On This Date in Sports Betting History: April 5
Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images. Pictured: Chris Webber
There are no sports being played on April 5, 2020. There were, however, sports being played on this date last year.
And in 2018. And in 2017. And … you get it.
With nothing to bet on during this pandemic period, let’s to take a trip down memory lane and relive the best sports betting moments on this date in history.
2010: Butler vs. Duke, National Championship
- Spread: Duke -7
- Over/under: 127.5
Butler reaches the national title game as a 5-seed and is matched up against No. 1 Duke. As such, the Blue Devils are significantly favored and most bettors (56%) are willing to lay the points.
But not only do the Bulldogs easily cover, they come within inches of an outright win — and what might’ve been the best ending to a title game of all time — on a Gordon Hayward half-court attempt at the buzzer.
Duke wins, 61-59, and the under hits, as it had in the previous four Butler games that tournament.
1993: Michigan vs. North Carolina, National Championship
- Spread: North Carolina -2/2.5 (via SportsOddsHistory)
Up by a point with 20 seconds to go, North Carolina’s Pat Sullivan hits the first of a 1-and-1, putting the Heels up 73-71. The second free throw, however, is missed, and rebounded by Michigan’s Chris Webber.
If you didn’t already, you probably know where this is going.
Webber — after getting away with what many thought was a travel in the backcourt — dribbles all the way up into the corner and gets double-teamed before calling a timeout. Only problem: Michigan doesn’t have any.
The Wolverines are issued a technical foul, sending UNC back to the line and giving the Heels the ball. They go on to win the game, 77-71, and cover a spread that could’ve gone either way just seconds prior.