Two Horrific Bad Beats on Opening Day of NCAA Tournament

March Madness is the best, and worst, time of the year to place a sports wager. On the opening day of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, there were two bad beats that might be the worst beats in the history of sports gambling.

One of the most treacherous wagers on opening day is picking the No. 1 seed to put it on the No. 16 and cover the spread. As Northern Kentucky proved in Birmingham, that’s never a guarantee. Earlier in the day at the same venue, Alabama bettors got their hearts ripped out.

There were quite a few folks who needed the Crimson Tide to cover a 23.5-point spread. They led Texas A&M Corpus Christi by 24 points as the Islanders dribbled out the final seconds of the game. It appeared to be a lock, until one guard decided to get in one final shot. It was even tightly contested, yet the three fell through the nets, giving the No. 16 seed a cover.

There’s an excellent reaction video to the shot that I would love to embed on this site, but a very NSFW word is in the caption. If you enjoy misery, check it out. You won’t regret it.

That might not have been the worst bad beat on opening day. Charleston hung tight with San Diego State and had a chance to upset the No. 5 seed outright. A 5.5-point underdog, Charleston trailed by three and needed to get one more stop for a chance to tie it. San Diego State missed a three, but the Cougars were whistled for a controversial foul.

Fortunately for Charleston bettors, the Aztecs only made one free throw. A cover was inevitable. Even if Charleston missed the ensuing shot, there wasn’t enough time to put San Diego State back on the free throw line.

Down four, Charleston missed a late three and the Aztecs secured the rebound. The final horn sounded. The game was over. Not so fast!

As Micah Parrish began to celebrate, a Charleston player swiped at the ball. An official blew the whistle. Instead of ending the game, the stripes went to the monitor to see if the foul was committed before the final horn sounded. They put .7 back on the clock and sent Parrish to the free throw line. He nailed both and San Diego State covered with a 63-57 victory.

They may not get more painful, but these will not be the last bad beats of the NCAA Tournament. Wager responsibly.