Greatest preseason long-shot underdogs to win a championship in sports activities betting historical past

The most effective emotions on this planet as a bettor is to money in on long-shot championship futures bets. On Monday, preseason TCU title bettors are hoping for yet another win to hit it huge.

The Horned Frogs have been listed at +20000 (guess $10 to win $2,010 whole) at FOX Wager to win the nationwide title previous to the season. After the Horned Frogs beat No. 2 Michigan 51-45 within the CFP semifinals on the Fiesta Bowl, TCU (13-1) is one victory from one of the unlikely nationwide championships in school soccer.

TCU's Cinderella run this 12 months obtained us fascinated by the opposite largest lengthy photographs in sports activities betting historical past, so FOX Sports activities Analysis dug into the numbers to interrupt it down for us.

Listed here are the 12 largest sports activities betting preseason long-shot underdogs to win a championship.

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Leicester Metropolis (2016)

5000-1

Arguably the best upset in sports activities and betting historical past, Leicester Metropolis opened at 5000-1 to win the English Premier League (EPL) within the 2015-16 season. By April 1, the title was locked up, with Leicester's title odds dropping all the way in which to -180. Jamie Vardy scored a whopping 24 targets, which ranked second within the Premier League, coupled with Riyad Mahrez’s 17 targets and 11 assists. Whereas our historic odds solely return to 2009, it's protected to say that the 2016 Leicester Metropolis group had the longest preseason odds of any EPL champion of all time. 

St. Louis Rams (1999)

150-1

How might anybody neglect the 1999 St. Louis Rams, who have been 150-1 to win the Tremendous Bowl coming into the season? Dubbed "The Biggest Present on Turf" for the group's high-powered offense, the Rams would go on to win the Tremendous Bowl 23-16 in opposition to the Tennessee Titans. Kurt Warner, famously identified for bagging groceries just some years earlier than the win, went on to throw an NFL-leading 41 landing passes in 1999. For perspective, the Rams dropped all the way in which to -250 favorites by the AFC Championship. The 150-1 odds are the very best of any eventual Tremendous Bowl champion since 1977.

Greece (2004)

150-1

The UEFA European Championship has lengthy been dominated by powerhouses like Spain, Italy, England and Portugal, however 2004 was a totally completely different story. At 150-1 underdogs to win all of it, Greece made all of it the way in which to the ultimate and defeated host Portugal 1-0. Within the matches previous to the championship recreation, it defeated the likes of France and the Czech Republic. It must also be talked about that Greece really defeated Portugal twice — within the group stage in addition to the ultimate. For perspective, Greece was nonetheless a +450 underdog to win within the remaining regardless of its miraculous run. Theodoros Zagorakis captained the 2004 group and was named participant of the event for his efforts.

Minnesota Twins (1991)

80-1

The 1991 Minnesota Twins opened the 12 months as a whopping 80-1 to win the World Series. These are the longest odds of any eventual World Series champion since 1985. Kirby Puckett headlined the squad, having gained the ALCS MVP earlier than the World Series. The six-time Gold Glove winner recorded 89 RBIs that season with an astounding .319 batting common. By the beginning of the World Series, most sportsbooks had the Twins as -150 favorites to win the World Series. 

Florida Marlins (2003)

75-1

Now situated in Miami, the Florida Marlins are one of many largest shock groups in MLB historical past to have gained the World Series ever. One of many youngest groups within the MLB on the time, the Marlins gained all of it simply 10 years after being based in 1993. Sportsbooks tabbed them with 75-1 odds to win the title within the preseason, with these odds dropping to +190 by the beginning of the World Series. Star pitcher Josh Beckett led the Marlins together with future Corridor of Famer Miguel Cabrera. The 75-1 preseason odds have been the second-highest of any eventual World Series champion since 1985, behind the aforementioned Twins.

UConn Huskies (2014)

65-1

Shabazz Napier led the 2014 UConn Huskies to a nationwide title regardless of sportsbooks tabbing them as 65-1 to take action within the preseason. These are the longest preseason odds of any eventual nationwide champion since 2001. Second-year head coach Kevin Ollie led them to a 32-8 document that season and defeated the likes of Villanova, Iowa State and Michigan State earlier than taking down Florida and Kentucky within the Closing 4 and nationwide title recreation, respectively. By the championship recreation, sportsbooks nonetheless had the Huskies as +130 underdogs in opposition to the Wildcats.

New England Patriots (2001)

60-1

No shock right here, as Invoice Belichick and the New England Patriots have been enormous lengthy photographs to win the Tremendous Bowl coming into the 2001 season — Tom Brady’s first as a beginning quarterback. The Pats opened with 60-1 odds to win the championship and have been nonetheless 14-1 by the beginning of the AFC Championship. The 60-1 odds are the second-longest of any eventual Tremendous Bowl champion since 1977. New England defeated the Oakland Raiders within the Divisional spherical within the notorious "Tuck Rule" recreation after which went on to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers within the AFC title recreation, adopted by the St. Louis Rams within the Tremendous Bowl. The win was the beginning of the Patriots' Brady-Belichick dynasty.

Carolina Hurricanes (2006)

60-1

The 2006 Carolina Hurricanes have been 60-1 to win the Stanley Cup coming into the 2005-06 NHL season and dropped all the way in which to -140 favorites by the point of the Stanley Cup Closing. These are the longest preseason odds of any eventual Stanley Cup champion since 1984. It’s additionally value noting that they have been tabbed at 6-1 coming into the primary spherical of the playoffs. Carolina was led by present Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour and Eric Staal, the latter of which recorded a stellar 100 factors that season (45 targets, 55 assists). 

Auburn Tigers (2010)

50-1

One of the vital electrifying gamers in school soccer historical past, Cam Newton, led the Auburn Tigers to a nationwide championship within the 2010 season. The Tigers got 50-1 odds to win the title within the preseason, the longest of any eventual school soccer champion since 2001. Newton threw for over 2,800 yards and added over 1,400 on the bottom for 50 mixed touchdowns. Auburn completed an ideal 14-0 and defeated the Oregon Geese in a thriller by three factors. The Tigers didn't have favorable odds till the title recreation, as they have been nonetheless 5-1 to win the championship coming into Week 13. 

Minnesota Twins (1987)

50-1

The one franchise to make this listing twice, the Twins gained the 1987 World series regardless of being given 50-1 title odds within the preseason – the third-longest of any eventual World Series champion since 1985. The group completed with a mere 85-77 document and was led by Puckett and Kent Hrbek, the latter hitting 34 HRs and 90 RBIs. The Twins would go on to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in a seven-game series within the championship.

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San Francisco 49ers (1981)

50-1

The 1981 San Francisco 49ers title odds opened at 50-1 en path to their first Tremendous Bowl title. These preseason odds are the third longest of any eventual Tremendous Bowl champion since 1977. This was the primary of 5 championships for the franchise between 1981 and 1994. Corridor of Famers corresponding to Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Steve Younger and Ronnie Lott graced the sphere for San Francisco throughout this period. 

Atlético Madrid (2014)

50-1

One other soccer-related lengthy shot right here, as Atlético Madrid opened at 50-1 to win La Liga within the 2013-14 season, upsetting the powerhouses of Barcelona and Actual Madrid. The league was extremely contested all year long, with Atlético scraping it out with 90 factors — three factors forward of each Barcelona and Actual. The drama filtered all the way in which into the final match of the season, with Barcelona and Atlético separated by simply three factors. Barcelona wanted a victory to say the title, whereas Atlético wanted only a tie, and the latter pulled it out in a 1-1 outcome. Diego Costa was the lead man, scoring 27 targets in league play, with solely Cristiano Ronaldo (31) and Lionel Messi (28) scoring extra. The 50-1 preseason odds have been the longest of any eventual La Liga champion since 2009 — way back to our historic odds knowledge goes. 

Can TCU be a part of the legendary listing of underdogs and lengthy photographs above? If you're betting on the title recreation, head over to FOX Wager in your wagers!

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