March Madness delivers drama; Princeton upset sinks parlays

A fan, who declined to give his name, responds on a play as he looks to the big screens throughout the first day of the NCAA basketball competition at the Westgate SuperBook sportsbook, on Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Las Vegas. Guests enjoy on the huge screens during the very first day of the NCAA basketball tournament at the Westgate SuperBook sportsbook, on Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Las Vegas. Tray Schurr, left, Ty Fracchia, and Andrew Masey, all of Texas, react to a play as they view on the big screens the very first day of the NCAA basketball tournament at the Westgate SuperBook sportsbook, on Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Las Vegas.
The NCAA Tournament never ever stops working to provide.

Drama. Bracket busters. Bad beats. Wonder covers.

The first of the very best back-to-back betting days of the year had all of it.

Princeton shocked No. 2 seed Arizona 59-55 on Thursday as a 15-point underdog and +850 on the money line. It's the third straight year that a No. 15 seed has actually won a first-round video game.

Furman likewise knocked off No. 4 Virginia 68-67 as a 5½½ -point underdog and +200 on the cash line. The Paladins forced a late turnover, and JP Pegues nailed a game-winning 3-pointer with two seconds left as capacity crowds at the city's sportsbooks roared.

But overall, the upsets dealt a blow to wagerers while lifting most books to a winning day.

" Anytime you've got Cinderella wearing that glass slipper with Furman and Princeton, it actually assists carry the day," Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito stated. "Those were both big games for our side of the counter. They truly sliced up the big money-line parlays connected to a great deal of favorites."

Furman's upset was one of the worst video games for the South Point, where it was a popular underdog play. However Princeton's stunner - - in which it scored the final 9 points and held Arizona scoreless over the last 4:43 - - was a significant win for all the books.

That killed so lots of parlays," Westgate SuperBook director John Murray said. A lot of individuals I appreciate selected them to win it all or go to the Final Four.

" It certainly wasn't on my list of teams that might go out in the preliminary."

In spite of the upsets, Murray said the SuperBook was a small loser on the day.

" San Diego State getting the wonder cover was truly bad for us," he said.

Bad beat

College of Charleston (+5½½) bettors were dealt a brutal beat in a 63-57 loss to the Aztecs.

The Cougars routed by four with the ball in the final seconds when Ryan Larson missed a layup. Micah Parrish took down the rebound for San Diego State with 2 seconds held the ball and left as time expired. The referee ruled he was fouled simply prior to the buzzer.

With 0.7 seconds left, Parrish went to the line and made the very first free toss. As gamblers at the Westgate shouted for him to make it or miss it, depending upon which side they had, Parrish sank the 2nd free throw for the miracle cover.

" I was actually shocked they didn't simply let the game gone out," Murray stated. "But that's just among those that didn't go our way. We simply move on to Friday."

Underdogs provide

Underdogs went 8-8 versus the spread with 5 outright wins.

In the opening video game, Maryland (+2½½) eliminated an early 13-point deficit in a 67-65 win over West Virginia.

The South Point won on the game, however the Westgate took a hit.

" We required West Virginia pretty huge," Murray said. "We had some huge house gamers on Maryland."

Missouri (+1½½ )beat Utah State 76-65, and Penn State (+2½½) whipped Texas A&M 76-59.

Roaring Twenties

One of the loudest roars of the day was booked for Texas A&M- Corpus Christi (+24½½), which covered in a 96-75 loss to No. 1 seed Alabama.

The Islanders trailed by 24 with eight seconds appeared and left material to dribble out the clock, much to the dismay of bettors who had them at the opening line of +23. Then Ross Williams drained pipes a 3 at the buzzer to cash all tickets on the underdogs as the crowd exploded.

" That and the bucket by Furman, those were two of the loudest eruptions," Esposito said.

Unders deliver

10 of the 16 games went under the total, consisting of the final among the night between Penn State and Texas A&M that left over gamblers feeling so disappointed.

The total was 135½½. After Tyrece Radford made a 3-pointer for the Aggies to make it 76-59 with 53 seconds left, bettors required one more basket to win their over wagers. Kanye Clary missed out on a layup that rimmed out, and Evan Mahaffey missed out on the putback dunk effort.

Radford then missed a 3, and Penn State ran out the clock to liquidate the first day of the insanity.

Fan favorites

Favorites that covered included Kansas (-21½½, beat Howard 96-68); UCLA (-17½½, beat UNC Asheville 86-53); Texas (-13½½, beat Colgate 81-61); and Duke (-5½½, beat Oral Roberts 74-51).

Now we get to do it all over again Friday.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.