March Madness Upsets
By David Sharp/SPORTSBETTING.COM
The popularity of March Madness is unquestionable. For most people you only need to look around your office today to back that up (as workplace productivity plummets every year during the three-week tournament).
There are many reasons this tournament has transcended its sport and the entire sporting world, interlacing itself into the larger culture (case in point - my 83-year old grandfather called last night asking for help with his March Madness pool) ? from the obvious reason of people simply having a passion for college sports, to the fact that the office pools, bracket contests and wagering have pushed this event from a quaint collegiate tournament to the massive machine we now know as ?March Madness?
But also contributing to the growth in stature, is that March Madness has a long history of upsets, and people love these ?David and Goliath? teams. Seemingly every tournament in fact, there?s a ?feel-good? story that captures the national headlines, as little school beats the big guy, tiny conference knocks off the ACC heavyweight, and on and on.
The general public can?t get enough of an underdog who scratches and claws their way to the Big Dance, then proceeds to beat seemingly overwhelming odds (remember George Mason?s appearance in the Final Four in 2006)?and so it is with March Madness.
One of the more famous Cinderella stories and one I remember well (it was the first year I ever filled out a bracket, as a freshman in high school), bettors and fans alike were stunned by the result of the 1985 championship game when No. 8 Villanova defeated the Patrick Ewing and his #1-seeded Georgetown Hoyas 66-64.
You also have the now well-known ?#15 vs. #2? angle that gets talked about every year. Poolsters and bettors keep an eye on the 15 vs. 2 matchup every year, as it has produced several monumental upsets in the past.
SPORTSBETTING.COM is paying homage to the #15 vs. #2? storyline for this year?s tournament, as they are giving away a free $15 to all of their players if a #15-seed pulls off another upset. This gives bettors a reason to cheer on those 15-seeds, and takes some of the sting away from a bruised bracket if one does win (although don?t sweat it, everyone else will have taken the same wound to their bracket).
Is there a ?David? in this year?s group? Quite possibly.
The biggest underdogs in the tournament, according to the odds posted by SPORTSBETTING.COM are George Mason, Georgia, San Diego, Temple and Villanova; all listed at 500-1.
It?s always hard to foresee a Cinderella team but here are some that might have a shot.
Much like in 2006, the current edition of the George Mason Patriots sees a similar situation going into this tournament. They are seeded No. 12 (as opposed to 11) in the East and play No. 5 Notre Dame (as opposed to No. 6 Michigan St.).
Could lightning strike twice for the Patriots? They are a 6?-point underdog in this matchup.
The UConn Huskies are favored against the San Diego Toreos, 11-points to be exact, and although it might be a bit of a stretch to predict a San Diego upset over Connecticut, it might not be to wager on SD.
The Toreos are one of NCAA Div I?s best teams against the spread as they are 21-9 ATS and could be worth a wager.
In the same boat as San Diego are the Temple Owls.
Seeded No. 12 in the South Region, Temple will face the Michigan State Spartans.
Like the Toreos, the Owls are sharp at covering the spread, going 22-11 against the line. FYI Michigan St. is 13-14-2 ATS and is listed as a 7?-point fave against Temple. Will bettors give a hoot about Temple? Will Temple give MSU another early tourney exit?
Stay tuned as the biggest tournament of the year tips-off and the storylines unfold.
If you?re looking for a great free contest to add to the excitement, get your entry in to the $1 million ?Hoops Madness? contest at SPORTSBETTING.COM?and it?s FREE
Enjoy the action, best of luck with all your wagers and your bracket.
By David Sharp/SPORTSBETTING.COM
The popularity of March Madness is unquestionable. For most people you only need to look around your office today to back that up (as workplace productivity plummets every year during the three-week tournament).
There are many reasons this tournament has transcended its sport and the entire sporting world, interlacing itself into the larger culture (case in point - my 83-year old grandfather called last night asking for help with his March Madness pool) ? from the obvious reason of people simply having a passion for college sports, to the fact that the office pools, bracket contests and wagering have pushed this event from a quaint collegiate tournament to the massive machine we now know as ?March Madness?
But also contributing to the growth in stature, is that March Madness has a long history of upsets, and people love these ?David and Goliath? teams. Seemingly every tournament in fact, there?s a ?feel-good? story that captures the national headlines, as little school beats the big guy, tiny conference knocks off the ACC heavyweight, and on and on.
The general public can?t get enough of an underdog who scratches and claws their way to the Big Dance, then proceeds to beat seemingly overwhelming odds (remember George Mason?s appearance in the Final Four in 2006)?and so it is with March Madness.
One of the more famous Cinderella stories and one I remember well (it was the first year I ever filled out a bracket, as a freshman in high school), bettors and fans alike were stunned by the result of the 1985 championship game when No. 8 Villanova defeated the Patrick Ewing and his #1-seeded Georgetown Hoyas 66-64.
You also have the now well-known ?#15 vs. #2? angle that gets talked about every year. Poolsters and bettors keep an eye on the 15 vs. 2 matchup every year, as it has produced several monumental upsets in the past.
SPORTSBETTING.COM is paying homage to the #15 vs. #2? storyline for this year?s tournament, as they are giving away a free $15 to all of their players if a #15-seed pulls off another upset. This gives bettors a reason to cheer on those 15-seeds, and takes some of the sting away from a bruised bracket if one does win (although don?t sweat it, everyone else will have taken the same wound to their bracket).
Is there a ?David? in this year?s group? Quite possibly.
The biggest underdogs in the tournament, according to the odds posted by SPORTSBETTING.COM are George Mason, Georgia, San Diego, Temple and Villanova; all listed at 500-1.
It?s always hard to foresee a Cinderella team but here are some that might have a shot.
Much like in 2006, the current edition of the George Mason Patriots sees a similar situation going into this tournament. They are seeded No. 12 (as opposed to 11) in the East and play No. 5 Notre Dame (as opposed to No. 6 Michigan St.).
Could lightning strike twice for the Patriots? They are a 6?-point underdog in this matchup.
The UConn Huskies are favored against the San Diego Toreos, 11-points to be exact, and although it might be a bit of a stretch to predict a San Diego upset over Connecticut, it might not be to wager on SD.
The Toreos are one of NCAA Div I?s best teams against the spread as they are 21-9 ATS and could be worth a wager.
In the same boat as San Diego are the Temple Owls.
Seeded No. 12 in the South Region, Temple will face the Michigan State Spartans.
Like the Toreos, the Owls are sharp at covering the spread, going 22-11 against the line. FYI Michigan St. is 13-14-2 ATS and is listed as a 7?-point fave against Temple. Will bettors give a hoot about Temple? Will Temple give MSU another early tourney exit?
Stay tuned as the biggest tournament of the year tips-off and the storylines unfold.
If you?re looking for a great free contest to add to the excitement, get your entry in to the $1 million ?Hoops Madness? contest at SPORTSBETTING.COM?and it?s FREE
Enjoy the action, best of luck with all your wagers and your bracket.
