Who wins, who's overrated and what's the best game? NBCSports.com has the answers for each region. For other regional analysis, click here: South | West |  Midwest.

Underrated
I’m hearing a lot about North Carolina. I’m hearing a lot about Louisville. Tennessee appears to be the third wheel in this region. The Vols have been given virtually no shot to advance to the Final Four. You see them in San Antonio in any bracket? They have been dismissed.

It’s fuel. Maybe they are not good enough, we’ll find out, but if these guys get on a roll they can score 90 points. They are waiting for North Carolina to challenge them at 100 miles per hour.

Remember, this is a squad that had Ohio State and its two lottery picks beat in the 2007 tournament. North Carolina is better than Ohio State, yes, but Tennessee is better this year, too.

Overrated
The Cinderellas. Butler and Winthrop. Everyone will be pulling for them, but Washington State has enough to wax Winthrop and Butler is going to run into a determined Tennessee team in the second round.

Most likely first round upset
George Mason over Notre Dame: No, not because the Patriots have some Final Four experience, but because of a couple of other factors. One is Jim Larranaga, the GMU coach. He has enough savvy and tricks up his sleeve to make sure the Patriots can defend against Notre Dame center Luke Harangody.

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George Mason is a combative defensive team and it will get a chance to push on the Notre Dame center in the first round where the game is loose. GMU will use its combination defenses and try and make Harangody uncomfortable.

The other thing is Notre Dame is not as impressive away from home as they are at home. I know, a lot of teams are like that, but the Irish seem to be more prone to losing offensive fluidness on the road.

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Of course, a lot of people are going to pick Winthrop over Washington State as the first-round upset.

Best matchup
North Carolina vs. Tennessee: This is the kind of game that Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl craves. He is in the neighboring state building a powerhouse and to come over the mountains and beat Carolina would set off fireworks in the region. Pearl loves the spotlight and he might even make a snide remark about the Tar Heels just to do it.

Impact player
Demetric Bennett of South Alabama. This is a 6-foot-4 scorer who lit up Mississippi State in Starkville for 39 points on 14 of 17 shooting. He also scored 25 against Vanderbilt. Bennett is going to keep South Alabama neck and neck with Butler. The Bulldogs might eventually win with balance and a better inside game, but if Bennett gets it going he might have the Birmingham crowd rally around the Mobile school.

Regional champ
It is the toughest regional because it has the overall No. 1 seed, North Carolina, and another close No. 1-seed Tennessee, which was dumped to a No. 2. The region also features Louisville, and the Cardinals are as good as any team that comes out of the Big East.

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Louisville vs. Tennessee in the Sweet 16 is going to be an intense game because the Vols are amped up and on a mission. For UT to get a shot at a traditional foe like Louisville one night and then North Carolina two nights later will make Bruce Pearl’s season.

The Tar Heels lost one game when Ty Lawson was injured. They are very good and healthy now. I don’t know if there is a team in this tournament, though, that can beat them.

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