Biggest March Madness Upsets Ever: Biggest Underdog Upsets in Tournament History

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Fairleigh Dickinson forward Sean Moore (11) reacts to a basket against Purdue in the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament Friday, March 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Andrew Doughty @DoughtyBetMGM Mar 17, 2023, 9:14 PM

Fairleigh Dickinson’s win over Purdue in the 2023 NCAA Tournament is the biggest upset in March Madness history.

As a 16-seed, the Knights were a 23-point underdog before shocking the Boilermakers, the second-ever 16-over-1 upset in tourney history.

Biggest March Madness Upsets Ever

YearUnderdogFavoriteSpread
2023(16) Fairleigh Dickinson(1) Purdue23
2012(15) Norfolk State(2) Missouri+21
2018(16) UMBC(1) Virginia+20.5
1997(15) Coppin State(2) South Carolina+19
2022(15) Saint Peter's(2) Kentucky+18
2001(15) Hampton(2) Iowa State+17.5
2016(15) MTSU(2) Michigan State+16.5
2021(15) Oral Roberts(2) Ohio State+16.5
1999(15) Weber State(2) North Carolina+15
2023(15) Princeton(2) Arizona+14.5
2010(14) Ohio(2) Georgetown+14
2015(14) UAB(3) Iowa State+14
2005(14) Bucknell(3) Kansas+13

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About the Author

Andrew Doughty

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Andrew Doughty is a web content team lead for BetMGM. A graduate of the University of Kansas, he previously wrote for Sports Illustrated and HERO Sports.

Andrew Doughty is a web content team lead for BetMGM. A graduate of the University of Kansas, he previously wrote for Sports Illustrated and HERO Sports.