East Region Predictions
The East Region of the NCAA Tournament looks to feature just a few top contenders according to oddsmakers. Here’s our predictions for this region.
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, Villanova is favored to win the East, as the Wildcats are listed with odds of +125 to prevail. Other short odds to win are Purdue (+275), West Virginia (+800) and Texas Tech (+1000).
Bet on the 2018 NCAA Tournament
The Favorite: 1101 Villanova +125
Villanova is the favorite to win the whole tournament and the favorite in the East for the next two weeks. The Wildcats went 30-4 this season and was the top-ranked team in the nation for a large part of the season. Nova won the NCAA Tournament in 2016 and this year’s team seems capable of making a similar run. Of all the regions, this one seems to be the weakest in terms of consistent or promising teams.
The Dark Horse: 1103 West Virginia +800
The Mountaineers were very good in non-conference play and climbed to the top of the rankings before entering the Big 12, where they were inconsistent. However, now they get to face teams that aren’t accustomed to their press defense and that should help them play their game. WVU has a lot of talent and can get out in transition. I think WVU can win its first two games and then it’s up to beating Villanova for a chance at the Final Four. If you want a slight upset, I think WVU is your team to consider.
Stay Away: 1104 Texas Tech +1000
The Red Raiders are the third seed in this region and I just don’t think they are a team capable of making a run. While they get to play in Texas this weekend, eventually they have to leave the comforts of home and that has been a real problem for them. They are 4-6 in road games and 3-2 on neutral floor. Their non-conference schedule was lackluster and probably won’t have prepared them for March Madness.
East Region Prediction
Ultimately, I like Villanova. I think the Wildcats have the easiest field of any top seed and I think they have the talent to get to the Final Four. Nova has some impressive wins on the road and on a neutral floor this season. This team seems built to succeed and I think they will be a matchup problem for anyone in the region.
EAST REGION PREDICTION: VILLANOVA +125