The Florida Gators basketball team is headed to the Sweet 16 in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, but some national media projections still aren’t leaning their way.
In an updated March Madness championship prediction, USA TODAY Sports writer Blake Toppmeyer reaffirmed his original pick: the Houston Cougars defeating the Florida Gators in the national championship game. He did have Florida making it to the Final Four along with the Iowa State Cyclones, Duke Blue Devils and Houston Cougars, of course.
The Gators, led by head coach Todd Golden, are making their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2017 after wins against Norfolk State and UConn. Florida enters the regional semifinal having won nine of its last 10 games and carrying momentum from a hard-fought battle in the second round against the Huskies.
Florida will face the Maryland Terrapins on Thursday, March 27 in San Francisco, California. A win would send the Gators to the Elite Eight for the first time in eight years.
With March Madness heating up, the Florida Gators will look to continue their tournament run as they pursue their first Final Four appearance since 2014, while at the same time, proving some national predictions wrong.
This is what Toppmeyer wrote about his NCAA Tournament championship prediction after the first two rounds.
USA TODAY Sports’ NCAA Tournament prediction
“No alterations here. I’m sticking with my initial pick after the Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 for the sixth straight tournament under Kelvin…
