SOUTHEAST REGION PREDICTIONS – 2011 NCAA Tournament Free Picks & Sleepers
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Unless you count Pittsburgh – it’s debatable – the South East Region in March Madness doesn’t seem to have that hot team everyone is talking up to win the national title.
That means we could see some upsets in this bracket. Who will emerge? Let’s dig in.
SOUTHEAST BRACKET – THE ELITE
(1) Pittsburgh Panthers
Odds to win Southeast Region: +155
:: Pitt Betting Stats
Yeah, the two-point loss to UConn in the Big East tournament was disheartening, as is the 2-2 record over Pittsburgh’s last four games including tourney play. But I see the glass as half full. Pittsburgh is ready for anything after battling through the toughest conference in college basketball. It has a difference-maker in Ashton Gibbs. The playoff-ready attitude and gamebreaking player are arguably the two most important ingredients of a deep run in March Madness.
THE CONTENDERS
(2) Florida Gators
Odds to win Southeast Region: +365
:: Florida Betting Stats
While Florida earned its No. 2 seed with a 26-7 record, tops in the SEC, this season, I don’t like what it showed leading up to Selection Sunday. It lost two real measuring-stick games against Kentucky. Even more alarming is that the second game was a more lopsided defeat. The Gators should breeze through their first two matchups but will they be ready for BYU? I’m skeptical.
(5) Kansas State Wildcats
Odds to win Southeast Region: +805
:: K-State Betting Stats
As one of the only teams to beat Kansas this season, Kansas State had momentum entering the Big 12 Tournament. But a 12-point loss to Colorado burst that balloon pretty quickly. While Kansas State still has a special player who can take over a game in Jacob Pullen, it seems that no one is taking Kansas State too seriously entering the tourney. BYU and even sleeper Belmont are gathering more steam.
(3) Brigham Young Cougars
Odds to win Southeast Region: +845
:: BYU Betting Stats
On one hand, BYU’s chances at making the Final Four took a step backward after Brandon Davies, its third leading scorer, was dismissed for, you know, getting busy with a lady. But we shouldn’t underestimate Jimmer Fredette. Brigham Young’s top guy is arguably the country’s most dominant scorer. I’m excited to see what he can do in the tourney.
(4) Wisconsin Badgers
Odds to win Southeast Region: +845
:: Wisconsin Betting Stats
Chat around the water cooler with your betting buddies or read the expert columns and you’ll find plenty of buzz suggesting Wisconsin is a prime upset candidate. The Badgers were the talk of college hoops when they ended Ohio State’s undefeated run earlier this year but they stumble into the NCAA Tournament with two straight losses. Their defense is outstanding – they held Penn State to 36 points in the Big Ten tourney – but they can’t score. They tallied 33 points against Penn State.
THE SLEEPERS
(6) St. John’s Red Storm
Odds to win Southeast Region: +1015
:: St. John’s Betting Stats
If Belmont is the deep sleeper, St. John’s is the realistic one. While losing D.J. Kennedy to a torn ACL hurts, St. John’s has shown it isn’t afraid to clash with the big boys, and I like that. It beat six top-25 teams this season. The Red Storm also have 10 seniors. Definite sleeper potential here.
(13) Belmont Bruins
Odds to win Southeast Region: +725 (Picking “field)
:: Belmont Betting Stats
Belmont is a deep enough long shot that many books don’t even list its odds. But could the Bruins be a Cinderella team? They have upset potential over No. 4 Wisconsin, they have no pressure and they enter the tourney hot. I’m tempted. Are you?
THE PICK
While there are plenty of evenly matched teams in this region, I still think Pittsburgh is slightly above the rest. It has two All-Big East first teamers in Gibbs and Brand Wanamaker and coming out of the Big East will make the Panthers better equipped to in close, star-studded games.
Southeast Region Free Pick: Pitt +155
