2011 NCAA Bracket Picks: East Region Odds, Predictions and Bracketology – Favorites, Sleepers

2011 NCAA Bracket Picks: East Region Odds, Predictions and Expert Bracketology Projections: With Ohio State, North Carolina, Syracuse and Kentucky, the East Regional contains arguably the toughest top-four seeds of any region in the NCAA Tournament 2011 Bracket. Top to bottom, it may be the deepest region in this year’s tournament. It seems like a tough draw for the nation’s No.1 overall seed Ohio State, but if you want to be considered the best team in the land, it shouldn’t matter who you have to face along the way.

NCAA Bracket East Region Favorites to Make the Final Four

Ohio State: Like I said, OSU is the nation’s top overall seed, and that didn’t happen by accident. The Buckeyes have the ideal balance of senior leadership and talented freshmen, and they can score in the paint and beyond the arc. As long as freshman sensation Jared Sullinger stays out of foul trouble, the Buckeyes have the inside track to the Final Four. If the Big Ten’s all-time 3-point leader John Diebler is stroking shots like he was at the end of the regular season, OSU could walk away with a national title.

Syracuse: A four-game losing streak during conference play dropped the Orange out of the top-five, but even the most complete teams can have problems in the brutal Big East. All seven of Syracuse’s loses came during conference, and they are going to be a tough matchup for any team that is familiar with their 2-3 zone. They have four players that average in double figures, and that patented defense has shut down teams in the past. It could carry Syracuse back to the Final Four.

NCAA Bracket East Region Upset Specials

George Mason over Villanova: GMU is actually the higher seed in this No. 8 versus No. 9 matchup, but Nova is clearly the more attractive name to the casual fan. The Big East may have been the toughest conference all year, but George Mason is hot and Nova is tanking. GMU has won 16 of its last 17 games entering the tournament, while Villanova has dropped five straight and 10 of its last 15.

Clemson over West Virginia: This pick comes with the caveat that the Tigers beat UAB in the play-in game, but Clemson is deep, athletic team that should meet WVU. The Tigers pose a tough matchup for a West Virginia team that tends to go through prolonged offensive slumps and has a lack of presence in the post. Not to mention the fact that the grueling Big East schedule has taken its toll on teams in the past come tournament time.

NCAA Bracket East Region High Seed on Alert

North Carolina: The Tar Heels got scorching hot late in the year and came out of nowhere to win the ACC regular season title. The improved play of super freshman Harrison Barnes and the installing of Kendall Marshall at point guard sparked the streak, but the conference tournament revealed some serious flaws. Carolina came out flat in all three games, eventually getting dismantled by Duke. If the Tar Heels do manage to get to the Sweet 16, Syracuse will prove too much for them.

NCAA Bracket East Region PREDICTION: #1 Seed Ohio State Buckeyes

Vegas Favorites and Odds to win the 2011 East Region
Get 2011 East Region Odds on each individual game at BetUs Sportsbook
Ohio State +135
George Mason +5250
Villanova +4050
West Virginia +2050
Kentucky +425
Xavier +5250
Syracuse +425
Washington +1215
Georgia +5250
North Carolina +405
Any Other Team +1615