2 min read • March 17, 2025
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As March Madness kicks off, understanding team strengths and weaknesses is critical for analyzing matchups and predicting outcomes. Below is a breakdown of the 2025 NCAA Tournament field, organized by region and ranked from lowest to highest score based on SIC Score injury metrics heading into the tournament. Here is our main injury and betting guide for the NCAA tournament:
-Taylor Bicht - @flyeronthewall
Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, suffered a likely Grade 2 left inversion ankle sprain during the ACC Tournament quarterfinals against Georgia Tech, limiting him to 15 minutes of play. The injury occurred when he slipped after grabbing a rebound, with his shoe coming off and possibly preventing worse damage. Flagg was ruled out for the remainder of the game, and while he is expected to miss Duke’s semifinal matchup against North Carolina, his status for the NCAA Tournament remains uncertain. As a key player averaging 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, his health is crucial to Duke’s championship hopes. for more info https://sicscore.com/dashboard/news/projected-no-1-pick-cooper-flagg-injures-ankle-dukes-title-hopes-in-question
Roberts, one of the Houston Cougars' top players and their leading rebounder (6.3 RPG), has missed the last two games due to an ankle injury. His absence caused him to miss the Big 12 Championship game against Arizona, and he was seen wearing a boot on his ankle while on the bench. Head coach Kelvin Sampson stated that Roberts will be reevaluated before this week's game and that he is currently receiving treatment. We at sicscore.com expect Roberts to likely miss the first round matchup but try to push through if Houston advances. If he does suit up will be operating at less than 100%. His presence, along with his 10.8 points per game and rebounding ability, will be missed if he remains sidelined. While Houston should have little trouble in their first-round matchup against SIU Edwardsville even without Roberts, his continued absence could become a bigger issue later in the tournament.
Broome has been the anchor for Auburn this season, averaging 18.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, but lingering ankle and shoulder injuries have made his availability a concern. He has played through these issues all season, but he didn't look quite right in Auburn’s most recent game against Alabama. As Auburn heads into the tournament, his ability to dominate inside will be critical, as he leads the Tigers in both scoring and rebounding. If he isn’t at full strength, Auburn’s chances of making a deep run could take a major hit.
Gilbert has been one of the Cyclones' most reliable offensive weapons, averaging 13.8 points and 4.2 assists per game. He returned for the second round of the Big 12 Tournament but played just 10 minutes and scored only three points, signaling that he is still far from 100% recovered. As the tournament progresses, he should improve, but the potential for re-aggravation remains a concern. The Cyclones need Gilbert at his best, especially as they look to make a strong push in March.
Update: Gilbert will miss NCAA Tournament, huge blow to the Cyclones title chances
Robinson is already out for the season after undergoing wrist surgery, and his absence is compounded by the loss of Kerr Kriisa, who also suffered a season-ending foot injury. Robinson was one of the Wildcats’ best perimeter threats, averaging 13.0 points per game and helping space the floor. The recent return of guard Lamont Butler is a much-needed boost, but losing two reliable scorers could be a significant challenge. Kentucky has struggled with injuries all year, and these losses could be a deciding factor in how far they advance.
For more NCAAB player insights, check out this link
Duke – 90.5
Houston – 91.7
Auburn – 91.9
Florida – 92.8
Alabama – 87.0
St. John's – 91.2
Tennessee – 92.7
Michigan State – 93.0
Iowa State – 86.1
Kentucky – 86.6
Texas Tech – 88.1
Wisconsin – 94.7
Arizona – 91.3
Purdue – 91.8
Maryland – 92.6
Texas A&M – 92.9
For the remaining team SIC Scores, check out this link
Kansas faces the lowest-rated SIC Score team in the tournament, Arkansas, according to our metrics. The Razorbacks are dealing with key injuries, missing two of their top scorers who each contribute over 10 points per game. Both teams have had inconsistent seasons, but head coach Bill Self is expected to take advantage of Arkansas’ depleted lineup and guide Kansas to a strong performance. Given these factors, Kansas -4.5 is a strong play, and the line is still bettable up to -5.0. Expect Kansas to control the game against an injury-riddled Arkansas squad.
Although the Cougars are dealing with one of the biggest injuries in the tournament with J'Wan Roberts sidelined, the team has pushed through his absence, winning both games he has missed, including victories over ranked opponents BYU and Arizona on their way to a Big 12 championship. Houston’s scoring depth remains a major strength, as they have four players averaging over 10 points per game, including Roberts. SIU Edwardsville is also dealing with injuries, missing two of their top scorers, which further tilts the matchup in Houston’s favor. Given these factors, expect the Cougars to play through Roberts' injury and cover the big spread.
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At SICscore.com, we provide expert insights from Dr. David Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) and other top sports doctors including Pro Basketball Doc John Hefferon MD to help fans and analysts understand the impact of injuries on the player and team. Here’s a summary of the latest insights. For full access to our expert NBA analysis, proven winning data, game matchup analysis and projections subscribe to SIC DATA from less than $1 a day here.
NCAAB 3-star picks winning at 60% this season. We've released our first wave of picks for the tournament on 3/16 which includes two 3-STAR picks who are underdogs!
Last year NCAAB picks won at 63% during conference and national championships
Our NBA model has won at over 58% the past three seasons!
MLB Futures won at 64% last year, 12 plays released and one more major releases coming soon!
NFL Picks winning at 56.5% for +28 units on Spreads last season!
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