March Madness Cinderella Predictions: 3 Potential Cinderella Candidates to Watch in NCAA Tournament
In just a few days, there will be a few double-digit seeds that everyone is talking about in March Madness. But the real game is trying to find out who they'll be ahead of time. Tera Roberts has a pretty solid idea, and examines some potential Cinderella candidates for 2025 March Madness below.
Tera Roberts - March 19, 2025, 4:56 PM EDT
4 minMarch Madness Cinderella Predictions: 3 Potential Cinderella Candidates to Watch in NCAA Tournament
Cinderellas are the best part of watching March Madness and it’s even more thrilling when you pick the right Cinderalla that carries your bracket to victory! Who are some of the tournament's strongest Cinderella candidates in 2025? Let's break down some probable teams for the NCAA Tournament first round.
Get your first month of oddschecker+ right now for just $0.99. Don't miss out on this March Madness deal!
2025 March Madness Cinderella's to Watch
No. 12 UC San Diego Tritons (South Region)
Personally, my favorite part of picking Cinderellas is finding which 12 seeds are prime candidates to make a tournament run because it’s bound to happen and my top potential 12 seed Cinderella is UC San Diego.
Making their debut in the March Madness, the Tritons are coming off the Big West Championship and are ready to make a statement. Looking at oddschecker’s projections for 5 vs. 12 seeds, the Tritons are projected as one of the closest matchups of all 12 seeds with a +3 spread.
In the first round, they face a Michigan team coming off a strong run in the Big Ten Tournament. However, if the Tritons advance to the Sweet 16, they would potentially face the tournament’s overall Number 1 seed, which could actually work to their advantage. Despite securing the top seed, Auburn lost three of its last four games and is a popular upset candidate.
No. 13 Yale Bulldogs (South Region)
I somewhat hate picking on Auburn, but Yale is another strong Cinderella candidate. The Ivy League tournament champion and the Bulldogs’ experience and recent tournament appearances position them as a strong potential Cinderella.
Yale faces 4-seed Texas A&M in the first round. While Texas A&M presents a legitimate challenge, Yale’s exceptional three-point shooting - eighth in the nation at 38.8% - positions them to compete against any team in the nation. If Yale succeeds, they’d go on to face the winner of Michigan and UC San Diego, followed by a matchup with Auburn.
In other words, someone other than Auburn is bound to come out of the South and targeting a potential Cinderella from that region could be the difference-maker in your bracket.
No. 11 Drake Bulldogs (West Region)
First-year head coach Ben McCollum led the Bulldogs to a school-record 30 wins and the Missouri Valley Conference title. If Drake makes a run in the tournament, defense will be the key to victory. Drake leads the NCAA in allowing an average of 58.4 points per game, and their toughness at the rim comes through on the other side as well with strong offensive rebounding.
In the opening round, they face 6-seed Missouri, and if they can make it past Missouri, they wouldn’t face Florida or St. Johns until the Sweet 16, putting the Bulldogs in a position to make a run.
Can any of the Cinderella's make it all the way to the Final Four? It's unlikely, but not impossible. See their longshot odds here
DARK HORSE CANDIDATE
No. 5 Clemson Tigers (Midwest Region)
I know, I know. The ACC was bad this year, but if you’re looking for an overlooked dark horse candidate, you could turn to Clemson. It’s sneaky because they face 12-seed McNeese State in the first round, a matchup that many are targeting for a potential upset. However, Clemson is a well-rounded, experienced team that’s 18th in KenPom rankings, with their defensive efficiency standing out as a particular strength.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL ODDS
