How often does a 13 seed beat a 4 seed? A look at the 'upsetting' NCAA tourney history
Avid college basketball fans — and even those who just follow the sport when March Madness rolls around and it's time to fill out a bracket — know where to look for upsets.
The most famous upset pairing is a 12 seed over a 5 seed. History says at least one 5 seed is going to bow out in the opening round with a 12 seed pulling off the upset in 51 of the last 36 years.
So what about the 13 seed vs. 4 seed matchup? Upsets happen, but not as often.
This season, there are prognosticators out there who are predicting upsets at the 13 vs. 4 slots.
So let us take a look back at the history of the NCAA tournament to see how often a 13 seed topples a 4 seed.
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What are the 13 vs. 4 seed matchups in this year's March Madness tournament?
The action gets underway on Thursday at 12:40 p.m. as No. 4 Providence faces off with No. 13 South Dakota State.
No. 13 Vermont and No. 4 Arkansas meet Thursday with a 9:20 p.m. start and No. 4 UCLA meets No. 13 Akron at 9:50 p.m.
Friday's 4 vs. 13 matchup feature Illinois vs. Chattanooga at 6:50 p.m.
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How often does a 13 seed beat a 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament?
According to the NCAA, a 13 seed has beaten a 4 seed 31 times in the last 36 years. That's just above a 21% winning percentage for the lower seed.
Six of those 31 upsets took place in the last five tournaments with two in last year's tournament alone. North Texas toppled Purdue 78-69 in overtime last year and Ohio beat Virginia 62-58. Two 13 seeds were also victorious in the 2018 tournament.
According to the NCAA, only Ohio has won twice as a 13 seed. Could Vermont break that streak this year?
NCAA Tournament: Vermont basketball's history in March Madness
What 13 seeds have upset 4 seeds?
2021: Ohio def. Virginia 62-58
2021: North Texas def. Purdue 78-69 (OT)
2019: UC Irvine def. Kansas State 70-64
2018: Marshall def. Wichita State 81-75
2018: Buffalo def. Arizona 89-69
2016: Hawaii def. California 77-66
2013: La Salle def. Kansas State 63-61
2012: Ohio def. Michigan 65-60
2011: Morehead State def. Louisville 62-61
2010: Murray State def. Vanderbilt 66-65
2009: Cleveland State def. Wake Forest 84-69
2008: San Diego def. UConn 70-69
2008: Siena def. Vanderbilt 83-62
2006: Bradley def. Kansas 77-73
2005: Vermont def. Syracuse 60-57
2003: Tulsa def. Dayton 84-71
2002: UNC Wilmington def. USC 93-89
2001: Kent State def. Indiana 77-73
2001: Indiana State def. Oklahoma 70-68
1999: Oklahoma def. Arizona 61-60
1998: Valparaiso def. Ole Miss 70-69
1996: Princeton def. UCLA 43-41
1995: Manhattan def. Oklahoma 77-67
1993: Southern def. Georgia Tech 93-78
1992: Southwestern Louisiana def. Oklahoma 87-83
1991: Penn State def. UCLA 74-69
1989: Middle Tennessee def. Florida State 97-83
1988: Richmond def. Indiana 72-69
1987: Xavier def. Missouri 70-69
1987: Missouri State def. Clemson 65-60
1985: Navy def. LSU 78-55
Most memorable 13 vs. 4 upsets
Back in 1985 NBA great David Robinson helped get things started as his 13th-seeded Navy Midshipmen knocked off LSU in the opening round
In 1988, Indiana and legendary coach Bobby Knight were looking for a second straight national championship, but the Richmond Spiders showed America what a mid-major Cinderella could do.
In 1996 Princeton shocked the basketball world with an array of back-door cuts and jumpers, unseating the defending national champion UCLA Bruins.
In 1998, Bryce Drew hit one of the tournament's most famous buzzer-beaters, draining a long jumper on a hook-and-ladder out-of-bounds play to upset Ole Miss.
In 2005, T.J. Sorrentine hit an overtime 3-pointer from nearly 30 feet out as Vermont brought down Syracuse in an opening-round stunner.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Does a 13 seed ever beat a 4 seed? What NCAA tournament history says
