Where Cleveland's first/second-round matchups stand in March Madness bracket predictions

[ASFN Admin]

Selection Sunday has arrived.

Early this evening, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament field of 68 will be announced and we'll learn who's coming to Cleveland for first- and second-round games Friday and Saturday.

Rocket Arena will host six games over those two days, as eight teams will be looking to be one of the two who advance from Cleveland into the Sweet 16.

So who could be coming to Cleveland?

Assorted college basketball experts have some big-name programs as likely teams headed to The Land.

Bracketology: NCAA Tournament field projection for Cleveland from USA Today​

The USA Today predicts two No. 2 seeds, one from the Big Ten and one from the SEC, will be among the eight teams playing at Rocket Arena. Here's a look at the projected matchups:

• No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 Baylor, East Region
• No. 2 Alabama vs. No 15 Montana, East Region
• No. 7 Mississippi vs. No. 10 West Virginia, Midwest Region
• No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Bryant, Midwest Region

Bracketology: Other projections of Cleveland's NCAA Tournament games​

ESPN's Joe Lunardi has the same two No. 2 seeds heading to Cleveland. His projected matchups:

• No. 7 Missouri vs. No. 10 West Virginia, South Region
• No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Wofford, South Region
• No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Utah State, East Region
• No. 2 Alabama vs. No 15 Bryant, East Region

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CBS Sports' Jerry Palm also has Michigan State coming to Cleveland, but with a different SEC team as the other No. 2 seed, Tennessee. Here are his projected matchups:

• No. 7 Missouri vs. No. 10 Utah State, South Region
• No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Montana, South Region
• No. 7 St. Mary's vs. No. 10 Arkansas, East Region
• No. 2 Tennessee vs. No 15 Omaha, East Region

When are the March Madness college basketball games in Cleveland?​

All first-round games at Rocket Arena are Friday, March 21. The second-round games are Sunday, March 23. Game times and broadcast info will be announced later.

When does March Madness begin?​

The First Four games are Tuesday and Wednesday, March 18-19, at University of Dayton Arena. Here's a look at the rest of the key days for the NCAA tournament.

• First round: March 20-21
• Second round: March 22-23
• Sweet 16: March 27-28
• Elite Eight: March 29-30
• Final Four: April 5 (San Antonio, Texas)
• National championship: April 7 (San Antonio, Texas)

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland March Madness bracket predictions for 2025 NCAA Tournament

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