Favorites Dominate, Cinderella Stories Fade

0:00On March 21st, favorites dominated Friday's NCAA tournament games, going 16 and 0 after underdogs pulled off several upsets the day before, including wins by the 11-seated BCU and 12-seated high point. Not a single higher seed lost, marking a clean sweep for the chalk. This shift ties into the new transfer portal era where power conference teams build deeper rosters by grabbing talent from mid-major programs. Those mid-major's used to spark tournament surprises, but now their stars often move up quickly, leaving fewer Cinderella stories. Betting wise, favorites covered the spread in 12 of 16 games, with 11 contests hitting the over. Fans lit up social media over Kentucky's thrilling overtime win against Santa Clara, 89-85, sealed by Otega Oway's buzzer-beater, that had everyone calling it destiny. Big blue nation wrote an emotional rollercoaster, but rallyed behind the clutch moment. Kentucky now faces second-seated Iowa State in the round of 32 on Sunday afternoon.

1:01The cyclones blew out their opponent by 34, but might miss all American Joshua Jefferson, forcing adjustments on both sides. Through 32 games, favorites lead 26-6 outright, setting up what looks like another predictable March man is as the tournament rolls on.