It’s not precisely the Region of Death, but don’t come into the East unless you’re prepared to hang at least 80 on the board, preferably 90. Duke, Alabama, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Oregon can all score.
On the bottom end, the 12 (Liberty), 13 (Akron), and 14 (Montana) can likely compete in what should be the most interesting zone of the group.
Here are our initial thoughts and predictions for each East game to help you fill out your brackets if you need to do so right now. The final call and deep dive previews will be released throughout the week.
NCAA Tournament Predictions: East Region Early Picks
16 American University vs 16 Mount St. Mary’s
March 19, 6:40, truTV
In a region loaded with great offensive teams, here are two defensive punchers who should battle in a low-scoring slugfest. American is better at coming up with the three – it’ll get a few extra in a game where points will be tough to come by late.
First Thought Prediction
American 68, Mount Saint Mary’s 64
American University vs Mount St. Mary’s Opening Lines
Bet MGM: American NA, o/u: NA
Draft Kings: NA, o/u: NA
Fan Duel: American -3.5, o/u: 134.5
3 Wisconsin vs 14 Montana
March 20, 1:30, TNT
It’s this simple for Wisconsin. When it makes threes, it wins. When it doesn’t make threes, it curls up into a ball. Okay, not quite, but here’s the problem for the Badgers – Montana makes lots of threes, too. What it doesn’t have, though, is size.
First Thought Prediction
Wisconsin 83, Montana 67
Wisconsin vs Montana Opening Lines
Bet MGM: Wisconsin -17.5, o/u: 148.5
Draft Kings: Wisconsin -17.5, o/u: 148.5
Fan Duel: Wisconsin -17.5, o/u: 148.5
6 BYU vs 11 VCU
March 20, 4:05, TNT
Oh, you’re going to like this. BYU has the size and scoring pop, VCU has the length to keep up and the defense to make this a fight. The world will probably jump on the Rams and skew the line, but BYU is better at hitting the threes to pull away.
First Thought Prediction
BYU 76, VCU 69
BYU vs VCU Opening Lines
Bet MGM: BYU -3.5, o/u: 143.5
Draft Kings: BYU -3.5, o/u: 143.5
Fan Duel: BYU -2.5, o/u: 143.5
8 Mississippi State vs 9 Baylor
March 21, 12:15, CBS
Mississippi State wins when it keeps teams under 84 points, and loses – ALWAYS – when it gives up that many or more. Yeah, duh, everyone loses when they give up points, but that’s life in the SEC and the Bulldogs couldn’t keep up. Baylor doesn’t score a ton of points.
First Thought Prediction
Mississippi State 76, Baylor 72
Mississippi State vs Baylor Opening Lines
Bet MGM: Baylor -1.5, o/u: 146.5
Draft Kings: Baylor -1.5, o/u: 145.5
Fan Duel: Baylor -1.5, o/u: 141.5
2 Alabama vs 15 Robert Morris
March 21, 12:40, truTV
Robert Morris is more of a battling type of team that makes the right pass and attacks the rim. That’s all well and good, but Alabama just went on a 13-0 run while you’ve been reading this.
First Thought Prediction
Alabama 91, Robert Morris 66
Alabama vs Robert Morris Opening Lines
Bet MGM: Alabama -22.5, o/u: 165.5
Draft Kings: Alabama -22.5, o/u: 165.5
Fan Duel: Alabama -22.5, o/u: 165.5
1 Duke vs 16 American or 16 Mount St. Mary’s
March 21, 2:50, CBS
You know those 16 over 1 stunner when FDU took down Purdue? Yeah, that won’t be this, with or without a 100% healthy Cooper Flagg. Assuming American wins as predicted …
First Thought Prediction
Duke 89, American 56
7 Saint Mary’s vs 10 Vanderbilt
March 21, 3:15, truTV
As I’ve brought up in the other prediction sections, I could be oh-so-very-wrong about this, but I’m not buying the SEC, at least outside of the top teams. Vanderbilt shouldn’t be in this tournament, and it won’t last very long against the rain delay that is the Saint Mary’s style.
First Thought Prediction
Saint Mary’s 67, Vanderbilt 64
Saint Mary’s vs Vanderbilt Opening Lines
Bet MGM: Saint Mary’s -5.5, o/u: 135.5
Draft Kings: Saint Mary’s -4.5, o/u: 135.5
Fan Duel: Saint Mary’s -4.5, o/u: 136.5
4 Arizona vs 13 Akron
March 21, 7:35, truTV
First one to 90 wins? Akron doesn’t play any defense, but that’s because it gets in the way of all the scoring. Arizona needs to keep pumping in points, and it’ll find a way to get it done. 1) This might change for the game preview because 2) it’s Arizona, it’ll probably blow it. 3) The lines aren’t added here until the end. Whatever the total is, go over.
First Thought Prediction
Arizona 94, Akron 80
Arizona vs Akron Opening Lines
Bet MGM: Arizona -15.5, o/u: 166.5
Draft Kings: Arizona -14.5, o/u: 167.5
Fan Duel: Arizona -13.5, o/u: 166.5
5 Oregon vs 12 Liberty
March 21, 10:10, truTV
Oregon is one of those teams that should make a strong run to the Sweet 16 and lose in gut-wrenching fashion. Liberty scores a lot, but it really, really, REALLY can’t hit free throws. It’ll be a workmanlike efficient win for the Ducks.
First Thought Prediction
Oregon 77, Liberty 66
Oregon vs Liberty Opening Lines
Bet MGM: Oregon -4.5, o/u: 139.5
Draft Kings: Oregon -4.5, o/u: 139.5
Fan Duel: Oregon -5.5, o/u: 141.5