public and top ten teams suffer
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Saturday, February 26, 2022, is a day that will long be remembered in college basketball history. The top six teams in the AP Top 25 poll all lost. It’s the first time that has ever happened in the history of the game. Throw in a loss by ninth-ranked Texas Tech and a full seven top 10 teams lost all on the same day.
The betting public took it on the chin on Saturday. The public loves favorites and they tend to love big-time programs. Gonzaga, Kentucky, Kansas, etc. are always popular bets with casual and recreational bettors. Those bettors might want to rethink their strategies heading into March Madness.
Saint Mary’s 67, Gonzaga 57
A full 67 percent of the bets came in on the nation’s No. 1 team on Saturday at online sportsbooks. Gonzaga had not lost in WCC play until the Gaels clamped down on the Bulldogs limiting them to just 36.7 percent shooting from the field. Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren each had just six points for Gonzaga, which was a 10.5-point favorite.
Colorado 79, Arizona 63
The Buffaloes used a dominant second-half to beat No. 2 Arizona by 16 points. Tristan da Silva scored 19 points as Colorado got its first-ever victory over a top-2 team since 1992. The loss was the biggest by an AP top-2 team since 2018. A full 59 percent of the betting public took the hit with the Wildcats loss.
Tennessee 67, Auburn 62
No. 17 Tennessee didn’t play all that well but still managed to knock off No. 3 Auburn. The Vols hit just 20 of 61 shots and committed 18 turnovers. The Tigers, who have now lost three of their last six games, couldn’t hit a three-pointer to save themselves. Sixty-four percent of the bets went on Auburn which has now lost three games by one point, five points, and the third in overtime.
Michigan State 68, Purdue 65
Michigan State had lost three straight which led the public to go all-in on Purdue, which got 71 percent of the bets at top ranked sportsbooks. The Boilermakers were the fourth-ranked team in the nation and they had won their previous three games and nine of the last ten. Then, Tyson Walker hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Spartans the win.
Baylor 80, Kansas 70
Kansas won four straight and was on its way to another Big 12 title. The public saw that as an opportunity to cash in on the road underdog Jayhawks. Kansas went to Baylor as a three-point underdog and with 59 percent of the bets. When it was all done, the Bears held the Jayhawks to 34 percent shooting and avenged an earlier loss to Kansas.
Arkansas 75, Kentucky 73
Every squirrel finds that nut, but sometimes that nut doesn’t open. The public (64% of the bets) backed home favorite Arkansas over Kentucky. The No. 18 Razorbacks were a two-point chalk against sixth-ranked Kentucky. The Hogs led by five with four seconds left. Kentucky’s Tyty Washington hit a meaningless three-pointer at the buzzer for the push.
TCU 69, Texas Tech 66
TCU was 1-4 in its previous five games and had just lost to No. 20 Texas. Now, they had to face No. 9 Texas Tech, one of the best defensive teams in the country. TCU can play that game too, which the betting public probably didn’t now. With 83 percent of the bets, the public and the Red Raiders took a direct hit to the chin with TCU’s three-point victory.
