2018 NCAA Bracketology Picks: East Region Odds, Predictions and Bracketology Projections

2018 NCAA Bracketology Picks: East Region Odds, Predictions and Bracketology Projections: From top to bottom, the East Region of the NCAA Tournament Bracket might be the deepest of the four. The top three seeds are all legitimate Final Four threats, and there are plenty of lower seeds that could make some noise thanks to a combination of unique playing styles and individual star power. Check out a complete breakdown of the East Region of the NCAA Tournament Bracket.

2018 NCAA Bracketology Picks: East Region Odds, Predictions and Bracketology Projections

NCAA East Bracket Favorites to Make the Final Four

Villanova: This year’s team doesn’t have the same defensive prowess of the national title team or even last year’s squad, but this year’s Wildcats might have more overall talent than either of those teams. Armed with four NBA-caliber players, Villanova leads the country in points per game and has piled up 30 wins heading into March Madness. They took home the Big East tournament crown, and when they Wildcats are hitting shots, they are all but unbeatable. Just ask Xavier, a No. 1 seed, who the Wildcats spanked twice.

Purdue: The Boilermakers have a loaded roster, and the trio of Isaac Haas, Carsen Edwards and Vincent Edwards have helped Purdue become one of the most balanced teams in the country. They can overpower teams that play at a slower pace, and they have enough athleticism on the wing to hang with faster-paced clubs. I also like the fact that they never seem to be out of a game. Purdue lost six games this year, and five came by four points or less. The Boilermakers are not going to be an easy out.

Texas Tech: In a Big 12 conference loaded with powerful offenses, the Red Raiders rode their defense into contention. They battled injuries to key players for stretches which cost them some games, but leading-scorer Keenan Evans looked back up to speed down the stretch. At full strength, the Red Raiders have the defensive chops and just enough firepower to make a long run in the NCAA Tournament.

NCAA East Bracket Upset Specials

Alabama over Virginia Tech: This game is a battle of a pair of Jekyll and Hydes. The Hokies have wins over Duke, Virginia and North Carolina, but they lost a lot of games to mediocre and below average competition. Alabama was arguably even worse, ending up 19-15 after a series of hot and cold stretches. I think the X-factor ends up being the Crimson Tide’s dynamic freshman, Collin Sexton, who has been scorching hot heading into the NCAA Tournament. I think Sexton can put Alabama over the top.

Murray State over West Virginia: West Virginia can overwhelm opponents with its press-heavy, turnover-inducing defense, but the same up-tempo style can sometimes burn the Mountaineers because they aren’t a great shooting team. The Racers are red hot coming into the NCAA Tournament, and Jonathan Stark is a game-changer. He is a prolific scorer, and he is knocking down more than 40 percent of his 3-point attempts. I think he thrives against West Virginia’s pressure and helps deliver a classic No. 12 over No. 5 upset.

NCAA East Bracket High Seed on Alert

Wichita State: The Shockers can be fun too watch with a deep rotation that pushes the pace on offense and scores in bunches. However, the side effect of this style is that they can be porous on the defensive end, which is going to be an issue sooner or later. Don’t be surprised if the Shockers are tested immediately by Jon Elmore and a Marshall squad scoring more tan 84 points per game, and I think their defensive issues prove to be their undoing.

NCAA East Bracket PREDICTION: Texas Tech Red Raiders

You can get expert 2018 NCAA Tournament picks and 2018 NCAA Tournament predictions this month from NSAwins.com’s top handicappers plus a pre-filled downloadable and printable 2018 NCAA Tournament Bracket to help you win your office pool!