2025 Men’s NCAA East Regional Odds and Predictions

It’s that time of year again—March Madness is here, baby! The brackets are set, the upsets are brewing, and the NCAA East Region is shaping up to be an absolute dogfight. Whether you’re a die-hard college hoops fan, a degenerate gambler looking for an edge, or just someone who loves the chaos of buzzer-beaters, you’re in the right place.

This year’s NCAA East Regional Bracket is loaded with powerhouse programs, potential sleepers, and Cinderella hopefuls ready to break hearts and bust brackets. I haven’t even filled out a bracket, yet I know it’s already been busted. Can Duke live up to the hype as the odds-on favorite? Could Alabama or Arizona make a run? Is there a double-digit seed ready to shock the world? We’ve got all the answers, so buckle up.

Before we break it all down, check out the latest NCAA Men’s Championship odds and College Basketball Picks to stay ahead of the competition. Let’s dive in.

Where Is The NCAA East Regional Being Played?

The East Regional will tip off this week at various sites around the United States. Teams that are lucky enough to advance to the second weekend of action – the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight – will square off at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on March 27th and 29th, respectively.

NCAA East Regional Final

The East Regional Final is scheduled for Saturday, March 29th in Newark.

NCAA East Regional Odds

Check out the latest Men’s NCAA East Regional odds courtesy of the best sports betting sites:

Duke, led by superstar Cooper Flagg, checks in as a heavy -140 favorite to represent the East Regional in the Final Four in Indianapolis according to sportsbooks and the best handicappers.

However, teams like Alabama and Wisconsin will also present formidable challenges. Notably, mid-major teams such as Liberty and VCU may offer intriguing value for bettors.​ Oddsmakers aren’t giving any of the long-shots much of a chance, as every team seeded 13th or higher faces massive +25000 odds to advance to the Final Four.

Most analysts say the South Region is the toughest segment of the bracket, which should give Duke a fairly good chance of advancing deep into this year’s competition.

Expert NCAA Tournament Picks

Sports Analysis Subscription

Get Free Trial

Men’s NCAA East Regional Favorites

The following teams are considered the favorites to win the NCAA East Regional:

Duke Blue Devils (-140)

Duke finished 31-3 this season and capped things off with an impressive run to the ACC Tournament title. However, Flagg’s sprained ankle could complicate their chances to go all the way.

Flagg went down with a sprained ankle in Duke’s win over Georgia Tech in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. The freshman star is a lock to go first overall in the upcoming NBA Draft if he declares his eligibility, and he’s a shoo-in to win the Wooden Award this season. That’s an awfully rare accomplishment for a first-year player, even these days. Flagg would go on to miss the rest of Duke’s ACC Tournament title run.

Head coach Jon Scheyer told ESPN on Sunday that the team hopes Flagg will be ready to return to the floor when the Blue Devils take on the winner of the American-Mount St. Mary’s clash in the First Four.

Even if Flagg isn’t fully healthy, however, Duke does have a deep enough roster to make a run. Kon Knueppel stepped up his scoring in a big way following Flagg’s injury, while Khaman Maluach has become one of the nation’s premier rim protectors.

One issue – in addition to Flagg’s uncertainty – is that this is a largely unproven roster. The Blue Devils have 6 freshmen playing regular rotation minutes. Whether the lights get too bright for them on the March stage remains to be seen. If Flagg is healthy, however, there isn’t another team in America that can match his dynamic offensive output.

Alabama Crimson Tide (+400)

Holding a 25–8 record, Alabama’s dynamic playstyle has been pivotal in their success this season. However, the Tide fell to one of the tournament’s top seeds – Florida – in the SEC Tournament.

The Tide are 1 of 14 (!!!) SEC teams to have cracked the field for the NCAA Tournament. That’s an all-time record, and a testament to the conference’s amazing depth.

Alabama is known primarily as a football school, but they’ve become a hoops powerhouse under head coach Nate Oats. This is the 5th straight tournament appearance for the Crimson Tide, and it’s the 3rd time they’ve earned a top-2 seed in that span. Alabama was a No. 2 seed in 2021 and a top seed in 2023. Last year’s appearance in the Final Four was the first in the history of the program, and they’ll be looking to take the next step a year later.

Unlike Duke, the Bama roster is littered with established, experienced players. While there isn’t a star of Flagg’s caliber, the Tide are led by a slew of 5th-year seniors, including leading scorer Mark Sears. Clifford Omoruyi, Chris Youngblood, and Grant Nelson are the others. However, Nelson went down with an injury in the SEC Tournament, which puts his status for the Big Dance in doubt.

The 23-year-old Sears averaged nearly 19 points per game this season, though he was kept in check by the Gators in the semis of the SEC Tournament. Sears scored just 9 points on grim 3-for-10 shooting in the Tide’s 22-point defeat.

Alabama does it with offense. The Tide are 4th in the nation in KenPom’s offensive rating metric, trailing only Florida, Auburn, and Duke. A leaky defense could prove to be their undoing, but the +400 odds to win the East Region stand out given Alabama’s vast array of experienced players.

Wisconsin Badgers (+1000)

With a 26–9 record, Wisconsin’s disciplined approach and strong defense have been key to their performance. Wisconsin has been a consistent winner over the past few decades thanks to that defense-first style, but they’ve also been a stellar offensive team this season.

The Badgers were upset by Michigan in the Big 10 Tournament final over the weekend, but they still enter the Big Dance with high hopes. Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker ain’t walking through that door, but the Badgers have been a very consistent presence in this competition over the years. This will be Wisconsin’s 28th trip to the NCAA Tournament. They’ll take on 14th-seeded Montana – the Big Sky Conference Tournament winner – in Denver in the first round on Thursday.

Wisconsin has enjoyed the East Region over the years. Their last 2 appearances in this section of the bracket resulted in trips to the Sweet Sixteen in 2015-16 and 2016-17. They’ve advanced at least as far as the Sweet Sixteen 6 times in their last 9 trips to the tourney, as well. If they get past Montana, the Badgers will face either No. 6 BYU or No. 11 VCU in the second round on Saturday. While a loss to Montana would be a legitimate shock, the potential second-round opponents aren’t easy draws.

Wisconsin is led by leading scorer John Tonje, who’s in his first year in Madison after playing 8 games for Missouri a season ago. If they’re lucky enough to advance to the second weekend, the Badgers will likely face an extremely daunting matchup against a more athletic Alabama side.

Arizona Wildcats (+750)

Arizona’s 22–12 record showcases their resilience and ability to compete against top-tier teams. The Wildcats fell to Houston in the Big 12 Championship final.

Arizona is a legit college basketball blueblood, yet it’s been a while since they cut down the nets. The Wildcats earned a trip to the Sweet Sixteen last season, but they haven’t advanced as far as the Elite Eight since the 2014-15 campaign under former head coach Sean Miller. Arizona’s last Final Four appearance was all the way back in 2000-01 under Lute Olson. They lost to Shane Battier, Jay Williams, and a loaded Duke squad in the National Championship Game.

Unfortunately, Arizona’s Final Four hopes will hinge on whether they can get past a likely rematch with Duke in the Sweet Sixteen. They may be lucky to get that far, frankly. A first-round matchup against a pesky No. 13 Akron side looms this week, and that game is far from a lock for the Cats. Akron is looking like a trendy upset pick to begin the week.

If Arizona does face Duke, this will be the second meeting of the season. The Blue Devils walloped the Wildcats by 14 points when they met in Tucson back in November. Arizona has admittedly improved over the course of the season, but I’d expect Duke’s star power and depth to ultimately be the difference.

Men’s NCAA East Regional Betting Value

The following Men’s College Basketball teams offer betting value based on their current NCAA East Regional odds:

Oregon Ducks (+2500)

With a 24–9 record, Oregon has consistently performed well, making them a team to watch. The Ducks’ first season in the Big 10 was a successful one despite their loss to top-seeded Michigan State in the conference tournament last week.

Oregon went 12-8 in a tough Big Ten, but we see 5-vs.-12 upsets happen just about every year. The 5th-seeded Ducks will take on No. 12 Liberty in the first round. Liberty comes into that game in good form after winning the Conference USA Tournament, and we often see momentum carry into the NCAA Tournament.

The Ducks do have some impressive wins on their resume, including triumphs over Alabama, Wisconsin, and Texas A&M. That could serve them well – especially if they’re lucky enough to get rematches with the Crimson Tide or Badgers at some point in East Regional play. Rather than relying on a single star, the Ducks are a sum of their parts. Depth is useful, and it’s exceedingly rare in the one-and-done era.

At +2500 to win the East, you’re getting extremely high upside even if you don’t put a ton of money on Oregon.

BYU Cougars (+2000)

BYU’s 24–9 record reflects their competitive edge, positioning them as a strong contender. Like Arizona, BYU is a recent addition to the Big 12, though they lost by 20 points to a stacked Houston team in the semifinals of the conference tournament over the weekend.

Still, the Cougars acquitted themselves well leading up to the semis. A 14-6 record in league play is no joke given the depth of the conference, and they enter the tournament ranked No. 17 in the nation. You can argue they’re under-seeded as the No. 6 in the East Region. However, you can also say that about their first-round opponent, No. 11 VCU.

VCU won the Atlantic 10, and they enter March Madness with just 6 losses all season. They’re also 18-2 over their last 20 games. BYU could have something of a home-court advantage, as their first-round games in Denver are about an hour’s flight from Provo, Utah.

The Top NCAA East Regional Longshot

As mentioned, VCU (+3000) is simply under-seeded relative to their accomplishments. The Rams ransacked their way through the A-10 regular season and tournament, and a 28-6 record is nothing to sneeze at.

This is one of the stingiest defensive teams in America, particularly on the perimeter. The old phrase “defense wins championships” may be a bit overused, but having a hard-nosed defense can often be the difference in a low-scoring, gritty NCAA Tournament game.

Does VCU have the star power to take down teams with more NBA-level prospects? That remains to be seen, but mid-majors rising up and winning in March is hardly unprecedented especially these days. We’ve seen quite a few No. 11 seeds make the Final Four in recent years, and VCU looks like one of the best sleeper teams in the entire tournament.

NCAA East Regional Predictions

Considering team performances and current odds, it’s hard to get past Duke as the most likely team to represent the East Region in the Final Four. Even without Mike Krzyzewski patrolling the sidelines, the Blue Devils continue to attract top-tier talent.

Of course, their chances may depend on whether Flagg plays, and whether he’s close to himself if he does suit up. If Duke gets an unlimited, unencumbered version of Flagg, I’m not sure there’s a College Basketball team anywhere else in America capable of taking them out in this tournament.

Unfortunately, Duke’s status as the favorite is baked into the -140 odds to win the East.

Best Bet: Duke (-140)