The road to the Final Four for the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament has reached its conclusion.

Eight teams will compete in the Elite Eight on Sunday and Monday for four spots in the Final Four next weekend. Defending champion and No. 1 seed South Carolina takes on No. 2 Duke at 1 p.m. ET to tip off the action, while No. 1 overall seed UCLA plays No. 3 seed LSU to round out Sunday’s games.

The action continues on Monday, when No. 1 seed Texas plays No. 2 seed TCU at 7 p.m. The last Final Four spot will go to the winner of No. 1 seed USC and No. 2 UConn, whose game is scheduled to tip off at 9 p.m. ET on Monday.

The four winners on Sunday and Monday will advance to the Final Four at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The Final Four games will be played on Friday, April 4, with the championship game scheduled for Sunday, April 6.

Here’s the full list of teams to make the Final Four in 2025, which will be updated as games conclude:

Who is in the Final Four?

This section will be updated.

No. 1 South Carolina (Birmingham 2 Regional)

Final Four schedule

This section will be updated. All times Eastern.

Friday, April 4

Final Four game 1: 7 p.m. on ESPN | Fubo (free trial)
Final Four game 2: 9:30 p.m. on ESPN | Fubo (free trial)

Sunday, April 6

Championship game: 3 p.m. on ABC | Fubo (free trial)

Watch women’s Final Four with Fubo (free trial)

Women’s March Madness bracket

All times Eastern.

Spokane 1 Regional

First round

No. 1 UCLA 84, Southern 64
No. 8 Richmond 74, No. 9 Georgia Tech 49
No. 5 Ole Miss 83, No. 12 Ball State 65
No. 4 Baylor 73, No. 13 Grand Canyon 60
No. 6 Florida State 94, No. 11 George Mason 59
No. 3 LSU 103, No. 14 San Diego State 48
No. 7 Michigan State 64, No. 10 Harvard 50
No. 2 NC State 75, No. 15 Vermont 55

Second round

No. 1 UCLA 84, No. 8 Richmond 67
No. 5 Ole Miss 69, No. 4 Baylor 63
No. 3 LSU 101, No. 6 Florida State 71
No. 2 NC State 83, No. 7 Michigan State 49

Sweet 16

No. 3 LSU 80, No. 2 NC State 73
No. 1 UCLA 76, No. 5 Ole Miss 62

Elite Eight

No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 3 LSU

Birmingham 2 Regional

First round

No. 1 South Carolina 108, No. 16 Tennessee Tech 48
No. 9 Indiana 76, No. 8 Utah 68
No. 5 Alabama 81, No. 12 Green Bay 67
No. 4 Maryland 82, No. 13 Norfolk State 69
No. 3 North Carolina 70, No. 14 Oregon State 49
No. 10 Oregon 77, No. 7 Vanderbilt 73 (OT)
No. 2 Duke 86, No. 15 Lehigh 25

Second round

No. 1 South Carolina 64, No. 9 Indiana 53
No. 4 Maryland 111, No. 5 Alabama 108 (2OT)
No. 3 North Carolina 58, No. 6 West Virginia 47
No. Duke 59, No. 10 Oregon 53

Sweet 16

No. 2 Duke 47, vs. No. 3 North Carolina 38
No. 1 South Carolina 71, No. 4 Maryland 67

Elite Eight

No. 1 South Carolina 54, No. 2 Duke 50

Final Four

No. 1 South Carolina vs. TBD

Birmingham 3 Regional

First round

No. 1 Texas 105, No. 16 William & Mary 61
No. 8 Illinois 66, No. 9 Creighton 57
No. 5 Tennessee 101, No. 12 South Florida 66
No. 4 Ohio State 71, No. 13 Montana State 51
No. 6 Michigan 80, No. 11 Iowa State 74
No. 3 Notre Dame 106, No. 14 Stephen F. Austin 54
No. 7 Louisville 63, No. 10 Nebraska 58
No. 2 TCU 73, No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson 51

Second round

No. 1 Texas 65, No. 8 Illinois 48
No. 5 Tennessee 85, No. 4 Ohio State 67
No. 3 Notre Dame 76, No. 6 Michigan 55
No. 2 TCU 85, No. 7 Louisville 70

Sweet 16

No. 1 Texas 67, No. 5 Tennessee 59
No. 2 TCU 71, No. 3 Notre Dame 62

Elite Eight

No. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 TCU

Spokane 4 Regional

First round

No. 1 USC 72, No. 16 UNC-Greensboro 25
No. 9 Mississippi State 59, No. 8 Cal 46
No. 5 Kansas State 85, No. 12 Fairfield 41
No. 4 Kentucky 79, No. 13 Liberty 78
No. 6 Iowa 92, No. 11 Murray State 57
No. 3 Oklahoma 81, No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast 58
No. 10 South Dakota State 74, No. 7 Oklahoma State 68
No. 2 UConn 103, No. 15 Arkansas State 34

Second round

No. 1 USC 96, No. 9 Mississippi State 59
No. 5 Kansas State 80, No. 4 Kentucky 79 (OT)
No. 3 Oklahoma 96, No. 6 Iowa 62
No. 2 UConn 91, No. 10 South Dakota State 57

Sweet 16

No. 2 UConn 82, No. 3 Oklahoma | 59
No. 1 USC 67, No. 5 Kansas State 61

Elite Eight

No. 1 USC vs. No. 2 UConn

The top-seeded Auburn Tigers will meet the No. 2 seeded Michigan State Spartans in an Elite Eight matchup on Sunday.

The winner will represent the South Region of the men’s NCAA Tournament bracket and compete in the Final Four against the No. 1 seeded Florida Gators, who took down Texas Tech 84-79 on Saturday.

The Tigers are coming off a 78-65 victory over No. 5 seed Michigan on Friday. SEC Player of the Year Johni Broome had 22 points and 16 rebounds in the matchup to lead Auburn.

Michigan State is coming off a 73-70 victory over Ole Miss on Friday. Jase Richardson had 20 points and six rebounds to lead the Spartans.

Follow along live for bracket updates, scores, highlights and how to watch Sunday’s action:

What time is Auburn vs. Michigan State basketball today?

March Madness continues Sunday with an Elite Eight matchup between the No. 1-seeded Auburn Tigers and the No. 2-seeded Michigan State Spartans. The action tips off at 5:05 p.m. ET

Where to watch Auburn vs. Michigan State: TV, streaming coverage 

TV channel: CBS
Live stream: Paramount+ and Fubo (Fubo offers a free trial subscription)

Watch March Madness with Fubo

What channel is March Madness on?

Men’s NCAA Tournament games on Sunday will be broadcast on CBS. You can also watch Elite 8 action via these streaming options: Paramount+ and Fubo. Fubo offers a free trial subscription to new users.

Auburn vs. Michigan State odds and betting line

The Auburn Tigers are favorites to beat the Michigan State Spartans, according to BetMGM odds as of Sunday, March 30.

Spread: Auburn (-5.5)
Moneyline: Auburn (-220); Michigan State (+180)
O/U: 147.5

Auburn vs. Michigan State predictions and picks

Detroit Free Press: Michigan State 68, Auburn 66

Chris Solari writes, ‘Don’t be fooled by the offensive capabilities of these two teams. Both Tom Izzo and Bruce Pearl know the key will be defending each other at an elite level. For the Spartans, that means alternating their big men on Johni Broome and their guards on Tahaad Pettiford to keep them confused and forcing the rest of the Tigers’ eight-man rotation to play above their averages. Auburn can get sloppy, but MSU also must continue to play through mistakes and keep it close into the second half, where Izzo’s adjustments and his players’ sheer will to win send the Spartans back to his ninth Final Four and first since 2019.’

Lansing State Journal: Auburn 78, Michigan State 70

Graham Couch writes, ‘In terms of pound-for-pound talent, this will be MSU’s biggest challenge of the season thus far. I’ve learned time after time not to doubt this MSU team. But here we are again.’

Auburn vs. Michigan State all-time head-to-head record, history

The Auburn Tigers and Michigan State Spartans have played one another just once in their history. The Spartans defeated the Tigers 92-79 on Nov. 23, 1989.

Have the Auburn Tigers ever won a national championship?

The Auburn Tigers have never won a national championship. They have reached as far as the Final Four in 2019. The program also claims two Elite Eight appearances (1986, 2019) and six Sweet 16 appearances.

Michigan State national championship, NCAA tournament history

The Michigan State Spartans have won the national championship twice (2000, 1979). The Spartans also went to the finals in 2009, losing to North Carolina, 89-72.

March Madness championship odds

Odds to win the men’s NCAA national championship, according to BetMGM odds as of Saturday, March 29. Here’s a full look at the favorites to win the men’s tournament:

Duke (+190)
Florida (+290)
Houston (+525)
Auburn (+550)
Michigan State (+2800)

Auburn is far from an underdog to Michigan State

USA TODAY’s Dan Wolken looks at Bruce Pearl’s thoughts on his Auburn team playing underdog in its game against Michigan State.

Wolken begins, ‘Bruce Pearl had an interesting framing for overall No. 1 seed Auburn’s matchup with Michigan State on Sunday for a spot in the Final Four.

And by interesting, we mean utterly nonsensical.

‘We’re a team made up of only one five-star (recruit),’ Pearl said Saturday. ‘One of the things I reminded my guys of, there are several guys on the Michigan State roster that are McDonald’s All-Americans. I have one, and that’s Tahaad Pettiford. He’s pretty good.”

Men’s March Madness bracket: Dates, times, TV, results and scores

All times Eastern

Tuesday, March 18

First Four games

South region: No. 16 Alabama State def. No. 16 St. Francis, 70-68
South region: No. 11 North Carolina def. No. 11 San Diego State, 95-68

Wednesday, March 19

First Four games

East region: No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s def. No. 16 American, 83-72
Midwest region: No. 11 Xavier def. No. 11 Texas, 86-80

Thursday, March 20

Round of 64 games

South region: No. 9 Creighton def. No. 8 Louisville, 89-75
Midwest region: No. 4 Purdue def. No. 13 High Point, 75-63
East region: No. 3 Wisconsin def. No. 14 Montana, 86-66
Midwest region: No. 1 Houston def. No. 16 SIU-Edwardsville, 78-40
South region: No. 1 Auburn def. No. 16 Alabama State, 83-63
Midwest region: No. 12 McNeese State def. No. 5 Clemson, 69-67
East region: No. 6 BYU def. No. 11 VCU, 80-71
Midwest region: No. 8 Gonzaga def. No. 9 Georgia, 89-68
Midwest region: No. 2 Tennessee def. No. 15 Wofford, 77-62
West region: No. 10 Arkansas def. No. 7 Kansas, 79-72
South region: No. 4 Texas A&M def. No. 13 Yale, 80-71
West region: No. 11 Drake def. No. 6 Missouri, 67-57
Midwest region: No. 7 UCLA def. No. 10 Utah State, 72-47
West region: No. 2 St. John’s def. No. 15 Omaha, 83-53
South region: No. 5 Michigan def. No. 12 UC San Diego, 68-65
West region: No. 3 Texas Tech def. No. 14 UNC-Wilmington, 82-72

Friday March 21

Round of 64 games

East region: No. 9 Baylor def. No. 8 Mississippi State, 75-72
East region: No. 2 Alabama def. No. 15 Robert Morris, 90-81
South region: No. 3 Iowa State def. No. 14 Lipscomb, 82-55
West region: No. 12 Colorado State def. No. 5 Memphis, 78-70
East region: No. 1 Duke def. No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s, 93-49
East region: No. 7 Saint Mary’s def. No. 10 Vanderbilt, 59-56
South region: No. 6 Ole Miss def. No. 11 North Carolina, 71-64
West region: No. 4 Maryland def. No. 13 Grand Canyon, 81-49
West region: No. 1 Florida def. No. 16 Norfolk State, 95-69
Midwest region: No. 3 Kentucky def. No. 14 Troy, 76-57
South region: No. 10 New Mexico def. No. 7 Marquette, 75-66
East region: No. 4 Arizona def. No. 13 Akron, 93-65
West region: No. 8 UConn def. No. 9 Oklahoma, 67-59
Midwest region: No. 6 Illinois def. No. 11 Xavier, 86-73
South region: No. 2 Michigan State def. No. 15 Bryant, 87-62
East region: No. 5 Oregon def. No. 12 Liberty, 81-52

Saturday, March 22

No. 4 Purdue def. No. 12 McNeese, 76-62
No. 10 Arkansas def. No. 2 St. John’s, 75-66
No. 5 Michigan def. No 4 Texas A&M, 91-79
No. 3 Texas Tech def. No. 11 Drake, 77-64
No. 1 Auburn def. No. 9 Creighton, 82-70
No. 6 BYU def. No. 3 Wisconsin, 91-89
No. 1 Houston def. No. 8 Gonzaga, 81-76
No. 2 Tennessee def. No. 7 UCLA, 67-58

Sunday, March 23

No. 1 Florida def. No. 8 UConn, 77-75
No. 1 Duke def. No. 9 Baylor, 89-66
No. 3 Kentucky def. No. 6 Illinois, 84-75
No. 2 Alabama def. No. 7 Saint Mary’s, 80-66
No. 4 Maryland def. No. 12 Colorado State, 72-71
No. 6 Ole Miss def. No. 3 Iowa State, 91-78
No. 2 Michigan State def. No. 10 New Mexico, 71-63
No. 4 Arizona def. No. 5 Oregon, 87-83

Thursday, March 27

East and West region Sweet 16 games

No. 2 Alabama def. No. 6 BYU, 113-88
No. 1 Florida def. No. 4 Maryland, 87-71
No. Duke def. No. 4 Arizona, 100-93
No. 3 Texas Tech def. No. 10 Arkansas, 85-83

Friday, March 28

Midwest and South region Sweet 16 games

No. 2 Michigan State def. No. 6 Ole Miss, 73-70
No. 2 Tennessee def. No. 3 Kentucky, 78-65
No. 1 Auburn def. No. 5 Michigan, 78-65
No. 1 Houston def. No. 4 Purdue, 62-60

Saturday, March 29

No. 1 Florida def. No. 3 Texas Tech, 84-79
No. 1 Duke def. No. 2 Alabama, 85-65

Sunday, March 30

No. 1 Houston def. No. 2 Tennessee, 69-50 | 2:20 p.m. | CBS
No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Michigan State | 5:05 p.m. | CBS

Saturday, April 5

Final Four

Semifinal 1: 6:09 p.m. | CBS
Semifinal 2: 8:49 p.m. | CBS

Monday, April 7

National championship game: 8:50 p.m. | CBS

When does the Final Four start?

The men’s Final Four is scheduled for Saturday, April 5. The NCAA championship game will take place two days later on Monday, April 7. All games will played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

For the women, the Final Four will be played on Friday, April 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The championship game will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at the same venue.

If people were waiting for the women’s tournament to heat up, the elite matchups finally arrived during the Sweet 16 of March Madness.

The weekend opened with gritty games, including a popcorn-worthy head-to-head between No. 4 seed Maryland and No. 1 seed South Carolina, requiring a magical performance from the Gamecocks to escape. LSU and Aneesah Morrow catapulted their way into the Elite Eight with an emphatic upset win over No. 2 seed NC State. Then, several women’s basketball storylines added new chapters.

Hailey Van Lith and TCU made history with a sensational win over the No. 3 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Paige Bueckers wrote new pages ― pun intended ― in her women’s NCAA tournament book. Also, despite an at times dreadful offense, the USC Trojans rallied without superstar JuJu Watkins to skate into the next round. The Sweet 16 is finished. Let’s discuss which teams added to their case for a national championship and which programs have work to do.

Here are the winners and losers from the Sweet 16 during March Madness:

Winner: TCU and Hailey Van Lith

Van Lith’s best shot of the day was a timely 3-point basket in the middle of the floor with four minutes remaining in regulation, stretching the lead to 8 points. The Fighting Irish couldn’t overcome the deficit and fell 71-62. Van Lith had 26 points during the Sweet 16 matchup, including 18 in the second half. TCU’s win was a fitting chapter to Van Lith’s story, one of the best in women’s basketball.

Loser: USC’s offense without JuJu Watkins

The looming question for the USC Trojans has been: what will the team look like without its leading scorer, Juju Watkins? The answer is very underwhelming. Watkins understandably elevated everyone around her and kept the ball moving. There wasn’t much of that to start the matchup against No. 5 Kansas State and, predictably, the Trojans struggled. Forward Kiki Iriafen started Saturday evening a putrid 1-for-7 from the field, which forced the Trojans to get created with offensive production.

Freshman Kennedy Smith led the charge with 19 points, and Avery Howell and Rayah Marshall added 18 and 10 points, respectively. Smith also had a standout night defensively, with three steals, that helped spur some much-needed runs and get the rest of the team involved. The Trojans had 10 total steals and 18 points off turnovers as they squeaked by Kansas State with a 67-61 win to get to the Elite Eight. A matchup with Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies in consecutive years awaits.

Winner: UConn’s Paige Bueckers and her career night

What is the NCAA tournament without a vintage Paige Bueckers performance? Bueckers has had a phenomenal string of recent games, which continued against the No. 3 seed Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners were on the wrong side of history as ‘Paige Buckets’ delivered an awe-inspiring performance.

After going scoreless in the second quarter, Bueckers hit another gear in the second half with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line. She scored 29 points, including five 3-point baskets, as the Huskies rolled. The senior guard rode off into the proverbial sunset with 40 points (a new career-high), six rebounds, two blocks and an 82-59 win.

Loser: Notre Dame Fighting Irish and their inconsistency

There were a lot of questions about Notre Dame before March Madness. From game to game ― sometimes quarter to quarter ― people wonder which version of Niele Ivey’s team will show up. The Fighting Irish lost three out of five games before the NCAA tournament and had seemingly turned it around until they played No. 2 TCU during the Sweet 16.

Notre Dame was up 52-51 at the start of the fourth quarter, but a flurry of turnovers and missed shots doomed the team. When Ivey and the Fighting Irish turn the film on, they might feel sick. Notre Dame missed a mystifying 10 shots right under the basket and 12 total baskets in the paint. Also, stars Hannah Hildago and Olivia Miles were scoreless the entire quarter. The Horned Frogs, who beat Notre Dame in November, won again, sending them to the first Elite Eight in program history.

Winner: South Carolina’s show-stopping guard Milaysia Fulwiley

No. 1 seed South Carolina might have added a few extra grays to head coach Dawn Staley’s hair as they battled in Birmingham with No. 4 Maryland. The Gamecocks never quite found their footing during the first half, often rushing shots and playing sloppy and out of position defensively. Like their second-round matchup against Indiana, South Carolina trailed at halftime. (A potential blueprint for beating South Carolina could be making the rounds.) However, a second-half burst helped Staley’s team regain its identity.

Midway through the third, the Gamecocks turned up their defense, handling the Terrapins’ suffocating offense much better. That eventually freed up several players to score, like human highlight reel and sophomore sensation MiLaysia Fulwiley. Fulwiley scored 16 of her 23 points in the second half, including a layup with under three minutes remaining that spurred a spectacular 7-0 Gamecocks run. South Carolina shut the door on its 71-67 win as Marland coughed up the basketball a gut-wrenching five times within the closing minutes. The Gamecocks make their fifth straight Elite Eight appearance on Sunday.

Loser: LSU and Flau’jae Johnson’s eye injury

LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson already had shin inflammation ahead of the NCAA tournament, and now there’s an eye injury for Kim Mulkey to worry about. During the Tigers’ Sweet 16 matchup against No. 2 seed NC State, Johnson collided with guard Zoe Brooks during the fourth quarter, falling to the floor. She was down for several moments before popping back up and heading to the bench, where she was attended to by nearby medical staff.

ESPN’s Holly Rowe later shared that Johnson reportedly scraped her eye and asked, ‘Don’t you just have some tape? I can just tape my eye open’ so that she could return to action. However, once LSU sealed its 80-73 win against the Wolfpack with an immaculate defensive sequence, Johnson did not return to the matchup. Per Mulkey, Johnson was ‘seeing double,’ and team medics said no to going back in. It’s unclear if Johnson will play in Sunday’s Elite Eight matchup, though Mulkey anticipated she would be ‘good to go.’

Winner: LSU forward Aneesah Morrow and her WNBA draft stock

Before the LSU Tigers played NC State on Friday during the Sweet 16, Tigers forward Aneesah Morrow had already made her case to be a top-ten WNBA draft pick. Morrow is a force on the glass as the country’s top rebounder, but her unrelenting motor could also elevate her into the top five selections on April 14. Against the Wolfpack, Morrow put the team on her back after a rough scoring night for teammate Flau’jae Johnson. Johnson was shockingly scoreless in the first half and finished her evening a brutal 1-for-8. Morrow understood the assignment ― putting on a clinic ― and turned in an astounding 30 points and 19 rebounds performance, her best outing of the season, to propel LSU into the Elite Eight.

‘Morrow, she’s killing us,’ NC State coach Wes Moore told ESPN during a mid-game interview. Moore was right. The wolfpack had no answer for Morrow all night long. Ahead of the fourth quarter, the 6-foot-1 forward already had 24 points and 12 rebounds, including 11 points and five rebounds in the third. If Morrow continues on this trajectory, she could shake up the top five picks in the draft. WNBA general managers now have the impossible task of deciding which top post player to take first: French center Dominique Malonga, USC’s Kiki Iriafen or Morrow? (May the odds be in their favor.)

Loser: Anyone watching North Carolina and Duke’s horrid matchup

If people watching the No. 3 seed North Carolina Tarheels and No. 2 seed Duke Blue Devils were hoping for a matchup worthy of Sweet 16 drama, it didn’t happen. North Carolina shot an abysmal 28.3%, and Duke wasn’t much better. The Blue Devils were 31% from the field. Those are real numbers. There were 78 missed shots on Friday.

As ugly as the game was, there was a bright spot: Duke’s Oluchi Okananwa had a double-double off the bench. Duke rolled to the Elite Eight, a horrid 47-38 final score in tow. Thank goodness for the final buzzer.

Winner: Kim Mulkey’s swanky Sweet 16 denim outfit vs. NC State

Thankfully, LSU won, and now her Sweet 16 outfit will likely go into the Hall of Fame of top Mulkey ensembles during the NCAA tournament. (The bell bottom jeans and gold heels certainly deserve some acknowledgment, too.) Also, the internet did not disappoint with its glorious jokes, and now Mulkey’s Elite Eight outfit has to reach new heights, or the levels of disappointment will be immense.

Final Four berths will be earned in the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments on Sunday.

In the men’s NCAA Tournament, No. 2 seed Tennessee will play No. 1 seed Houston in the Midwest Region, while No. 1 overall seed Auburn will play Tom Izzo and No. 2 seed Michigan State in the South, finalizing the Final Four.

On the women’s side, Duke-South Carolina and LSU-UCLA will determine the first two Final Four berths.

Duke and Florida both secured Final Four berths on Saturday with wins over No. 2 seed Alabama and No. 3 seed Texas Tech in the Elite Eight, respectively. Duke will face the winner of Tennessee-Houston, while Florida faces the winner of Auburn-Michigan State for a spot in the national championship on Monday, April 7.

LSU-UCLA headlines the women’s slate on Sunday, as the Tigers and Bruins rematch from their Sweet 16 matchup a season ago. LSU and coach Kim Mulkey got the best of UCLA in 2024, defeating the Bruins 78-69.

Here’s a look at the Sunday slate of NCAA Tournament games across men’s and women’s action:

What time does March Madness start today?

All times Eastern.

Here are the start times for men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament games today:

Men’s NCAA Tournament games: 2:20 p.m. | 5:05 p.m.
Women’s NCAA Tournament games: 1 p.m. | 3 p.m.

March Madness schedule today

Here’s the full schedule for Sunday games in both March Madness tournaments:

Men’s NCAA Tournament

(2) Tennessee vs. (1) Houston | 2:20 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
(2) Michigan State vs. (1) Auburn | 5:05 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)

Women’s NCAA Tournament

(2) Duke vs. (1) South Carolina | 1 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
(3) LSU vs. (1) UCLA | 3 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)

What channel are March Madness games on today?

Men’s NCAA Tournament

TV channel: CBS
Streaming: March Madness Live | Fubo (free trial)

Women’s NCAA Tournament

TV channel: ABC
Streaming: March Madness Live | ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

CBS and ABC will air the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments on Sunday, respectively. A catch-all streaming option for all March Madness games is March Madness Live, which requires a valid cable login. The ESPN app is also a potential option for anyone wanting to stream the women’s March Madness games.

Otherwise, Fubo carries both ABC and CBS, and offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

LOS ANGELES − It was everything Jack Flaherty dreamed of being born and raised in nearby Burbank.

Growing up to be a major-league baseball player, playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning the World Series, and getting his World Series ring in front of friends and family.

Only, this one had a bit of a twist.

Flaherty, who won the championship with the Dodgers last season, received his ring on Saturday, but there was no elegant production. The Dodgers ownership group wasn’t standing on stage.

Flaherty walked out wearing a Detroit Tigers sweatshirt and got a bear hug from former teammate Mookie Betts, who presented him a Dodgers gold-lettered championship uniform. He was also greeted by manager Dave Roberts and about 10 of his former teammates. And then he received his World Series ring from Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior.

Flaherty became emotional after the ceremony, hugging his mother in a long embrace, and then taking pictures with his family afterwards.

And finally, for Flaherty, there is closure.

He arrived at the trade deadline from the Tigers last season, helped lead the Dodgers to the NL West title, going 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA, covering 55 ⅓ innings in the regular season. One of just three healthy starting pitchers, he helped guide the Dodgers through October, making five starts. He started Game 1 of the NLCS against the New York Mets, Game 1 of the World Series and their Game 5 clinching victory against the New York Yankees.

“He was a true professional who really wants to be great,’’ Dodgers three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw said. “And he goes about his business great. Great addition to our team last year.

“It helped us out a ton.’’

Simply, the Dodgers don’t win the World Series without the man.

“Somewhat of a savior, to be honest with you,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Jack, hometown guy, it was his dream to pitch for the Dodgers, and he delivered.

“So, he’s going to be a friend of mine for life. … He was the right person at the right time for our club. And I’m happy that he got family and friends to see him in a Dodger uniform.”

Flaherty, who had to watch the Dodgers’ ring ceremony from the Tigers’ bullpen as he warmed up before the game Friday, stopping long enough to clap for Kershaw when he received his ring, badly wanted to be part of the festivities. Yet, since he was starting, he had to wait with emotions searing through his body.

“It kind of felt like my first time back here,’’ Flaherty said, “my first start in 2018 where it was more emotion than heart rate or anything. It was almost out-of-body-ish.”

Flaherty had tried to downplay his emotions to family and friends before he arrived into town, but who was he kidding? The truth is that he wanted to be back in a Dodger uniform, pleading his case all winter. Yet, the Dodgers instead signed two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract in November. Two months later, they signed Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki to a $6.5 million signing bonus.

The cruel reality for Flaherty is they no longer needed him.

“The whole focus on this winter,” Flaherty said, “was figuring out where the best place was for me to end up and let the pieces fall where they may.”

Flaherty wound up back with the Tigers, signing a two-year, $45 million contract, but no matter how much he wanted to return, those glorious memories will never fade.

“It’s an incredible thing to think about,’’ Flaherty said, “and an incredible thing to be a part of. I got lucky enough to be on a team that got to win it in the fashion we did.

“Growing up here and being a part of this, to give it all back and live it out in real time was awesome.”

The ultimate dream, of course, would have been for Flaherty to do everything in his power Friday to help keep the Dodgers from winning another title. He had a no-hitter for four innings. He was pitching a shutout through five innings. But then there was Freddie Freeman hitting a two-run homer in the sixth inning, ending his night, and was serenaded by the fans with a loud, appreciative ovation.

“It means a lot,’’ Flaherty said, “especially growing up here and spending a lot of time here. It was very special.”

Now, the ultimate dream, he said, is to help the Tigers win their first World Series since 1984.

“I wish he would have stayed with us, selfishly, but it was awesome watching him and win a World Series,’’ Tigers outfielder Riley Greene said. “When he signed back here, I shot him a text with some words I can’t say, but I’m very excited.’’

Considering the Tigers came roaring back to reach the postseason, stunned the Houston Astros, and came within one game of beating the Cleveland Guardians in the Division Series, who knows what would have happened if they had kept Flaherty.

Tigers Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal hates to ponder the thought, knowing that while they certainly could have used Flaherty, they also received valuable shortstop Trey Sweeney in the deal. All he knows is that he wants that piece of jewelry that Flaherty will be wearing.

“I wasn’t a fan of trading him away,’’ Skubal said. “I didn’t want him to go. But I’m happy for him because he ended up getting the ring that I’m striving to get.

“I want to see it. I’ll probably wear it. I can’t wait to see which finger fits for me.

“He has what we all want.’’

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The No. 2 Tennessee Volunteers have dreams of dancing into the Final Four, but will have to make it past the No. 1 Houston Cougars on Sunday in the final day of the Elite Eight in the men’s NCAA Tournament.

March Madness is nearing its final salvo with a few more flourishes in store. Houston has looked somewhat mortal in the tournament. After slicing through SIU Edwardsville in the first round, it staved off a comeback from Gonzaga in the second round, 81-76. The Cougars then needed late heroics from Milos Uzan to get past Purdue in the Sweet 16.

For Tennessee, things have been relatively drama-free. Its most recent win, a 78-65 takedown of Kentucky, showcased this squad’s prowess on defense.

Follow along live for bracket updates, scores, highlights and how to watch Sunday’s action:

What time is Houston vs. Tennessee basketball today?

March Madness continues Sunday with the Elite Eight matchup between the No. 1-seeded Houston Cougars and the No. 2-seeded Tennessee Volunteers. The action tips off at 2:20 p.m. ET

Where to watch Houston vs. Tennessee: TV, streaming coverage 

TV channel: CBS
Live stream: Paramount+ and Fubo (Fubo offers a free trial subscription)

Watch March Madness with Fubo

What channel is March Madness on?

Men’s NCAA Tournament games on Sunday will be broadcast on CBS. You can also watch Elite Eight action via these streaming options: Paramount+ and Fubo. Fubo offers a free trial subscription to new users.

Houston vs. Tennessee odds and betting line

The Houston Cougars are favorites to beat the Tennessee Volunteers, according to BetMGM odds as of Sunday, March 30.

Spread: Houston (-3.5)
Moneyline: Houston (-155); Tennessee (+130)
O/U: 125.5

Houston vs. Tennessee predictions and picks

The Arizona Republic: Houston 64, Tennessee 63

Jeremy Cluff writes: ‘The point spread for this game is the lowest of the four Elite Eight games, with Houston favored by just 3.5 points. The Cougars have won their most recent two NCAA Tournament games by a combined seven points, but they keep finding ways to win. Kelvin Sampson will find a way to lead his team to the Final Four with a very close win over Tennessee on Sunday.’

Sportsbook Wire: Houston 69, Tennessee 66

The site states: ‘Houston has compiled a 19-18-0 ATS record so far this year. Tennessee has covered 20 times in 37 chances against the spread this season. The 74.2 points per game the Cougars record are 11.3 more points than the Volunteers give up (62.9).’

Houston vs. Tennessee all-time head-to-head record, history

The Tennessee Volunteers and Houston Cougars have played one another five times since 1970. The Volunteers enjoy a 3-2 record in the series and won the most recent matchup, a 69-49 victory on Dec. 19, 1995.

NEWARK, N.J. – Even when Cooper Flagg wasn’t at his best in the NCAA men’s tournament East Regional Final against Alabama, his potential NBA lottery-bound teammates picked up the slack, and it was good enough for Duke to advance to another Final Four.

Kon Knueppel scored 21 points, Tyrese Proctor added 17 despite an off-game from Flagg, Duke held off a cold-shooting Alabama in the second half to win 85-65 on Saturday,

The top-seeded Blue Devils will play the winner of the South Regional Final between Houston and Tennessee next Saturday in San Antonio, Texas. It will be their 18th Final Four (and first since 2022), tying them with UCLA for the second-most appearances all-time.

Alabama, the nation’s highest-scoring team, kept the game close in the first half despite a dreadful shooting performance, hitting five of its 19 shots beyond the arc, and All-America guard Mark Sears struggling. After a 34-point, 10 3-pointer performance in the regional semifinal against Brigham Young, Sears didn’t hit his first bucket until two minutes left in the first half. He finished with six points on 2-12 shooting and five turnovers in 30 minutes.

Duke, who allowed only 61 points a game in the regular season, put that defensive prowess to work, as Alabama went stretches of four and five minutes in the second half without a field goal. It was anchored by 7-2 center Khaman Maluach, who clogged the paint and harassed Alabama shooters, allowing the Duke perimeter defenders to force low-percentage shots. He had 14 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks for Duke, who shot 53.6% from the field and had 40 points inside the paint.

The Blue Devils used a final 13-1 run, highlighted by a Knueppel dunk, to stretch the lead to 72-58 with four minutes remaining to seal the contest.

The Crimson Tide, who were aiming for a second consecutive trip to the Final Four, simply couldn’t find their way, especially their outside shooting. When it seemed everything went against BYU, hitting an NCAA Tournament record 25 three-pointers on 51 attempts, most of their long-range shots misfired, finishing 8-31 from downtown against the Blue Devils.

Flagg, the Most Outstanding Player of the East Region, scored 16 points, but had only six in the second half, and added nine rebounds. The Blue Devils have won 31 of their last 32 games, and now have won 15 consecutive games.

Labaron Philon had a team-high 16 points, Chris Youngblood added 10 for Alabama, who shot 35.4% from the field, made just 8 of 32 of its 3-pointers, and was held to 26 points below its average. It was only the second time all season that Alabama failed to score 70 points.