SportsGamer.com : March Madness Showdown Stats Breakdown

In the first ever Gamespot vs. SportsGamer March Madness Showdown we saw more than few users taking risks on lower seeds only to have them pay off big time so far. Western Kentucky, Davidson, and Villanova were the three major upset selections up to the Sweet 16 chosen only by those who apparently knew what more than 92% of the rest of us did not. Below are some of the more interesting numbers that we've seen from our users in the Showdown thusfar:

Users that had Western Kentucky in Sweet 16: 4.35%

Western Kentucky certainly proved to be more valuable than a 12 seed with their run to the Sweet 16. The Hilltoppers looked great the entire tournament, but fell just short to UCLA 88-78 last night. In fact, there was about a ten minute stretch in that game in the second half after UCLA had built a 21-point halftime lead where WKU looked like the #1 seed and the Bruins looked like the Cinderella. All in all, a great run by the Hilltoppers and an even better Sweet 16 selection by those users who predicted that Western Kentucky would make it that far.

Users that had Davidson in Sweet 16: 5.33%

Both Davidson and Western Kentucky were my top two favorites as Cinderella selections even before the seeds came out. However, even I did not have either team advancing past the second game because I just felt that they would be too overmatched underneath. The Davidson Wildcats have proven to be anything but overmatched so far during this year's NCAA Tournament run. The Wildcats have now defeated the likes of Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Wisconsin as they continue on to the Elite 8 to face Kansas. Those users who had Davidson in the Sweet 16 and beyond certainly felt or saw something more than even most analyst did when they filled out their brackets.

Users that had Villanova in Sweet 16: 7.72%

The Villanova Wildcats are anything but a Cinderella pick simply because they play in one of the top two conferences in the nation and are clearly used to facing top notch competition every night. Still, a great win over Clemson in round 1 after trailing by 18, followed up by another nice win over a strong Siena team is only something that 7.72% of you thought could happen. The Wildcats are still a young team, but an encouraging run to the Sweet 16 before losing to the #1 seeded Kansas Jayhawks has to have this team pumped up for next season.

Which team have most people picked to win it all?


#1 - North Carolina Tarheels	#2 - UCLA Bruins	#3 - Kansas Jayhawks

The most popular team choices by users to win it all were North Carolina, UCLA, and Kansas in that order. Right now it's certainly hard to bet against the Tarheels the way that their playing, but they'll most likely have to go through Kansas if they're lucky enough to get past a Louisville team playing better than they have all season long. The #2 most popular choice to win it all is the UCLA Bruins. The Bruins seem to be struggling every single time out, but yet they find a way to win. UCLA will have to play well if they want to get by the Xavier Musketeers in the Elite 8. However, if they do in fact get by the Muskies, then I think they will have had to play their best game yet. One good game by the Bruins may be just what they need to get back into that National Championship form. Rounding out our users top three selections are the Kansas Jayhawks. Unbelievably, the Jayhawks won't face their first real test until they meet up with either North Carolina or Louisville in the Final Four. I know Kansas still has to play Davidson, but as hot as Stephen Curry and the Wildcats are I just don't see them being able to matchup with a significantly superior team. Curry may need to go for 50 if Davidson wants to survive that one.

March Madness Showdown Stats Breakdown

March Madness Showdown Stats Breakdown

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