The 2025 NIT bracket is locked in, and if you think March Madness is only about the NCAA tourney, you’re missing out. The NIT Tournament bracket always brings wild games—buzzer-beaters, underdogs making deep runs, and teams playing with something to prove. Sometimes, these matchups are even more intense than the big dance because these squads feel snubbed and come in hungry.
Personally, I love the NIT because it’s unpredictable, and that means betting opportunities. I just threw some action down on SMU and a couple of long-shot underdogs over at BetOnline and Bovada—gotta love a tournament where a No. 6 or 7 seed can suddenly catch fire and make a run.
For those who don’t follow it as closely, the NIT Tournament bracket is a 32-team, single-elimination tourney, with early rounds played on the home courts of higher-seeded teams. That home-court edge is huge, especially in round one, so I’m leaning toward favorites early before looking at dogs in the later rounds.
Here’s what’s catching my eye on this year’s NIT bracket:
SMU (Dallas Region - No. 1 seed) – Playing at home, strong squad, should handle business early.
Dayton (Dayton Region - No. 1 seed) – Probably the best overall team in the field, solid bet to win it all.
UC Irvine (Irvine Region - No. 1 seed) – West Coast squads don’t always get love, but this team could surprise.
San Francisco (San Francisco Region - No. 1 seed) – Gritty team, wouldn’t shock me if they made a deep run.
The NIT bracket is built for drama. First-round games tip off tonight (March 18), all hosted by the higher-seeded teams. That home-court edge is a real thing—worth considering when placing bets. I usually like to take a mix of favorites early on, but I’ll be hunting underdogs with value once we get to the second round.
Got a sleeper pick? Betting on any big upsets? Drop your plays—I need some extra angles before I finalize my NIT bets.
Personally, I love the NIT because it’s unpredictable, and that means betting opportunities. I just threw some action down on SMU and a couple of long-shot underdogs over at BetOnline and Bovada—gotta love a tournament where a No. 6 or 7 seed can suddenly catch fire and make a run.
For those who don’t follow it as closely, the NIT Tournament bracket is a 32-team, single-elimination tourney, with early rounds played on the home courts of higher-seeded teams. That home-court edge is huge, especially in round one, so I’m leaning toward favorites early before looking at dogs in the later rounds.
Here’s what’s catching my eye on this year’s NIT bracket:
SMU (Dallas Region - No. 1 seed) – Playing at home, strong squad, should handle business early. Dayton (Dayton Region - No. 1 seed) – Probably the best overall team in the field, solid bet to win it all. UC Irvine (Irvine Region - No. 1 seed) – West Coast squads don’t always get love, but this team could surprise. San Francisco (San Francisco Region - No. 1 seed) – Gritty team, wouldn’t shock me if they made a deep run.The NIT bracket is built for drama. First-round games tip off tonight (March 18), all hosted by the higher-seeded teams. That home-court edge is a real thing—worth considering when placing bets. I usually like to take a mix of favorites early on, but I’ll be hunting underdogs with value once we get to the second round.
Got a sleeper pick? Betting on any big upsets? Drop your plays—I need some extra angles before I finalize my NIT bets.