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When it comes to sports betting, there’s always a chance that the underdog could come out on top. It’s part of what makes sports so exciting to watch and bet on. Throughout sports betting history, there have been some shocking upsets that left bettors and fans alike in awe. Here are some of the biggest upsets in sports betting history
Leicester City Wins the Premier League (2015-2016)
In the 2015-2016 season of the English Premier League, Leicester City was the ultimate underdog. At the start of the season, the team was given 5,000-1 odds of winning the title. However, they defied the odds and went on to win the league, finishing 10 points ahead of second-place Arsenal. This upset was so unexpected that it’s been called the greatest upset in the history of team sports.
Buster Douglas Defeats Mike Tyson (1990)
In the world of sports betting, upsets are always possible. Fans and bettors alike witnessed one of the biggest upsets in boxing history on February 11, 1990, when James “Buster” Douglas defeated Mike Tyson to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Going into the fight, Tyson was the heavy favorite with odds of 42-1 against Douglas. That meant that a bettor would have to bet $42 on Tyson to win just $1, while a $1 bet on Douglas would pay out $42 if he won. The odds were a reflection of Tyson’s dominance in the sport at the time, with a record of 37 wins and no losses, 33 of which came by knockout.
Douglas, on the other hand, was seen as a long shot. He had a record of 29 wins, 4 -losses, and one draw, and had recently lost his mother. Despite the odds against him, Douglas was determined to win and was in excellent physical shape leading up to the fight.
The fight began as expected, with Tyson dominating the early rounds. He knocked down Douglas in the eighth round, and it looked like the fight was over. However, Douglas got back up and continued to fight.
In the 10th round, Douglas landed a massive uppercut that knocked Tyson down. Tyson was able to get back up, but Douglas continued to press the attack, eventually knocking Tyson down again. The referee stopped the fight, and Douglas was declared the winner by knockout.
The upset was a shock to the sports world and to sports bettors who had put their money into Tyson. It was also a reminder that in sports, anything can happen. The odds may seem overwhelming, but there is always the possibility of an upset.
For those who had placed a bet on Douglas, the payout was huge. A $100 bet on Douglas would have paid out $4,200. Sportsbooks took a significant loss due to the upset, with some estimating losses in the millions. However, we have reviewed some of the best online sportsbooks, you can check them out here.
The Miracle on Ice (1980)
The Miracle on Ice is perhaps one of the most famous upsets in sports history. It took place during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, where the United States men’s ice hockey team, made up of mostly college players, faced off against the heavily-favored Soviet team, which had won the gold medal in the previous four Olympics. The US team was given odds of 1,000-1 to win the gold medal. However, in a stunning upset, the US team defeated the Soviet team 4-3 in the semi-finals and went on to win the gold medal, forever cementing their place in sports history.
Giants Win Super Bowl XLII (2008)
In 2008, the New England Patriots were looking to become the first NFL team to go undefeated in the regular season and win the Super Bowl. They faced off against the New York Giants, who had finished the regular season with a record of 10-6 and were given 12-1 odds of winning the Super Bowl. However, in one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history, the Giants pulled off a 17-14 victory, ending the Patriots’ hopes of a perfect season.
Rulon Gardner Defeats Alexander Karelin (2000)
In the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, American wrestler Rulon Gardner faced off against Alexander Karelin, a Russian wrestler who had won three consecutive gold medals in the Greco-Roman wrestling event. Karelin had been undefeated for over 13 years and was considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Gardner, on the other hand, was a relative unknown and was given 200-1 odds of winning the gold medal.
Despite the odds stacked against him, Gardner managed to defeat Karelin in a stunning upset that shocked the world. Gardner’s victory was considered to be one of the greatest moments in Olympic history and cemented his place in sports lore. The upset was so unexpected that it led to rumors of Karelin being injured or ill, but he later confirmed that Gardner was simply the better wrestler that day.
The Gardner vs. Karelin upset is a testament to the unpredictability of sports and the potential for underdogs to achieve greatness. It’s a reminder that in sports, anything can happen, and even the most dominant athletes can fall to unexpected challengers.
There have been many other upsets in sports betting history, but these five are some of the most memorable. They serve as a reminder that in sports, anything can happen, and the underdog always has a chance to come out on top. That’s what makes sports betting so exciting and unpredictable.
