The NCAA March Madness “Elite Eight” spots are yet to be filled, but it is always best to prepare early. The “Sweet 16” round will kick off on March 28, and only eight teams will book their place in the next round of the tournament. One thing is for sure though, the next few days are going to be hectic. Basketball fans are in for a jam-packed schedule of matches to be played between March 28 and March 31.
Unfortunately, those living outside the US will miss out on all the fun because the streaming channels airing the event are only available within United States territories. However, I will teach you how to bypass geo-restrictions and access any American streaming channel using a VPN.
Channels Streaming NCAA “Elite Eight”
There are several channels broadcasting the March Madness “Elite Eight”. But all of them are US-based and unavailable anywhere outside the country. See them below:
- NCAA March Madness Website
- CBS Sports
- TNT
- TBS
- TruTV
- PS Vue
- Sling TV
Therefore, you’ll need a VPN, or virtual private network, to unblock any of the channels above.
How to Stream March Madness “Elite Eight” with VPN
A VPN can help you bypass geo-restrictions and unblock any content by spoofing your geographic location. It redirects your internet connection to a server from another region, and hides your IP address. Then, the VPN gives you a different IP address from the area that you selected, so that you appear as if you were living there.
In other words, if you connect to a US server, a new American IP address will replace the original one. This will give you access to any restricted channel from that country, and you’ll be able to watch the NCAA “Elite Eight”.
In the guide below, we’ll show you how to get your hands on a virtual private network:
- Sign up with a VPN provider. I recommend you use ExpressVPN.
- Download and install the VPN app on your device.
- Sign in.
- Connect to a server from the US.
- Double check your new IP address on WhatIsMyIP.network.
- Watch the best college basketball games.
Best VPNs for Watching “Elite Eight”
As I mentioned above, ExpressVPN is my top pick. I have tried several VPN brands and from my experience, this provider is the best for watching live sports. It offers unbelievable speeds, which is perfect for streaming live matches in full HD. Even though ExpressVPN uses a military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, it does not affect its overall speed.
The company also has a huge network of servers spread across 94 countries, many of which are located in the USA. So unblocking the channels that air the “Elite Eight” should be a sure thing. Moreover, ExpressVPN is compatible with almost any operating system, device, or platform. You can even install it on routers, gaming consoles, and Smart TVs.
These are just some of the features that ExpressVPN has to offer. For a full list and a review of the VPN brand, check out ExpressVPN Review 2019.
There are of course other VPN providers you can choose to watch the March Madness “Elite Eight”. Check the below table for more options:
- 30-Day Money-back Guarantee
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Apps For All Your Devices
- 24/7 Live Support
Can I Use Free VPNs?
I advise to avoid free VPNs because few of them are as efficient, safe, and reliable as their paid counterparts. Most free service providers often:
- Log traffic and sell it to third parties like advertisement companies.
- Lack strong encryption protocols so your data may be compromised.
- Don’t have access to most streaming channels.
- Don’t offer high speeds.
There are a few VPN providers that are considered decent like TunnelBear. This company uses OpenVPN protocol, which makes it secure. It has a no-logging policy, an AES 256-bit encryption protocol, and is also ad-free.
However, it does come with a few disadvantages. It only has servers in 22 countries, isn’t compatible with Netflix, and doesn’t offer high speed levels.
To put it simply, you’re better off with a paid VPN service like ExpressVPN.
2019 March Madness Progress
The first two rounds of the NCAA March Madness are behind us, and now we look forward to the “Sweet 16” round. 16 teams will begin their quest on March 28 to qualify for the “Elite Eight”, then the final eight teams will compete one another on March 30 and 31.
The “Elite Eight” will feature four regional finals (West, South, East, Midwest), and the winner of each region will march on to the “Final Four” round. Then, the winner of each match will take the final step to the Championship final, where the college national champion will be determined.
It is a long and exhilarating journey, but a huge reward lies at the end of it.
Qualified Teams to NCAA “Sweet Sixteen”
Here’s a reminder of the teams that qualified for the upcoming “Sweet Sixteen” round:
East
- Duke
- Virginia Tech
- LSU
- Michigan State
West
- Gonzaga
- Florida State
- Texas Tech
- Michigan
South
- Virginia
- Oregon
- Purdue
- Tennessee
Midwest
- North Carolina
- Auburn
- Houston
- Kentucky
How to Stream NCAA “Elite Eight” Anywhere – Conclusion
The next four days are filled with amazing college basketball games that will give us a clearer picture of who might be crowned NCAA March Madness champion. That is why no one should miss any of these games, and with a VPN, no one has to. Hurry up and get a virtual private network, connect to an American server, and see who makes it to the next round.