March Madness: UConn Leads 2023 Final Four as the Betting Favorite

Busting Brackets in 2023

For the first time since March Madness expanded to 64 teams, not a single #1 seed advanced to the Elite 8.

Purdue was the first #1 seed to topple. The Boilermakers fell in the first round when they were upset by #16 FDU. It was only the second time in March Madness history that a #16 seed picked off a #1.

Kansas was the second #1 seed to meet their fate when #8 Arkansas took out the Jayhawks in the second round.

Although #1 seeds Alabama and Houston advanced to the Sweet 16, both teams were knocked out after they ran into red-hot #5 seeds. Miami steamrolled Houston by 14 points in the Midwest Regional semifinals. San Diego State stunned Alabama with a 7-point win in the South Regional semifinals.

If you participated in a with friends or played in an office pool, then you re aware of this year’s carnage. ESPN attracted 2 million entries in their Men s Tournament Challenge this year. Only 37 entries correctly picked the Final Four teams on their brackets, which includes one #4 seed, two #5 seeds, and a #9 seed.

Out of all Final Four teams, UConn was the most popular pick to win the championship, with 2.4% of all ESPN participants selecting the Huskies. Only 0.5% of all ESPN brackets picked Miami to win the championship.

San Diego State backers selected the Aztecs to win in only 0.3% of ESPN’s pool while FAU was picked to win the championship in less than 0.1% out of the two million entries at ESPN.

It’s safe to assume that diehard alumni were among the few entrants at ESPN who picked Miami, San Diego State, or FAU to win March Madness.