March Madness Bracket Picks: NCAA East Region Predictions
Let's take a look at my March Madness bracket picks for the East region of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. I rate the East region as the second weakest behind only the West region. I feel that way because 2 thru 4 seeds Tennessee, Louisville, and Washington State have all been a little shaky heading into the Big Dance. One surprise in terms of seeding is Butler who, as a number 5 seed last year, made it to the Sweet 16 before bowing out in a relatively close game against eventual national champion Florida. This year the Bulldogs are 29-3 and ranked in the top 12 of the major polls and yet they end up as a 7 seed. Let's get to my March Madness bracket picks:
First Round March Madness Bracket Picks - East Region
I'm advancing the top 5 seeds into the second round without much second-guessing. I know Winthrop upset Notre Dame last year, but the Eagles aren't quite as good this season and Washington
First Round March Madness Bracket Picks - East Region
I'm advancing the top 5 seeds into the second round without much second-guessing. I know Winthrop upset Notre Dame last year, but the Eagles aren't quite as good this season and Washington
State has played tough away from home. George Mason is back and many people will pick them over Notre Dame, but I'm sticking with the Irish who finished tied for 2nd in a strong Big East.
Oklahoma vs St. Joseph's - I'm going with the upset in this one. St. Joe's made it to the A10 tournament final and beat Xavier 2 times in the last 2 weeks. Oklahoma was not impressive in either of their Big 12 tournament games.
Butler vs South Alabama - I don't see any reason to pick against the Bulldogs. Butler won the Horizon League regular season and tournament championships while South Alabama stumbled in the Sun Belt tourney.
Indiana vs Arkansas - A lot of people will pick Arkansas here since they just knocked off Tennessee before losing in the SEC tournament final. On top of that Indiana has really struggled since the departure of Kelvin Sampson. I'm going to roll the dice and pick the Hoosiers though for 2 reasons: Eric Gordon and D.J. White.
Second Round March Madness Bracket Picks - East Region
In the second round of the East region I have North Carolina vs Indiana, Notre Dame vs Washington State, St. Joseph's vs Louisville, and Butler vs Tennessee. I'm advancing North Carolina and Louisville as it would be a major upset if either one of them lost in the second round. Notre Dame vs Washington State is a toss up. I'm going with the Irish since I have them ranked a bit higher in the CBR top 25 and I remember Washington State losing in the second round last year as a number 3 seed. Butler vs Tennessee is going to be interesting. The Vols have been up and down since they won at Memphis, but my gut feel says Tennessee will be too strong and athletic to lose this one, plus I want to see a Louisville vs Tennessee matchup in the Elite 8.
Sweet 16 March Madness Bracket Picks - East Region
In the Sweet 16 round of the East region I have North Carolina vs Notre Dame and Louisville vs Tennessee. I think the Tar Heels have the potential to cruise past Notre Dame although I don't see it as a lock. I feel Louisville vs Tennessee is a toss up game. I'm going with Rick Pitino and the Cardinals who finished tied for 2nd in the rugged Big East. I'm just not sure about Tennessee right now. They've played 6 games since they beat Memphis. They lost 2 of those games and won 3 of them by three points or less.
Elite 8 March Madness Bracket Picks - East Region
I have North Carolina vs Louisville in the Elite 8 and if this game comes to fruition it's going to be a major test for the number 1 seed Tar Heels. I'm picking North Carolina to beat Lousiville and head to the Final Four behind the play of Lawson, Green, and Hansbrough. Roy Williams appears to have his team primed and focused as they closed the regular season with a big win at Duke and then made their way to the ACC tournament title.
Final Four March Madness Bracket Picks - East vs Midwest
In the Final Four I have North Carolina facing Georgetown from the Midwest region and such a matchup could really go either way. I'm picking North Carolina largely because they won the ACC tournament and Georgetown failed to beat Pittsburgh in the Big East tourney final. Hibbert vs Hansbrough would be a heck of a matchup if these two teams do in fact make it to the Final Four.
I have UCLA beating North Carolina in the national championship game. The Bruins find ways to win and they were impressive all season long including the Pac-10 tournament. Collison and Love versus Lawson and Hansbrough. The national championship game usually features future NBA players and I predict this one will be no different. UCLA finds a way to beat North Carolina for the title.
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Oklahoma vs St. Joseph's - I'm going with the upset in this one. St. Joe's made it to the A10 tournament final and beat Xavier 2 times in the last 2 weeks. Oklahoma was not impressive in either of their Big 12 tournament games.
Butler vs South Alabama - I don't see any reason to pick against the Bulldogs. Butler won the Horizon League regular season and tournament championships while South Alabama stumbled in the Sun Belt tourney.
Indiana vs Arkansas - A lot of people will pick Arkansas here since they just knocked off Tennessee before losing in the SEC tournament final. On top of that Indiana has really struggled since the departure of Kelvin Sampson. I'm going to roll the dice and pick the Hoosiers though for 2 reasons: Eric Gordon and D.J. White.
Second Round March Madness Bracket Picks - East Region
In the second round of the East region I have North Carolina vs Indiana, Notre Dame vs Washington State, St. Joseph's vs Louisville, and Butler vs Tennessee. I'm advancing North Carolina and Louisville as it would be a major upset if either one of them lost in the second round. Notre Dame vs Washington State is a toss up. I'm going with the Irish since I have them ranked a bit higher in the CBR top 25 and I remember Washington State losing in the second round last year as a number 3 seed. Butler vs Tennessee is going to be interesting. The Vols have been up and down since they won at Memphis, but my gut feel says Tennessee will be too strong and athletic to lose this one, plus I want to see a Louisville vs Tennessee matchup in the Elite 8.
Sweet 16 March Madness Bracket Picks - East Region
In the Sweet 16 round of the East region I have North Carolina vs Notre Dame and Louisville vs Tennessee. I think the Tar Heels have the potential to cruise past Notre Dame although I don't see it as a lock. I feel Louisville vs Tennessee is a toss up game. I'm going with Rick Pitino and the Cardinals who finished tied for 2nd in the rugged Big East. I'm just not sure about Tennessee right now. They've played 6 games since they beat Memphis. They lost 2 of those games and won 3 of them by three points or less.
Elite 8 March Madness Bracket Picks - East Region
I have North Carolina vs Louisville in the Elite 8 and if this game comes to fruition it's going to be a major test for the number 1 seed Tar Heels. I'm picking North Carolina to beat Lousiville and head to the Final Four behind the play of Lawson, Green, and Hansbrough. Roy Williams appears to have his team primed and focused as they closed the regular season with a big win at Duke and then made their way to the ACC tournament title.
Final Four March Madness Bracket Picks - East vs Midwest
In the Final Four I have North Carolina facing Georgetown from the Midwest region and such a matchup could really go either way. I'm picking North Carolina largely because they won the ACC tournament and Georgetown failed to beat Pittsburgh in the Big East tourney final. Hibbert vs Hansbrough would be a heck of a matchup if these two teams do in fact make it to the Final Four.
I have UCLA beating North Carolina in the national championship game. The Bruins find ways to win and they were impressive all season long including the Pac-10 tournament. Collison and Love versus Lawson and Hansbrough. The national championship game usually features future NBA players and I predict this one will be no different. UCLA finds a way to beat North Carolina for the title.
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