Editor’s Note: Don’t just bet your favorite sports. LIVE YOUR BET LIFE! Get started today at PointsBet with two risk-free bets up to $2,000. Bet now!
Your bracket is filled out but you regret not picking more underdogs. Look no further than the Special Underdog Contest on the NBC Predictor App.
Nothing quite like watching a double-digit seed knock off a heavy favorite…especially when you called that upset. Get involved. Play the Men’s Tournament Underdogs! contest. Find it on the NBC Sports Predictor App powered by PointsBet. It is a free-to-play game.
The prize for the contest is $25,000. Get involved for your chance to win or split that prize. Download the NBC Sports Predictor app to join the party right now. There are other free-to-play games on the app. Download the app now and enjoy.
To help you out, here are three questions from the contest along with a few historical notes, some statistics, and suggested picks.
Question 3: Total Wins by 14, 15, and 16 Seeds
0
1
2
3+
It makes sense to start with the 16s. The greatest upset in the history of the NCAA Tournament happened in 2018 when UMBC shocked the world and knocked off the top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers. That is the only time a 16-seed has won a game which means their record is 1-135 since the Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. The #15-seeds are 9-135 since the expansion. They are 5-31 in the last nine years. The #14-seeds have “enjoyed” more success winning five times in the last eight years and 22 times since the Tournament expansion in 1985. All that said, do the math. It is still rare. Maybe it happens once this year. If you really are feeling bold, do you bet on it happening twice?
Answer: There will be One total win among 14, 15, and 16 seeds in the Tournament.
Editor’s Note: The Madness is upon us/here! Get an Edge+ annual subscription now to unlock our College Basketball DFS and Betting Tools. With Game Predictions, Player Prop Projections and more, get ready to cut down the nets using promo code BRACKETS20! Plus you’ll get every tool for every sport with your Edge+ subscription including our new Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide powered by Rotoworld! Click Here and use promo code BRACKETS20 at checkout and find your EDGE!
Question 4: Combined Points Scored by All 16 Seeds (Total Points)
0-210
211-225
226-236
237-244
245-254
255+
UMBC’s unbelievable upset of UVA in 2018 stands alone in history. There may have been only one upset, but there have been other #16 seeds who have made top seeds sweat. That said, the question is total points scored by the four #16 seeds in this year’s tournament. Over the years the 16s have scored a low of 29 points in Mississippi Valley State’s loss to UCLA in 2008 and a high of 82 by the Penn Quakers in 1987 in a loss to UNC. In 2022, the average men’s basketball team scored almost 68 points per game. Should each of the #16-seeds hit the average, their combined scored would total 272 points.
Answer: The #16-seeds will combine to score 255+ points in the First Round.
Question 5: Lowest Seed to Win in Round of 64
8-11
12
13
14
15-16
Is there another UMBC out there stalking a Virginia? There may be a stalker out there but doubtful they nab their prey and pull off the miracle. Will Auburn, Villanova, Kentucky, or Duke lose? They are each of the #2 seeds. Still doubtful. Let us run through the 3-seeds. . Longwood is facing Tennessee. It is the Lancer’s first tournament appearance…ever. Tennessee likes to play defense. As a result, the Vols should send the Lancers packing. Yale is facing Purdue. The Ivy League champs face a mammoth task looking to slow future NBA 1st rounder Jayden Ivey and 7’4” Zach Edey. Montana State won the Big Sky Conference (as did their women’s team). The Bobcats’ can shoot the ball, but they are facing Texas Tech. If the Raiders need to, they will be content to roll up their sleeves and grind. Could Colgate surprise Wisconsin in Milwaukee? Maybe. The Raiders are a veteran team that shoots 3s as well as almost anyone in the tournament. It would be a big upset, but some Underdogs will prevail.
Answer: A 14-seed will be the lowest seed to win in the Round of 64.
Again, download the NBC Sports Predictor App powered by PointsBet. The contests are free. Each contest carries with it a $10,000 prize to be won outright or shared. Get your piece. Get involved.
Enjoy the games and enjoy the sweat.
PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links. NJ, IA, IN, IL, CO, MI, VA, WV only. 21+. T&C apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
