Through the first three rounds of the 2022 tournament, things weren’t going particularly well for Austin H. in BetMGM’s free-to-play $10 Million Perfect Bracket Challenge. But, like Kansas in the national championship, Austin showed up when it mattered.
And it resulted in a $100,000 payday.
Three hours into the tournament, the New Jersey-based BetMGM customer lost his chance at a perfect bracket – and the $10-million prize – when South Dakota State failed to upset Providence in the first round.
Seven hours later, Austin lost a regional final team when Kentucky was shocked by Saint Peter’s, one of his four incorrect picks on Thursday and one of 10 total incorrect picks for the first round.
It was the first of three rounds in which he hit less than 70% of predictions, which included just five of eight teams in the regional final. In addition to the Kentucky whiff, Austin had Gonzaga and Wisconsin, losers in the regional semifinals and second round, respectively.
Austin H., New Jersey
He didn’t miss again, correctly predicting all four teams in the national semifinals, North Carolina and Kansas in the national championship, and the Jayhawks to win their first title in 14 years. And in nailing the final six picks, Austin won $100,000 with the highest score in the Bracket Challenge … by one point.
Austin accumulated 160 points with 22 correct picks in the first round (worth one point apiece), 11 in the second round (two points), five in the regional semifinals (four points), four in the regional finals (eight points), two in the national semifinals (16 points), and one in the national championship (32 points).
Only 8% of all brackets had Kansas winning the title.
If he missed one more first-round game, he would’ve tied and split the winnings. If he missed one more game in any of the other five rounds, he would’ve lost.
Austin H., New Jersey
Austin celebrated the win at nearby Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City in May, collecting his winnings in the form of a large check.
Austin H., New Jersey
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