5 biggest upsets in American sports history

24 September 2016: An Appalachian State Mountaineers helmet on the sideline prior to the NCAA Football game between the Appalachian State Mountaineers and Akron Zips at Summa Field at InfoCision Stadium in Akron, OH. Appalachian State defeated Akron 45-38. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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MIAMI – JANUARY 12: Quarterback Joe Namath #12 of the New York Jets calls the signals at the line of scrimmage during Super Bowl III on January 12, 1969 against the Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

2. Super Bowl III

Super Bowl III had everything you want in an upset. It has a nickname attached to it (The Guarantee — we’ll get to that later), a large point spread (Colts minus-18) and an upstart league trying to prove itself worthy after blowout losses in the two previous years.

All week long prior to Super Bowl III (the first NFL-AFL World Championship Game to be called Super Bowl) Joe Namath was being hounded by the press about the Jets’ chances of winning the game. He ended up getting so fed up that he was essentially goaded into guaranteeing a Jets victory.

Even though the final score was 16-7, the game wasn’t that close. The Jets dominated the Colts on both sides of the ball. They held the ball for 36:10. Matt Snell had 30 carries for 121 yards, and the Jets defense had four interceptions and kept the Colts off the board until 11:41 to go in the fourth quarter.

In the end, Namath was proven correct, and won the game’s MVP award. As iconic as this game was, as big a role as it played in shaping the NFL as we know it, it doesn’t make the top spot.