Joe Lunardi Predicts March Madness Final After Bracket Reveal on Selection Sunday 2025

Before the First Four of the NCAA tournament gets underway on Tuesday night, ESPN's chief bracketologist Joe Lunardi unveiled his picks for the national championship game.

Lunardi revealed that he feels Florida, Houston, Duke and Michigan State will advance to the Final Four and predicted that the title game will see Florida topple Houston to win its third national championship in program history.

The Gators went 30-4 this season and defeated Tennessee in the SEC tournament final to win their first conference championship since 2014. They're riding a six-game win streak into the NCAA tournament, with five victories coming against teams ranked in the AP Top 25.

Lunardi explained that Florida's roster depth and balance on both ends of the floor are the reasons he believes the Gators will be hoisting the championship trophy when it's all said and done.

"Florida enters the tournament ranked top-10 in the nation in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, and has spent the past month overwhelming elite opponents with its pace, size and dynamic backcourt," Lunardi stated. "Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin just might be the nation's best backcourt, combining to make more than 160 3-pointers, while Alex Condon's versatility in the frontcourt causes trouble for opponents."

Houston also went 30-4 this season and defeated Arizona to win the Big 12 tournament championship. The Cougars are one of the best defensive teams in the nation, ranking second with opponents being held to an average of just 58.5 points per game. The team has been dominant over the last few months, winning 22 of its last 23 games.

Still, it's a bit of a surprise that Lunardi would pick Houston to make the national title game over Duke, which has the National Player of the Year frontrunner Cooper Flagg leading the way. The star freshman suffered an ankle injury in the ACC tournament, but the Blue Devils still won the conference championship without him.

Lunardi expressed confidence that the Cougars have what it takes to avenge last year's tournament loss to the Blue Devils and meet the Gators in the final.

"The Cougars have star power and plenty of veteran leadership," Lunardi stated. "A season after seeing their national title hopes disappear when star guard Jamal Shead injured his ankle in the first half of their Sweet 16 loss to Duke, the Cougars have the depth to advance across the state to San Antonio. They could even be playing Monday night for the national championship."

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