Betting now seems to be completely accepted in sports to the point that most broadcasts will tell you the odds. As a result, it means that the viewer is more educated than ever over who's the underdog and who's expected to win. History has shown us that it's never quite that simple, however. Sometimes a fan just has a feeling that outweighs the analytics and often comes true, so the most successful punter is usually the casual bettor who only places a wager when they really feel good about it. For those players, then it's worth knowing that for the best offshore sports betting bonuses play here, and let's take a look at some historical examples where the favorite was defeated, but was it really such a big shock?
2007 Super Bowl XLII – New York Giants stun previously undefeated New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, who were unbeaten in 2007, were the clear favorites against the NFC champion New York Giants going into Super Bowl XLII. With quarterback Tom Brady leading the team, the Patriots were aiming for the first-ever 19-0 perfect season in NFL history. With less than a minute remaining, David Tyree's incredible “helmet catch” sealed a last-minute touchdown drive, and the Patriots' pursuit of perfection was terminated when the Giants beat them by 17–14.
Conclusion: Not very shocking. Although New York fell to New England earlier in the season by just three points, the Patriots were undoubtedly the superior club throughout the regular season. The defensive line of the Giants, commanded by Michael Strahan, was disregarded as a serious danger. Even then, not many people thought New England's potent offensive would be restrained enough to lose.
2004 ALCS – Boston Red Sox stun New York Yankees after 0-3 series deficit
In the 2004 ALCS, the New York Yankees jumped off to a dominating 3-0 lead against the Boston Red Sox, their fierce rivals. No Major League club had ever overcome a 3-0 series deficit with a World Series spot on the line. However, spurred on by David Ortiz's game-winning walk-off home run in the fourth game, Boston overcame to win the next four games, including Game 7 by outlasting Yankees closer Mariano Rivera which led to Boston finally winning the World Series for the first time since 1918.
Conclusion: Not very shocking. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead and leading 4-3 going into the ninth inning of Game 4 at home, New York was a clear favorite. In the regular season, though, Boston gave New York a hard game, so this result could be expected by some. The Red Sox pulled off an incredible comeback victory thanks to their rallying around Ortiz and pitcher Curt Schilling's ankle injury.
1985 – Villanova shoots 78% to upset Georgetown in NCAA basketball final
Villanova was an underdog going into the 1985 NCAA Championship, but Patrick Ewing's powerful Georgetown Hoyas were ready. Villanova was a #8 seed that had just about gotten it into the tournament, while Georgetown was the #1 seed looking to win back-to-back championships. But Villanova overcame Ewing and Georgetown, winning 66-64, thanks to a record-breaking 78.6% field goal percentage. One of the biggest upsets in sports history, it still stands today.
Verdict: Genuine shock. It was not anticipated that Villanova could match Georgetown's NBA-caliber lineup. However, for forty minutes, Villanova's players performed their faultless game plan, which was masterfully executed by coach Rollie Massimino. Georgetown's defeat was a huge surprise because of their talent edge.
1990 – Buster Douglas knocks out Mike Tyson in heavyweight boxing title bout
When Mike Tyson was defeated by the underdog Buster Douglas in Tokyo in 1990, he was the dominant heavyweight champion of his time. Although Douglas was predicted to be easily defeated by Tyson, the challenger shocked everyone in the boxing community. Douglas defied Tyson's might and spectacularly defeated the champion in the tenth round. It was Tyson's very first defeat.
Verdict: Genuine shock. It was typical for Tyson to crush opponents in a matter of rounds. The less athletic but equally driven Douglas was almost universally expected to not endure Tyson's early storm. Decades later, it continues to rank among boxing's greatest upsets.
1975 ABA Finals – Kentucky Colonels top defending champion New York Nets
The Kentucky Colonels were overwhelming underdogs against the reigning champion New York Nets and their formidable team, which included future Hall of Famers like Julius Erving, in the 1975 ABA finals. However, Kentucky defeated the Nets 4 games to 1 for the championship behind fiery young star Artis Gilmore and coach Hubie Brown's swarming defense. In the Colonels' history, it was the first and only ABA title.
Conclusion: Not very shocking. The Colonels possessed one of the best centers in basketball at the time in Gilmore, even though the Nets were the favorites. Throughout the season, Kentucky was a strong team, and their defense efficiently countered New York's prolific scoring. Even still, overthrowing the “Nets Dynasty” was a surprising triumph.
Spectacular upsets happen in sports when underdogs overcome a significant skill deficit by perfect game preparation and execution, disciplined defense, or heroic play from unexpected players. However, there are times when cautionary tales show that favorites were more exposed than their reputation would have us believe. When strong favorites fall short in the end, the outcome may seem unexpected because of unrealistic expectations rather than actual performance.
