2014 NCAA Bracket Picks: East Region Odds, Predictions and Expert Bracketology Projections to Win Your 2014 Office Pool Bracket: The East Region of the NCAA Tournament Bracket is probably the most-wide open of the four regions. Virginia came out of nowhere to win the ACC regular season and tournament titles and snag a No. 1 seed, but now they have to back it up when it matters most. The region also contains Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans as well boom-or-bust offensive juggernauts North Carolina and Iowa State. Throw in a stingy defensive team in Cincinnati, and nearly every matchup will be a drastic clash of styles. On that note, here is a closer look at an East Region that could bust a lot of brackets.
NCAA East Bracket Favorites to Make the Final Four
Virginia: Since back-to-back losses against Wisconsin and Green Bay early in the year, the Cavaliers have gone 21-3 to close the year. Malcolm Brogdon has been the team’s best player, but a stifling team defense has been Virginia’s calling card. In fact, the Cavaliers own the stingiest defense in the country, and they have stifled some of the best offenses in the country during their breakout season. The Cavaliers won’t scare anyone with their offense, but their defense alone could carry them to the Final Four.
Iowa State: The Cyclones have had an explosive offense all season, and it was on full display during their run to the Big 12 tournament title. Melvin Ejim, DeAndre Kane and Georges Niang can all shoulder the offensive load, and Iowa State has seven players that can come in and knock down shots from beyond the arc. Overall, the Cyclones rank sixth in the country in scoring at more than 82 per game, and while their defense can be spotty, they could easily shoot their way to Arlington.
Michigan State: Any team Tom Izzo coaches seems to be dangerous in March, and this year’s Spartans are getting hot and healthy just in time for March Madness. Michigan State’s frontcourt of Adreian Payne and Branden Dawson are both back in the lineup to support a solid backcourt of Gary Harris and Keith Appling, and it is no coincidence that the Spartans just captured the Big Ten tournament title, knocking off ranked foes Wisconsin and Michigan in the process. By the way, the Badgers and Wolverines are both No.2 seeds in the NCAA tournament so there is no doubt that the Spartans’ best stacks up with any team out there.
NCAA East Bracket Upset Specials
Harvard over Cincinnati: This game has defensive ware written all over it. The Bearcats have the sixth-best scoring defense in the country, and the Crimson own the 15th-best defense. Meanwhile, both teams are comfortable playing at a slower pace on the offensive end. Cincinnati does have the best offensive player in the matchup in guard Sean Kilpatrick, but secondary scoring has been an issue all year. Harvard on the other hand has six players scoring in double figures, and the run a methodical system on offense. The Crimson are going to key on Kilpatrick all game long, and in what will certainly be a low-scoring game, Harvard’s balanced offense could win out.
Providence over North Carolina: The Friars and Tar Heels have been two of the more inconsistent teams this season, but while North Carolina dropped its final two games of the year, Providence won the Big East tournament title. Armed with momentum and a dynamic point guard in Bryce Cotton, the Friars could jump all over a North Carolina team that has been spotty on defense and has struggled as a favorite all year. Keep in mind that while the Tar Heels have beaten the likes of Louisville, Michigan State and Duke, they have lost to Belmont and UAB as well as several ACC bottom-feeders. The Friars are hot and North Carolina has been vulnerable to upsets all season.
NCAA East Bracket High Seeds on Alert
Villanova: Give the Wildcats some credit. They won the revamped Big East regular season title, finishing the year with a 28-4 record. However, they head into the NCAA tournament off a bad loss to Seton Hall in the conference tournament, and they finished the year just 2-3 against ranked opponents, losing their last three games. Villanova hasn’t been tested much this season, and aside from a victory over Kansas early in the season, the Wildcats have failed most of their big tests.
NCAA East Bracket PREDICTION: Michigan State Spartans
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Odds to win the 2014 NCAA East Region
Cincinnati +1800
Connecticut +1800
George Washington +6000
Harvard +5000
Iowa State +600
Memphis +2200
Michigan State +200
North Carolina +1200
Providence +5000
St Joes +5000
Virginia +200
Villanova +350
Field +2500
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