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How many times has a No. 16 seed beaten a No. 1 seed in March Madness?

How many times has a No. 16 seed beaten a No. 1 seed in March Madness?

College Basketball DraftKings Network March Madness

Published:

By: Ryan Wohl

Every year in March Madness, everyone is always looking for the next upset and Cinderella. Before the first round kicks off on Thursday, let’s look at how often the most improbable upset: a No. 16 seed beating a No. 1 seed, has happened.

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No. 16 over No. 1 upsets

No. 16 UMBC def. No. 1 Virginia 74-54 in 2018

No. 16 FDU def. No. 1 Purdue 63-58 in 2023

Stats

No. 1 seeds in the March Madness Tournament have an all-time record of 158-2 against No. 16 seeds. Of all the potential upsets, one in a 16 vs. 1 seed matchup is the least likely. In comparison, a No. 15 seed has upset a No. 2 seed nine more times than in a No. 16 vs. No. 1 game. Before UMBC upset Virginia in 2018, No. 16 seeds were 0-135 against No. 1 seeds in this tournament. 

Ryan Wohl

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.