March Madness East Region: Odds, Picks, Cinderella, and Winner

Full East Region Predictions

Ranking the Top Players Who Entered the CBB Transfer Portal

ROUND OF 64
(1) Duke over (16) American/Mount St. Mary's
(8) Mississippi State over (9) Baylor
(5) Oregon over (12) Liberty
(4) Arizona over (13) Akron
(6) BYU over (11) VCU
(3) Wisconsin over (14) Montana
(7) Saint Mary's over (10) Vanderbilt
(2) Alabama over (15) Robert Morris

ROUND OF 32
(1) Duke over (8) Mississippi State
(4) Arizona over (5) Oregon
(6) BYU over (3) Wisconsin
(7) Saint Mary's over (2) Alabama

SWEET SIXTEEN
(1) Duke over (4) Arizona
(6) BYU over (7) Saint Mary's

ELITE EIGHT
(1) Duke over (6) BYU

Favorite: Duke (-130)

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Duke is being rated as a historically good team, entering the tournament with the highest net rating at KenPom we have seen in over two decades. That may be a product of playing in the lowly ACC, but it's an accomplishment worth nothing. Cooper Flagg's health is obviously the most significant potential hindrance to Duke's chances at reaching the Final Four. Still, it's sounding increasingly like he could be back in time for even the first weekend of action.

Dark Horse: BYU (+1600)

Predicting the First Round of the NCAA Tournament Based on KenPom

BYU has been an absolute comet over the past two months, climbing from 47th in KenPom to 24th. Nine consecutive wins, including a pair of victories over Iowa State and a win over Arizona, all three away from home, have made them a real dark horse contender to make a deep run this year. They have a deep bench to work with and are incredibly efficient when it comes to shot selection, making them a nightmare defensive matchup. With Alabama looking slightly banged up in this half of the region, the Cougars are a great pick to make a deep run in the East.

Cinderella: VCU (+3300)

Predicting the First Round of the NCAA Tournament Based on ESPN’s BPI Rankings

It's perhaps a bit contradictory to pick a Cinderella that is facing our dark horse in the first round, but VCU has just been that good in recent weeks. If you sort Bart Torvik's T-Rank to start at the beginning of February, the Rams sit at 18th in the country, a 12-1 record in that span with some convincing victories. They get a nightmare draw against a BYU team that is equally as in-form, and we believe the winner of this matchup will be set for a deep run in the East.

Region Winner: Duke (-130)

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Despite the brutal price point, we must back the Blue Devils to handle business and reach San Antonio. It's an incredibly favorable draw for the Blue Devils, who would get Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen, a team they already beat in their building back in November. Back Duke to find their way back into the Final Four after coming so close just a season ago.

Full East Region Predictions

Ranking the Top Players Who Entered the CBB Transfer Portal

ROUND OF 64
(1) Duke over (16) American/Mount St. Mary's
(8) Mississippi State over (9) Baylor
(5) Oregon over (12) Liberty
(4) Arizona over (13) Akron
(6) BYU over (11) VCU
(3) Wisconsin over (14) Montana
(7) Saint Mary's over (10) Vanderbilt
(2) Alabama over (15) Robert Morris

ROUND OF 32
(1) Duke over (8) Mississippi State
(4) Arizona over (5) Oregon
(6) BYU over (3) Wisconsin
(7) Saint Mary's over (2) Alabama

SWEET SIXTEEN
(1) Duke over (4) Arizona
(6) BYU over (7) Saint Mary's

ELITE EIGHT
(1) Duke over (6) BYU