With the dust settling from Thursday’s upsets, attention shifts to an equally promising lineup of games in the South and Midwest Regions, where teams like Marquette, NC State, Houston, and Duke vie for dominance in their quest for the Final Four.
Underdogs Defy Odds, Shaking up NCAA Tournament Brackets
This article was published more than a year ago. Some information may no longer be current.
SHARE
March Madness Delivers Rising Underdogs and Steadfast Favorites
Statistically, this tournament has been one for the books. Underdogs have triumphed in a record number of games, and favorites have performed exceptionally well against the spread (ATS), particularly in the early rounds. March Madness is unpredictable in nature, where anything can happen, and often does. This is one of the big reasons David Forman, vice president of research at the American Gaming Association, said that “March Madness is the biggest kind of individual event of the year for sports betting.”
Thursday’s action in the West Region threw fans and brackets into disarray. Despite being favored to win, No. 2 seed Arizona fell to No. 6 seed Clemson, 77-72, while No. 1 seed North Carolina was edged out by No. 4 seed Alabama, 89-87, in a thrilling contest. Both Clemson and Alabama, traditionally known for their football prowess, have now secured spots in the Elite Eight—a feat neither has achieved since the early 2000s. Their unexpected runs are made all the more remarkable by their underwhelming performances leading up to the tournament.
UConn and Illinois also move forward, rounding out a quartet of victors in Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchups.
Friday’s games
The anticipation now builds for Friday’s games, with eyes on both the South and Midwest Regions. Marquette faces NC State, and Houston takes on Duke in Dallas, while Purdue squares off against Gonzaga, and Tennessee meets Creighton in Detroit, promising more heart-stopping action.
South Region (Dallas)
No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 11 NC State @ 7:00 p.m. ET
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Duke @ 9:30 p.m. ET
Midwest Region (Detroit)
No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 5 Gonzaga @ 7:30 p.m. ET
No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Creighton @ 10:00 p.m. ET
Bet with crypto
For those who have enjoyed the developing bull market in crypto assets, and are looking to add an extra layer of excitement to the tournament, cryptocurrency betting is an obvious choice. Remember to use reputable sites such as Bitcoin.com to provide up-to-date directories on reputable crypto gambling platforms for sporting events such as March Madness.
For the best information on crypto gambling opportunities during March Madness, check out:
https://www.bitcoin.com/gambling/betting/march-madness
https://www.bitcoin.com/gambling/betting/college-basketball
How has your bracket fared so far? Share your thoughts and opinions about this subject in the comments section below.
