The 2025 NCAA Tournament is finally here. Whether you’re filling out March Madness brackets or looking to bet on first-round games, BettingPros has you covered. Check out this in-depth preview and breakdown of every team in the East region of the NCAA Tournament.
Duke is the favorite to come out of the East as the National Championship betting favorite. Can Alabama challenge the Blue Devils, though? How about Wisconsin, Arizona or Oregon?
Plus, we have multiple double-digit seeds in the East that can pull off a first-round upset. Will Liberty, Akron or VCU bust brackets and make a Cinderella run to the Sweet 16?
Let's dive into the strengths, weaknesses, X-factors and predictions for every team in the NCAA Tournament’s East region. Enjoy this betting primer as you make your wagers or fill out your March Madness brackets.
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2025 NCAA Tournament East Region Primer
No. 1 Duke Blue Devils (31-3 SU, 22-12 ATS, 17-17 O/U)
Strengths: Duke is a top-five team on both ends of the court, ranking third in offensive efficiency and fourth in defensive efficiency. The Blue Devils are headlined by projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg and boast other future pro talents in Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, Isaiah Evans and Tyrese Proctor.
Weaknesses: There aren't many flaws with this Duke team. If we're nitpicking, it would be that it ranks just 136th in defensive turnover rate and 203rd in free-throw attempts rate. They're elite in nearly every other area, though.
X-Factor: NBA-caliber talent tends to lead to NCAA Tournament success. Nearly every National Champion over the past 20 years has boasted a future lottery pick. Duke has three of those in Flagg, Knueppel, and Maluach. The ankle injury to Flagg is a small concern, but he's expected to play in Duke's first-round game.
Prediction: This seems like Duke's tournament to lose. The Blue Devils are the most complete team and they're loaded with talent. Duke also gets a fairly easy path to the Final Four compared to other regions.
No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (25-8 SU, 19-15 ATS, 17-14-1 O/U)
Strengths: Alabama's offense is a force to be reckoned with. The Crimson Tide ranks fourth nationally in offensive efficiency, plays at the fastest tempo in the sport and leads the country in scoring at a clip of 91.1 points per game (PPG). As we saw last year, they can reach the Final Four by purely out-scoring opponents. The Tide also defend the three well, holding teams to 30.8% shooting from deep - 30th in Division I.
Weaknesses: Alabama’s defense has some flaws. The 32nd-ranked defensive efficiency isn't exactly on par with a No. 2 seed. The Tide rank an atrocious 348th in the country in defensive turnover rate and they forced steals at the lowest rate in the SEC this season.
X-Factor: Senior forward Grant Nelson suffered a knee injury in the SEC Tournament and his status is up in the air heading into the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Nate Oats said Nelson will likely return by Alabama's second-round game. How impactful and effective will Nelson be if/when he returns?
Prediction: The Crimson Tide are a year removed from a Final Four run. They can do it again with a potent offense and one of the best backcourts in the country led by Mark Sears. The upside is there but Alabama could also get caught in a potential Sweet 16 matchup against other offensive-minded teams like BYU and Wisconsin.
No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers (26-9 SU, 21-13-1 ATS, 20-15 O/U)
Strengths: Wisconsin ranks 13th in offensive efficiency and 27th in defensive efficiency. The Badgers lean on their strong offense, though. They avoid turnovers at the 17th-best rate in the country and boast the sport's best free-throw shooting percentage (82.8%).
Weaknesses: The Badgers don't force turnovers often, ranking 331st nationally in defensive turnover rate. They also struggle on the offensive glass (238th in offensive rebounding rate).
X-Factor: John Tonje has been one of the biggest breakout stars in college basketball. The sixth-year senior earned AP Second Team All-American honors after averaging 19.2 PPG in his first season with Wisconsin. He can anchor a deep March run.
Prediction: Wisconsin should get past Montana in the first round with relative ease. A potential second-round matchup with BYU or VCU could be tricky, though. Notably, the Badgers haven't reached the Sweet 16 in four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. However, this is Greg Gard's best team since he arrived in 2015.
No. 4 Arizona Wildcats (22-12 SU, 18-16 ATS, 19-15 O/U)
Strengths: Arizona has one of the best offenses in the country. It ranks 12th in offensive efficiency while averaging 81.7 PPG. The Wildcats like to play fast (54th in tempo) and usually force teams to match their quick pace.
Weaknesses: As good as Arizona is on offense, it struggles from three-point range. The Wildcats are shooting just 32.4% from three this season (247th in Division I). Another flaw is on the defensive end with turnovers. They rank 212th in defensive turnover rate.
X-Factor: The Wildcats tend to go as Caleb Love goes. The fifth-year senior guard is a proven scorer with plenty of offensive talent, but he's also inconsistent. Love shot just 32.3% from three and 38.6% from the field this season. Yet, he leads the team in usage rate and shot volume. When he's on, this team is tough to beat. When he's off, though, an early exit is possible.
Prediction: Arizona is just 5-6 over the last 11 games coming into the NCAA Tournament. This team has been way too up and down to trust it to reel off multiple wins. The ceiling is likely the Sweet 16, where the Wildcats would have to play Duke. They could also easily get caught by Akron in the opener or by Oregon/Liberty in the second round.
No. 5 Oregon Ducks (24-9 SU, 15-17-1 ATS, 16-17 O/U)
Strengths: Oregon is one of the hottest teams in the country. The Ducks won eight straight before falling to Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament. They're a balanced team, ranking 39th in offensive efficiency and 31st in defensive efficiency. Oregon is a veteran squad, starting four seniors and ranking 31st in Division I experience.
Weaknesses: The Ducks are solid offensively but a tad below average in two areas. They're shooting 34% from three-point range (171st in Division I) and rank 162nd in offensive rebounding.
X-Factor: Head coach Dana Altman knows how to win in March. He's 8-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with Oregon and has made the Sweet 16 in five of those eight appearances. Oregon is also 16-6-1 against the spread (ATS) in the tournament under Altman.
Prediction: Liberty is a dangerous first-round opponent but Oregon should survive and advance. With how well the Ducks are playing right now, combined with Altman's March success, they can beat Arizona to get to the Sweet 16 - where a loss to Duke is likely.
No. 6 BYU Cougars (24-9 SU, 19-13-1 ATS, 19-13-1 O/U)
Strengths: BYU is a top-tier offensive team, ranking 11th nationally in offensive efficiency. The Cougars are seventh in effective field-goal percentage, sixth in two-point offense and shoot 37.1% from three (33rd). They also grab defensive rebounds at the 28th-best rate in the sport.
Weaknesses: The Cougars rank 243rd in opposing three-point shooting percentage. On the offensive end, BYU is 207th in turnover rate and 241st in free-throw shooting percentage.
X-Factor: First-year head coach Kevin Young brought a pro-style offense to the college game and it's worked so far. The former NBA assistant coach has the Cougars shooting and making a ton of three-pointers to anchor a potent offense. We'll see how it translates to the NCAA Tournament but BYU just went 14-6 in a tough Big 12 Conference.
Prediction: BYU has a tricky first-round matchup against VCU. It's the ultimate clash of styles and VCU's strong defense could hold BYU in check. Even so, the Cougars have the offensive upside to make an Elite Eight run if they're hitting threes.
No. 7 Saint Mary's Gaels (28-5 SU, 14-18 ATS, 12-19-1 O/U)
Strengths: The Gaels are an elite defensive team. They rank eighth nationally in defensive efficiency while allowing just 60.7 PPG (fifth). Saint Mary's is also one of the best rebounding teams in the country, ranking second in offensive rebounding rate and 11th in defensive rebounding rate.
Weaknesses: Saint Mary's does not shoot it well from deep with a 32.6% three-point shooting percentage (232nd). They also rank 273rd in free-throw shooting percentage. Those are worrisome numbers for a team that ranks 359th in tempo.
X-Factor: Can the Gaels get over the hump? Saint Mary's hasn't made it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament in seven straight appearances and they've done it only once in the 10 appearances with Randy Bennett as coach.
Prediction: Considering the Gaels' poor showings in the NCAA Tournament, should we be surprised if they lose to Vanderbilt in the first round? A loss to Alabama in the second round is likely coming either way.
No. 8 Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-12 SU, 15-18 ATS, 20-13 O/U)
Strengths: Mississippi State is 23rd in offensive efficiency and 47th in defensive efficiency. Being in the top 25 in one category and in the top 50 in the other is notable, especially for a No. 8 seed. The Bulldogs' defense ranks 16th in steal rate and 17th in block rate.
Weaknesses: Three-point shooting both ways is a major concern. The Bulldogs are shooting just 31.4% from three (298th in Division I) while allowing opponents to shoot 36.1% from deep (314th). They also rank 262nd in free-throw percentage (70%).
X-Factor: Josh Hubbard is the straw that stirs the drink for Mississippi State. The 5-foot-11 sophomore guard is averaging 18.7 PPG and can go off for 25-30 points in any given game. The Bulldogs have talented bigs and veterans all over the roster, but Hubbard is the difference-maker.
Prediction: Playing in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game naturally limits the ceiling for Mississippi State. The three-point issues on both ends could cost the Bulldogs against Baylor in the first round. They won't have much of a chance against Duke in the second round, anyway.
No. 9 Baylor Bears (19-14 SU, 11-18-3 ATS, 17-15 O/U)
Strengths: Baylor ranks 16th in offensive efficiency, which is impressive for a No. 9 seed. The Bears are 25th in offensive rebounding rate and above average in free-throw shooting and turnover rate.
Weaknesses: Opponents are shooting 35.4% from three-point range against Baylor (277th in Division I). The Bears are also just 254th in defensive rebounding rate. Those issues on defense are a big reason why they went 10-10 in Big 12 play.
X-Factor: Baylor's roster features two exciting NBA prospects and multiple players with big-time prior NCAA Tournament experience. Freshman V.J. Edgecombe will be a lottery pick and looks like a future star while fellow frosh Robert Wright is a very talented scorer himself. Meanwhile, Jeremy Roach and Norchad Omier both played in Final Fours.
Prediction: Baylor barely snuck into the NCAA Tournament field, but they still rate out better than first-round opponent Mississippi State and should win. The potential second-round matchup vs. Duke would be fascinating - but the Bears don't have enough depth to go toe-to-toe.
No. 10 Vanderbilt Commodores (20-12 SU, 18-14 ATS, 16-15-1 O/U)
Strengths: Vanderbilt ranks 30th in offensive efficiency, led by a stellar backcourt duo of Jason Edwards and AJ Hoggard. The Commodores boast the 29th-best offensive turnover rate with those guards protecting the ball.
Weaknesses: Defensively, Vanderbilt is allowing teams to shoot 36.9% from three-point range (337th in Division I). On the other side, Vanderbilt has just a 32.5% three-point shooting percentage itself (239th).
X-Factor: Even in the juggernaut SEC, the Commodores proved they can hang with the big boys. They pulled off upsets over Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Missouri in conference play this year.
Prediction: Vanderbilt can make Saint Mary's sweat in the first round and the Commodores are live underdogs in that game. A second-round matchup vs. Alabama will be much tougher, though. Vanderbilt lost by 16 to Alabama in the regular season as the Crimson Tide put up 103 points.
No. 11 VCU Rams (28-6 SU, 20-11-2 ATS, 19-14 O/U)
Strengths: VCU is a top-tier defensive team. It ranks 23rd nationally in defensive efficiency and first overall in effective field-goal percentage allowed. The Rams are also 31st in defensive turnover rate, fourth in two-point defense, seventh in block rate and 23rd in three-point defense.
Weaknesses: The Rams prefer to keep games lower-scoring while controlling the slower pace. If they face an uptempo opponent who starts hitting three-pointers, the game can get away from them. VCU's three-point shooting (33.5%) and offensive turnover rate (157th in Division I) are concerns.
X-Factor: Get ready for a physical battle when facing VCU. If you missed it above, the Rams are a tough defensive team and will make you earn it. They're also loaded with veteran experience, starting four seniors with another coming off the bench.
Prediction: VCU gets a tough first-round matchup against BYU's high-powered offense. If the Rams can slow the game down and limit the three-point barrage from the Cougars, an upset will be brewing. They're also talented enough to make a Sweet 16 run.
No. 12 Liberty Flames (28-6 SU, 20-10-1 ATS, 16-15 O/U)
Strengths: Liberty owns a massive advantage from three-point range on both ends of the court. The Flames are shooting a lights-out 39.5% from three this season (fifth in Division I) while holding opponents to 28.0% from deep (third). That's an eye-opening differential.
Weaknesses: Perimeter scoring isn't everything, though. Liberty ranks 361st nationally in offensive rebounding and 348th in free-throw percentage. Those issues cap the Flames' scoring upside, even if they get hot from deep.
X-Factor: We have to go back to the three-point shooting here. Liberty lives and dies by the three-pointer - for better or worse. The strategy has resulted in 28 wins this season but could cost the Flames against teams that defend the three well or that can control the paint
Prediction: Liberty faces a red-hot Oregon team in the first round and will likely "flame" out, pun intended. Of course, if the Flames are hitting threes, then it's a different story. But the Ducks have a solid perimeter defense.
No. 13 Akron Zips (28-6 SU, 16-16 ATS, 20-12 O/U)
Strengths: Tempo, tempo, tempo. The Zips play at the 16th-fastest pace in the country and regularly force opponents to match the uptempo flow. They shoot 36.6% from three-point range (49th) and rank 31st in effective field-goal percentage.
Weaknesses: Akron's defense ranks just 183rd in efficiency this season. The Zips don't force many turnovers and don't defend inside very well.
X-Factor: Since the start of January, Akron is 21-1 straight up (SU). The competition in the MAC isn't exactly the best, but there's something to be said about a team that regularly finds ways to win. This is John Groce's best team since he became Akron's head coach in 2017.
Prediction: Akron can keep pace with Arizona in the first round and it's very live to pull the upset. That should be a high-scoring game, but the Zips likely lose a close one.
No. 14 Montana Grizzlies (25-9 SU, 17-11-3 ATS, 19-12 O/U)
Strengths: Montana boasts some impressive offensive advanced stats for a No. 14 seed from the Big Sky conference. The Grizzlies rank 13th nationally in effective field-goal percentage and 17th in two-point shooting percentage. They're also 34th in offensive steal rate.
Weaknesses: On the flip side, Montana's defense is pretty bad. It ranks 250th in defensive efficiency, 290th in defensive turnover rate, and in the 200's in many other defensive stats.
X-Factor: Montana has a veteran lineup with plenty of experience. The Grizzlies start four seniors and one junior with another senior coming off the bench. Plus, their best offensive playmaker is sophomore Money Williams, who dropped 36 points in a game not too long ago.
Prediction: The Grizzlies' offense has some upside, but their defense is a huge concern for this first-round matchup vs. Wisconsin. It should be a comfortable win for the Badgers.
No. 15 Robert Morris Colonials (26-8 SU, 25-8 ATS, 19-14 O/U)
Strengths: Robert Morris is 33rd in offensive rebounding rate, which is notable for a team from the Horizon League. It also gets to the free-throw line at the 41st-best rate in the sport.
Weaknesses: The Colonials are 272nd in offensive rate. They're also 205th in opposing three-point percentage. Not ideal stats for a team that has to face Alabama in the first round.
X-Factor: Robert Morris rolls with a short rotation of seven players. It ranks 289th nationally in bench minutes and relies on its starters to play the majority of the game. That can work in some instances but the Colonials could get into foul trouble with some tired legs in this first-round matchup against Alabama.
Prediction: The Colonials have won 10 straight and are 16-1 over their 17 games. This is where the run ends, though. Robert Morris is no match for Alabama here.
No. 16 Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers (22-12 SU, 21-11-1 ATS, 12-19-2 O/U)
Strengths: The Mountaineers are holding opponents to 31.4% shooting from three-point range (51st in Division I). Their defense is also 54th nationally in effective field-goal percentage against.
Weaknesses: Mount St. Mary's has one of the worst offenses in the field. It ranks 292nd in offensive efficiency and 359th in offensive turnover rate.
X-Factor: One of the Mountaineers’ best players, Carmelo Pacheco, will be sidelined for at least the First Four matchup. Pacheco was the team's best three-point shooter and a solid defender on the wing. The Mountaineers won their conference tournament without him but his absence is hard to ignore.
Prediction: The Mountaineers play American in the First Four. They're underdogs in the toss-up game but either way, they'll surely lose big to Duke in the Round of 64.
No. 16 American Eagles (22-12 SU, 17-14-1 ATS, 16-16 O/U)
Strengths: American doesn't do many things well, but it can win the free-throw battle. The Eagles rank 58th in free-throw shooting percentage (75.9%) while opponents are making just 69.2% of their free throws (63rd in Division I).
Weaknesses: American ranks 252nd in offensive efficiency. It's also 335th in offensive rebounding rate. On the other end, the Eagles are 269th in two-point defense and 355th in defensive block rate.
X-Factor: Fifth-year senior center Matt Rogers is the difference-maker for American. He averages 17 PPG and has been one of the best players in the Patriot League over the last three seasons.
Prediction: American is favored to beat Mount St. Mary's in the First Four. The Eagles can do it behind Matt Rogers, who can take the game over. Then Duke is waiting, and we all know how that's going to go.
