March Madness 2011 Predictions: The Odds for Every Team in the East
March Madness is underway, and the action and the upsets will be fast and furious as the weekend approaches.
In March, anything can happen, and the East region is one of the most challenging brackets in the entire tournament.
The oddsmakers have placed their odds for all of the teams in the field of 64, and here are all of the odds for the teams in the East to win the region.
University of Texas-San Antonio
1 of 16
The University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners looked very good in their playoff game, as they demolished Alabama State.
Melvin Johnson put up 29 points, and this team is led by senior point guard Devin Gibson, who can run with anyone in the country.
With all of that being said, the Roadrunners are 1500-to-1 to win the tournament for a good reason. It’s not going to happen.
A No. 16 seed does not beat a No. 1 seed, especially if it’s Ohio State. Don’t waste your money on this pick.
Long Island
2 of 16
Long Island gets the first game against North Carolina, and it has little chance of advancing. I was surprised to see the odds were not higher.
The Blackbirds have a stud on the floor in forward Julian Boyd, but this game is in North Carolina’s back yard, and they will be one and done.
The long-shot odds look enticing, but you’re better off buying a lottery ticket.
Indiana State
3 of 16
The Indiana State Sycamores could really use Larry Bird as they take on Syracuse in the first round.
Sycamores center Myles Walker is 6'8" and really the only big man on the Indiana State roster, which could lead to trouble against a physical Syracuse team.
Those 500:1 odds are very generous, as the Sycamores have no chance of cashing in on those odds.
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Princeton
4 of 16
Princeton is an Ivy League team that is often feared in the tournament.
The Tigers run a much different offense than they have in the past and like to put up points.
The Tigers bring experience and patience on offense to this game, which makes them a dangerous first-round opponent.
They may give the Wildcats a challenge, but it’s not going to matter, as the Tigers will not win the East.
Marquette
5 of 16
The Marquette Golden Eagles are an enigma entering this tournament.
They have what it takes to beat some of the top teams in the nation, and at the same time, it would not come as a surprise if they went out in the first game against Xavier.
If the Golden Eagles can make their shots, they could advance for a few rounds, but they are not consistent enough to win the East.
Villanova
6 of 16
The Wildcats are a stretch to win the East region because they stumbled into this tournament. The Cats lost their last five games and 10 of their last 15, and are still banged up coming into this game.
Big man Mouphtaou Yarou is still banged up for this game, and there is a distinct possibility that Villanova will not make it past its opening round game with George Mason.
The Wildcats have a duo at guard in Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes that can get them past the first game, but betting on them to win the East is not a smart move.
Clemson
7 of 16
The Clemson Tigers seemingly have everything going against them right now. They got an invite to the Big Dance, but had to play against UAB in the play-in game. After that win, they have a quick turnaround and a tough flight to Florida to take on the Mountaineers.
It will be tough enough to win that game, never mind the East region. Clemson has no chance winning this region and will most likely be one-and-done.
Georgia
8 of 16
Georgia last played in the NCAA tourney in 2009, and many thought the Bulldogs should not make it this year, but they were rewarded with a 10-seed instead.
Now they get Isaiah Thomas and Washington in the first round, and there is a good chance they are one-and-done to start the tournament. Trey Thompkins is the difference on this team, and if he steps up his game, they could beat Washington. I don’t see them winning the East, though.
George Mason
9 of 16
George Mason made a run to the Final Four in 2006, and that makes the odds look pretty tempting, if the Patriots were to do it again in 2011.
Ryan Pearson and Cam Long are a devastating duo who can set up an inside-outside game that can be hard to defend for any team in the country.
The problem for George Mason is that the road to the Final Four goes through the Ohio State Buckeyes, and that is one road block they won’t be able to get through.
West Virginia
10 of 16
Odds To Win The East Region: 20:1
The West Virginia Mountaineers were put in a tough spot for a No. 5 seed.
They had no idea who they would be playing in the first round as they waited for the play-in game between Clemson and UAB to wrap up.
Head Coach Bob Huggins had his staff prepare for multiple opponents, but it could still lead to an early exit.
The Mountaineers have the talent, but they will not win the East.
Kentucky
11 of 16
Odds To Win The East Region: 5:1
Kentucky is one of the top teams in this bracket and could easily make a run for the East region title.
John Calipari is a great head coach who can lead his team to the Final Four, but like other great teams in the East, they will have to get by the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Kentucky is one of the few teams that have a shot of getting this done. Brandon Knight will need to keep the turnovers to a minimum, but the Wildcats could make this bracket interesting.
Washington
12 of 16
Odds To Win The East Region: 12:1
Washington is a team that has plenty of potential to go deep in this tournament. The Huskies get a good draw in the first round against Georgia, and they have a very talented guard in Isaiah Thomas.
Thomas hit the game-winner with the Pac-10 tournament on the line, and he could do it again on college basketball’s biggest stage.
If they advance, the Huskies match up well against North Carolina and could cash a nice ticket if they win the East.
Syracuse
13 of 16
Odds To Win The East Region: 4:1
Syracuse is known for its tournament runs and great zone defense. That alone is reason enough to believe that Syracuse will win the East bracket.
Jim Boeheim is a college basketball genius and has a team that is talented enough to move forward.
I don’t trust the guard play enough to lay some cash on the Orange to win the East, but don’t blame those who do.
Xavier
14 of 16
Odds To Win The East Region: 20:1
Xavier is the best long shot in the East that has the potential to advance. Xavier is a very experienced team that has gone deep in this tournament before and in fact recently.
Xavier has reached the Sweet Sixteen the past three seasons and two Elite Eights this decade, making the Musketeers a threat to do it again.
They will have plenty of challenges along the way depending on how the bracket works out, but if you want to play a long shot in this bracket, it has to be Xavier.
Ohio State
15 of 16
Odds To Win The East Region: 1:1
Ohio State is the No. 1 seed in the East region, so it comes as no surprise that the Buckeyes are the favorite to win the bracket.
The road to the Final Four for the Buckeyes seems relatively easy, as the only challenge would come deep in the tournament against Syracuse or North Carolina.
Jared Sullinger is a force down low and one of the best players in the country, and the Buckeyes are a good bet to win the East.
North Carolina
16 of 16
Odds To Win The East Region: 4:1
The Tar Heels are the No. 2 seed in this tournament, so they have a good chance to represent the East in the Final Four.
They enter this tournament after getting blown out in the ACC championship game, and they have something to prove in this region. The Tar Heels are at great odds, considering they are No. 2 in the region and are worth the bet in this spot.
It will be interesting to see which team rises to the challenge when March Madness tips off in the East region.
Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at mregaw@gmail.com.
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