well, averaging over three steals per game. She has the potential to turn herself into a household name if she shines during this year’s tournament.
Dani Carnegie

Dani Carnegie is one of the multiple first-year players to make their mark on this year’s college basketball season. Throughout the year, the guard has proven to be the X-factor for a Yellow Jackets team that holds the No. 9 seed in the Spokane Region. Given their seeding, Georgia Tech would have to perform a few March miracles to get past UCLA in the Round of 32. But, that doesn’t mean that Carnegie’s game-changing scoring won’t be on display in the first and second rounds.
Mikayla Blakes

Speaking of prolific scoring, there’s no one in the country who can light it up the way Vanderbilt freshman Mikayla Blakes can. The guard averaged 23 points per game along with piling up two 50-plus-point performances this season. Blakes’ production is matched by sophomore Khamil Pierre who averages close to 21 points per game. After them, the scoring falls off a cliff. But if Blakes and Pierre find a third offensive option, then it’s going to be a long night of whoever has to guard the Commodores.
Chloe Kitts

Historically, the star of South Carolina has head coach Dawn Staley. She runs the show that thrives off her adjustments while production comes by committee. This year is not different. as no Gamecock averages over 14 points per game, despite the team scoring over 80 points per game. But, when South Carolina needs a tough paint bucket, Chloe Kitts is always on hand to deliver. This could prove to be valuable if the Gamecocks meet up with UCLA and Lauren Betts. This tournament run may prove to be the runway junior Kitts needs to get on the WNBA radar.
Sarah Strong

UConn freshman Sarah Strong is undoubtedly the future of this Huskies program. With Paige Bueckers primed to be a top pick in this year’s WNBA draft, coach Geno Auriemma has shown his trust in Strong, putting her in positions to close out games in an effort to build her confidence for life without Paige. This has effectively made the Huskies ambidextrous. Strong, who is the team’s second-leading score with 16 points per game and leads the team in rebounding with close to nine boards a night, can now control the game just like Bueckers. This should bode well for the No. 2-seeded Huskies in the tournament and help introduce the world to Strong.
Kaylene Smikle

Kaylene Smikle is the head of the snake for this Maryland Terrapins team. She’s averaging close to 18 points per game while shooting over 45% from the floor. She’s also solid on the defensive end, poking away about two steals a night. Trying to stop Smikle will open up the floor for a Maryland roster that has seven players (including Smikle) who average 8.5 or more points. Collectively, the Terrapins shoot 46% from the floor and 35.5% from three to average 80 points per game. This makes Smikle and Maryland a real threat at the No. 4 seed.
Harmoni Turner

It’s rare that you hear Harvard mentioned as a potential upset threat for a Big Ten team like Michigan State. But, Harmoni Turner and her efficient brand of basketball have the Crimson humming heading into the NCAA Tournament. Turner buzzed her way through the Ivy League tournament, scoring 44 points against Princeton in the semifinal and pouring in another 24 points in the finals to push Harvard past top-seeded Columbia. Turner, who averaged 22 points per game this season, now heads into the NCAA Tournament with a head of steam. This might not be enough to upset Michigan State, but the No. 10-seeded Crimson could make the match-up very interesting.
Raegan Beers

Raegan Beers was one of the top-rated transfers this off-season for a reason. The 6-foot-4 center is a dominant low-post scorer who averages close to 18 points per night. With her as the anchor, Oklahoma is able to get quality looks from the floor, resulting in more than 85 points averaged as a team. If things go according to seeding, then the eventual match-up between Beers and USC’s Kiki Iriafen will be must-see TV.
Indiana Basketball Head Coach Hot Board: Version 6.0
Peegs.com’s Hot Board 6.0 for the next Indiana basketball head coach.
In Indiana’s prolonged head basketball coach search, the dominoes continue to fall. The Hoosiers and Mike Woodson announced in the first week of February the coach would retire after the season. Names have been swirling for more than two years. Agents have been pushing names behind the scenes. Scott Dolson and the Indiana athletic department are working through candidates to determine who is a serious contender to land the job. As we have mentioned multiple times, Indiana’s coaching search is not a draft, and matching the right prospect with the desire to be the next Hoosier head coach is not an easy task.
WATCH INDIANA COACHING SEARCH DISCUSSION
Many fans have decided their order of potential candidates, but when the rubber meets the road, some will not truly consider taking the Indiana job.
PEEGS: CRITERIA FOR NEXT IU COACH
Here is background on why and why not certain candidates would fit at Indiana as the next men’s basketball coach.
Jeff Rabjohns and Trevor Andershock collaborated on the hot board information.
The hot board organization is in tiers. The first tier is the group receiving the most buzz with perceived mutual interest.
The Hoop Scoop: Latest on Will Wade, NC State discussions | More targets emerging?
NC State is zeroing in on Will Wade as its next head coach and here’s the latest Pack Pride is hearing on the search.
However, more names have surfaced in the last 24 hours with other positions also potentially showing interest in Wade. So what’s the absolute latest when it comes to the NC State coaching search? Here’s what I’m hearing after digging all weekend with sources.