Rece Davis responds to backlash from controversial sports betting comments
ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis has spoken out after comments he made at the end of a segment during Sunday’s show. After Erin Dolan shared her picks for the slate of March Madness games, Davis joked they were “risk-free investments” based on the arguments Dolan made to support her decisions.
Davis responded via X (formerly Twitter) after his remarks received backlash on social media. He clarified he was joking, but acknowledged there are risks that come with gambling and encouraged those who participate to do so responsibly.
“During a segment this morning on @CollegeGameDay, due to @ESPNBet picks hitting yesterday, I joked the advice was more like ‘risk free investing,'” Davis wrote in a thread. “As we all know, such a thing does not exist. Obviously, there are risks. Though I’m not a gambler, I strongly encourage those who do partake, do so with prudence, care, caution, fiscal and personal responsibility and never over-extend. Sports are unpredictable. Wagering is tricky. So let’s agree to manage monetary risks appropriately. I’m sure most recognized my comment was tongue-in-cheek. Just to clarify.”
Dolan walked viewers through her picks for the Northwestern vs. UConn game on Sunday afternoon. The No. 9-seeded Huskies outlasted Florida Atlantic in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, while the Huskies handled Stetson with ease to reach the second round. They’ll square off at 7:45 p.m. ET on TruTV.
Davis joked Dolan made compelling arguments with her picks for Sunday’s slate of games as teams look to punch their tickets to the Sweet Sixteen. With the research and stats she mentioned during her segment, he said her confidence showed in her responses.
“You know what? Some would call this wagering, gambling. I think the way you sold this – I think what it is, is risk-free investment,” Rece Davis said. “That’s the way to look at it.”
March Madness is one of the biggest sports betting events of the year, and the American Gaming Association estimated nearly 68 million Americans will wager on the tournament, according to Forbes. The AGA also estimated upward of $15.5 billion in wagers will be placed.