Exciting Clashes Await in the 2025 NCAA Men's Tournament

The 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament is heating up, with the Round of 64 behind us and 32 programs still vying for the national championship.

Sunday’s second-round spotlight shines on an East Region showdown between Duke and Baylor.

The Duke Blue Devils secured a prestigious No. 1 seed in this year’s March Madness bracket, sailing past the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers in their opening match. Their challengers, the ninth-seeded Baylor Bears, emerged victorious after toppling Mississippi State on Friday.

Duke is hailed as the top team in the KenPom rankings, boasting the third-best offense and fourth-strongest defense. On the other hand, Baylor sits at 29th overall, with the 16th-ranked offense but just the 57th-ranked defense.

Our experts have weighed in on this compelling Round of 32 battle. Dive into USA TODAY’s complete March Madness bracket predictions for our picks on every match-up. And while you’re at it, keep an eye out for our bold predictions and upset alerts throughout the tournament.

Duke vs. Baylor picks and predictions
Jordan Mendoza: Duke
Paul Myerberg: Duke
Erick Smith: Duke
Eddie Timanus: Duke
Dan Wolken: Duke
Jeremy Cluff: Duke 73, Baylor 69
* Rodd Baxley: Duke 86, Baylor 69

The Blue Devils are favored across the board. They stand among the nation’s elite by almost every measure, KenPom included, and are a popular choice to go all the way to the championship.

Duke vs. Baylor date, start time, and viewing options
Game Day: Sunday, March 23, 2025
Game Time: 2:40 p.m. ET
Location: Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C.
TV Channel: CBS
* Live Stream: Fubo - Watch Now!

Duke vs. Baylor betting odds
Odds as of Sunday, March 23 via BetMGM.
Spread: Duke -12.5 (-110)
Moneyline Favorite: Duke -1000
Moneyline Underdog: Baylor +625
* Total: 145.5