March Madness East Region Odds: Michigan Favored In East Region Final

We’re headed to the Elite Eight in the March Madness tournament, with two teams left in each of the four regions. While Gonzaga is favored to be the 2021 national champion, in March Madness East Region odds it is Michigan that is the favorite to knock off UCLA in the East regional final.

Online sportsbook BetUS has updated March Madness East Region odds heading into the Elite Eight with Michigan a 7.5-point favorite over UCLA or the -335 chalk to win the East Region.

With Michigan listed as the favorite in March Madness East Region odds, that means a $335 bet on the Wolverines to win the region would profit you $100. Additionally, our sports betting calculator tells us that Michigan’s -335 odds represent an implied win probability of 77.01 percent.

Who will win the March Madness East Region?

Odds as of March 29 at BetUS

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New to betting on college hoops? Be sure to check out our March Madness betting guide to help get you in the game. Also, keep an eye on our college basketball odds page for the latest up-to-date betting lines. Lastly, if your bracket is busted, no problem, take a look at our Bets over Brackets page to give you some insight on how to continue to enjoy March Madness after your bracket is in shambles.

March Madness East Region Odds: Why Michigan is the Favorite

Michigan was the cream of the crop in the Big Ten, which was arguably the best conference in college basketball this season with six or more teams ranked in the AP Top 25 throughout the season. That said, the Wolverines limped into the tournament in more ways than one, though that didn’t seem to have an effect on the March Madness East Region odds.

To start, the Wolverines held an 18-1 record heading into March but dropped three of their first five games this month, including a narrow 68-67 defeat to Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.

Perhaps a little more concerning for Michigan was the injury to co-captain Isaiah Livers, the senior who leads the team in minutes played per game. He was knocked out of action in the first half of the Wolverines’ game against Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament. He is now in a walking boot and is out of the tournament.

UCLA vs Michigan: East Region Final

While the oddsmakers were right in placing Michigan as the favorite, UCLA, as a No. 11 seed, could make them pay. The Bruins backed their way into the NCAA Tournament, dropping four straight games, but they have put things together to rattle off four wins in a row, starting with a triumph over Michigan State in the First Four.

UCLA went toe to toe with No. 2 Alabama in the Sweet 16, earning an 88-78 overtime victory and showing its ability to win a high-scoring affair. However, the Bruins’ 67-47 win over Abilene Christian in the Round of 32 displayed their defensive skills as well.

Enough of pumping UCLA’s tires, though, as I think Michigan will advance to the Final Four. As mentioned above, the Wolverines lost second-leading scorer Isaiah Livers in the Big Ten Tournament but they are averaging more points in the NCAA Tournament than they did in the regular season. Having the ability to win without their top offensive threat speaks to the depth and overall talent of the team. Not only do I think Michigan wins this Elite Eight matchup but I also think the Wolverines cover the 7.5-point spread.

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March Madness East Region Historical Information

If you’re looking for another reason not to back No. 1 seed Michigan to come out of the East, only two top seeds have won the East Region over the past 10 years. Of those two winners, North Carolina in 2016 lost in the national final to Villanova, while in 2018 it was Villanova coming out of the East and going on to win its second title in three years.

Here’s a look at the March Madness East Region results since the 2010 season: