Breaking down the South Region of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, including potential Cinderella stories and how Texas A&M could make a run.
March Madness remains one of the most thrilling times of the year.
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is chaos distilled to its purest form.
Upsets, buzzer-beaters, and Cinderella stories. Survive and advance. Lose and go home. Texas A&M enters the tournament as a #4 seed in the South Region, set to face Yale in the first round on Thursday.
Despite an early SEC tournament exit in a double-overtime loss to Texas, the Aggies remain optimistic about a deep run. Wade Taylor IV and company have already defeated the region’s #1 seed, Auburn, earlier this season.
Let’s dive into Texas A&M’s potential path to the Final Four and examine some of the most intriguing underdogs in the South Region.
Texas A&M’s Path to the Final Four
First Round: Yale (#13 Seed)
The good news? Texas A&M has the physicality to control the boards and dominate the paint against Yale.
The bad news? Yale is lethal from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs excel in three-point shooting, an area where Texas A&M has struggled defensively. If Yale heats up from deep, the Aggies could find themselves in an early hole. The key to victory will be limiting open perimeter looks and forcing Yale to attack inside.
Second Round: Michigan (#5 Seed) or UC San Diego (#12 Seed)
If Texas A&M advances, they’ll face either Michigan or UC San Diego.
Michigan enters the tournament fresh off a Big Ten Championship, while UCSD won the Big West title. Michigan’s size and depth make them a tough opponent, but UCSD’s balanced scoring attack and ability to dictate tempo make them a dangerous underdog.
Sweet Sixteen: Auburn (#1 Seed), Creighton (#8 Seed), Louisville (#9 Seed), or Alabama State (#16 Seed)
A potential Sweet Sixteen matchup could feature top-seeded Auburn, but don’t overlook Creighton or Louisville as possible roadblocks. The Creighton-Louisville first-round game should be highly competitive, and Alabama State could be a sleeper pick given the in-state rivalry factor against Auburn.
Elite Eight: Michigan State (#2 Seed), Iowa State (#3 Seed), or a Surprise Contender
The bottom half of the South Region is stacked. Michigan State looks as strong as they have in recent years, and Iowa State has been one of the more balanced teams in the country.
Meanwhile, #11-seed North Carolina enters as one of the most debated at-large selections in the field. Additionally, Marquette vs. New Mexico is a first-round game to watch—both teams have the potential for deep runs.
Should Texas A&M survive the gauntlet, a matchup with Michigan State for a trip to the Final Four appears likely.
Potential Cinderella Stories in the South Region
#13 Seed Yale – +100000 Odds to Win NCAA Tournament (FanDuel)
Yale’s three-point shooting makes them a dangerous opponent for any team. The Bulldogs shoot 40% from deep, allowing them to erase deficits quickly and upset higher-seeded teams.
Their lack of interior size is a weakness, but if they get hot from beyond the arc, they could cause serious problems for Texas A&M and potentially beyond.
#10 Seed New Mexico – +70000 Odds to Win NCAA Tournament (FanDuel)
The Lobos had an impressive regular season, securing wins over multiple tournament teams like Colorado State, UCLA, and VCU.
Their opening-round matchup against Marquette is one of the more intriguing first-round games, and if New Mexico can pull off the upset, they have the potential to keep rolling.
#12 Seed UC San Diego – +60000 Odds to Win NCAA Tournament (FanDuel)
The Tritons enter the tournament with a stellar 30-4 record, but their path won’t be easy as they open against Big Ten champion Michigan.
Despite the tough draw, the spread for the Michigan-UCSD game is only 2.5 points, suggesting a much closer contest than the seedings indicate. If UC San Diego pulls off the first-round upset, they could make a deep Cinderella run.
FanDuel’s “Dog of the Day” Jackpot
What Is It?
A daily betting challenge to pick the lowest-seeded team to advance that day, with winners sharing a $1 million bonus bet pool.
Promotion Details:
Runs from March 20–23 (Thursday–Sunday)
Available once per day (four total chances)
Marketing begins March 17, with the first contest on March 20
How to Play:
1. Log in or download FanDuel Sportsbook
2. Claim your “Sweepstakes” token
3. Place a pre-live, straight moneyline wager using the token
4. Bet on the lowest-seeded team (16, 15, 14, etc.) to advance that day
5. Winners split a $1M bonus bet prize pool
Who are your picks for this year’s Cinderella stories in the NCAA Tournament?
