March Madness 2025: 3 Best Cinderella Teams That Could Make a Deep Tournament Run
Almost every year, underdogs make surprising runs in the NCAA Tournament. Here are three compelling Cinderella picks for March Madness 2025, backed by data and matchup analysis.
Basketball player celebrates victory triumphantly
UC San Diego (+360 to reach Sweet Sixteen)
- Nation's longest winning streak (15 games)
- Five experienced upperclassmen starters
- Top-10 in offensive and defensive turnover percentage
- Strong three-point shooting (37%)
- Favorable matchup vs turnover-prone Michigan
- Potential Round of 32 against beatable Yale/Texas A&M
Happy man in yellow shirt
VCU (+350 to reach Sweet Sixteen)
- Won 12 of last 13 games
- #1 in opponent effective field goal percentage
- Top-41 in both offensive and defensive efficiency
- Strong matchup against BYU's turnover-prone guards
- Favorable Round of 32 draw vs Wisconsin's weak defense
Basketball players jumping for layup
Gonzaga (+470 to reach Elite Eight)
- Won 9 of last 10 games
- Ranked 9th in KenPom's Net Rating
- Nation's second-best offense (87 PPG)
- Potential matchup against vulnerable 1-seed Houston
- Favorable Sweet Sixteen draw (Purdue/Clemson)
- Reached last 9 Sweet Sixteens
These teams combine strong metrics, favorable matchups, and momentum to make compelling Cinderella cases in their respective regions.