1-Seed vs. 16-Seed Betting: History, Biggest Spreads, ATS Record

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Arizona guard Dalen Terry (4) drives around Wright State guard Tanner Holden (2) during the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Friday, March 18, 2022, in San Diego. Arizona won 87-70. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
(AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
BetMGM @BETMGM Mar 12, 2023, 5:20 PM

Wright State fell behind Arizona by 11 points five minutes into a first round game in the 2022 NCAA Tournament and never recovered.

While the Raiders didn’t join UMBC as the only 16-seeds to beat a 1-seed in tourney history โ€“ and set the record for biggest March Madness upset ever โ€“ they covered the spread (+21.5) to push 16-seeds over .500 against the spread vs. 1-seeds since 2005.

Biggest Spreads for 1-vs-16 Games

Kentucky was a 34.5-point favorite against Hampton in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

It’s the biggest spread for a 1-16 game since 2005, per Bet Labs. Only two other 1-seeds have been favored by at least 30 points over that time: Gonzaga (-33) vs. Norfolk State in 2021, and UCLA (-31.5) vs. Mississippi Valley State in 2008.

Spread History for 1 vs. 16 Seeds

16-seeds are 34-33-1 ATS against 1-seeds since 2005:

Year1-Seed16-SeedSpreadResult
2006MemphisOral Roberts-10.5W
2018KansasPennsylvania-13.5W
2012SyracuseNC Asheville-15.5L
2010SyracuseVermont-15.5W
2012North CarolinaVermont-16W
2014Wichita StateCal Poly -16.5W
2012Michigan StateLong Island Brooklyn-18.5W
2011PittsburghNC Asheville-18.5W
2010KentuckyE Tennessee St-18.5W
2018XavierTexas Southern-19P
2007KansasNiagara-19W
2014VirginiaCoastal Carolina-19.5L
2015WisconsinCoastal Carolina-20L
2014ArizonaWeber State-20L
2009ConnecticutTennessee Chat-20W
2007Ohio StateCentral Conn-20W
2006VillanovaMonmouth-20L
2006ConnecticutAlbany-20L
2005WashingtonMontana-20L
2022BaylorNorfolk State-20.5W
2018VirginiaUMBC-20.5L
2013KansasWestern Kentucky-20.5L
2009PittsburghE Tennessee St-20.5L
2008KansasPortland State-21W
2022ArizonaWright State-21.5L
2014FloridaAlbany-21.5L
2013IndianaJames Madison-21.5L
2009LouisvilleMorehead State-21.5L
2015VillanovaLafayette-22W
2022KansasTexas Southern-22.5W
2022GonzagaGeorgia State-22.5L
2021IllinoisDrexel-22.5W
2019VirginiaGardner Webb-22.5L
2018VillanovaRadford-22.5W
2016OregonHoly Cross-22.5W
2016North CarolinaFlorida Gulf Coast-22.5L
2015DukeRobert Morris-22.5W
2013GonzagaSouthern-22.5L
2017KansasUC Davis-23W
2016VirginiaHampton-23W
2017GonzagaSouth Dakota State-23.5L
2011KansasBoston U-23.5L
2019North CarolinaIona-24L
2021MichiganTexas Southern-24.5L
2016KansasAustin Peay-24.5W
2011DukeHampton-24.5W
2010DukeArkansas Pine Bluff-24.5W
2017VillanovaMount St Marys-25L
2010KansasLehigh-25L
2009North CarolinaRadford-25W
2008North CarolinaMount St Marys-25W
2021BaylorHartford-25.5L
2011Ohio StateUTSA-25.5W
2008MemphisTexas Arlington-26L
2006DukeSouthern-26L
2005IllinoisFairleigh Dickinson-26L
2017North CarolinaTexas Southern-26.5W
2013LouisvilleNorth Carolina A&T-26.5W
2012KentuckyWestern Kentucky-26.5L
2005DukeDelaware State-26.5L
2019DukeNorth Dakota State-27.5L
2007FloridaJacksonville State-27.5W
2007North CarolinaEastern Kentucky-27.5L
2005North CarolinaOakland-27.5W
2019GonzagaFairleigh Dickinson-28.5W
2008UCLAMississippi Valley State-31.5W
2021GonzagaNorfolk State-33W
2015KentuckyHampton-34.5L

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Our BetMGM editors and authors are sports experts with a wealth of knowledge of the sports industry at all levels. Their coverage includes sports news, previews and predictions, fun facts, and betting.