UConn's last shot affected March Madness betting outcomes

Liam McNeeley's three-pointer for UConn at the end of their game against Florida was seen as meaningless to some, but it had significant implications for bettors. UConn lost to Florida, which has created buzz among sports betting circles. During the NCAA Tournament, some expected upsets have not yet occurred. The tournament has been relatively predictable, with most teams advancing as they were seeded. As of now, 12 out of 16 teams in the Sweet 16 were projected to be there, leading to a lack of the usual surprises associated with "March Madness." The first buzzer beater of the tournament came from Colorado State’s Jalen Lake, who scored a three-pointer with six seconds left against Maryland. However, Maryland won the game with a last-second shot by Derik Queen. Some viewers thought Queen may have traveled, but the play was allowed to stand. In a different matchup, UConn faced Florida as defending champions. The game was expected to be high scoring, but it ended up being low-scoring going into halftime. As the final seconds unfolded, UConn needed a miracle to change their fate, and McNeeley's shot helped push the total points over the betting line of 151.5, benefiting many gamblers. Overall, favorites dominated the tournament, with 36 wins and only 12 losses in the initial rounds. Only one double-digit seed remains, and for the first time since 2017, no teams seeded 13-16 reached the second round. The current odds for winning the championship show Duke leading at +230, followed by Florida at +375 and others trailing behind.