Underdog Matchups to Watch in March Madness: 13th Seeds Challenge Fourth-Seeds on Betting Tickets
13 Seeds Shaking Things Up in March Madness
call it a Cinderella story or pure chaos, but it's a fact: the last eight March Madness tournaments have seen a 13 seed knocking out a 4 seed. Following in the footsteps of notables like Yale and High Point, this year's 13 seeds – Akron, Grand Canyon, and Yale again – are poised to claim yet another improbable victory.
If you're looking for the best bets to keep the streak alive, lock in on Yale versus Texas A&M and High Point against Purdue.
DENVER – March Madness mayhem is on the horizon
A whopping 17 of the last 23 March Madness tournaments have seen a top 4 seed bite the dust in the first round. The current crop of 13 seeds – Yale (+260), High Point (+290), Akron (+700), and Grand Canyon (+430) – are primed to pounce and reap some major rewards from the books.
Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty
- 13 Yale (+260) Vs 4 Texas A&M
- 13 High Point (+290) Vs 4 Purdue
- 13 Akron (+700) Vs 4 Arizona
- 13 Grand Canyon (+430) Vs 4 Maryland
Looking back at history, Yale made heads turn last year by taking down Auburn, marking one of back-to-back years for the 13 vs 4 upset. The grand tradition of these upsets promises plenty of value in the 2025 tournament.
The Bulldogs' Bite
The Yale Bulldogs find themselves once more as a 13 seed and offer the shortest odds (+260) to pull off a stunner against the Texas A&M Aggies. Initially opening as a 7.5-point favorite at legal Texas sports betting apps, the line has since moved to an even seven points.
With Texas A&M stumbling in their final seven games of the regular season, the Bulldogs – winners of the Ivy League tournament and 16 of their last 17 games – are the odds-on underdogs to take it all.
High Point's Rise
Another strong contender to pull off the upset – and our second best bet – is the High Point Panthers, who come in with +290 odds against Purdue at legal college basketball betting sites. Late season champions in the Big South Conference, High Point rattled off 14 straight wins to secure the title.
The Boilermakers have a history of bombing out early in March Madness courtesy of their loss to North Texas as a 4 seed back in 2021 and their notorious upset at the hands of a 16 seed as a 1 seed. Their 3-4 record as a No. 4 seed in March Madness makes them a prime target for a second consecutive upset.
The Longshots
While Akron and Grand Canyon are relative longshots to take down their respective opponents (Arizona and Maryland), they stand a fighting chance on the spread. Akron faces a steep 14.0-point disadvantage to Arizona, but a +7.5 ATS line and Grand Canyon's -115 odds to cover the 10.5-point spread against Maryland provide an opportunity for some profit.
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Takeaways
Despite the historical odds being stacked against them, 13 seeds continue to captivate crowds with their underdog stories in March Madness. While predicting which seeds will be in for an upset in the 2025 tournament is hardly a science, a detailed analysis of team strengths, weaknesses, and matchups can help tip the scales in the underdog's favor.
- In the 2025 March Madness tournament, sports-betting enthusiasts can find value in betting on 13 seeds like Yale (+260), High Point (+290), Akron (+700), and Grand Canyon (+430).
- The Yale Bulldogs, with the shortest odds (+260), are poised for an upset against the 4 seed Texas A&M in sports betting, despite the Aggies being initially favored by 7.5 points at legal Texas sports-betting sites.
- High Point, winners of 14 straight games in the Big South Conference, are another strong contender to pull off an upset against Purdue at legal college basketball betting sites, with +290 odds.
- Akron, facing a steep 14.0-point disadvantage against Arizona, offers a chance for some profit with a +7.5 ATS line, while Grand Canyon has -115 odds to cover the 10.5-point spread against Maryland.
- In the past, Yale made history by defeating Auburn last year, marking back-to-back years for the 13 vs 4 upset in March Madness. The tradition of these upsets promises potential rewards in the 2025 tournament.
- The sports-betting scene, following a grand tradition, is abuzz with the prospect of yet another improbable victory by the 13 seeds in the 2025 March Madness tournament.
