College basketball fans embraced Oral Roberts’ surprising win over Florida as a chance to celebrate the underdog and to troll the Gators.
Everybody loves an underdog. The 2021 NCAA Tournament hasn’t disappointed in that sense, delivering major upsets and exciting Cinderellas.
Oral Roberts is the best of the bunch.
The Golden Eagles stunned Florida, 81-78, on Sunday night to the delight of the neutrals and the horror of Florida fans.
Oral Roberts is responsible for two of the biggest upsets in March Madness
How big of an upset was it? No. 15 seeds just don’t make it this far that often.
Oral Roberts reaches the round of 16 for the 1st time since 1974 (and 2nd time overall).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 22, 2021
They are the 2nd 15-seed to reach the Sweet 16, joining Florida Gulf Coast in 2013. pic.twitter.com/UzrDQ7tNVl
What goes around comes around, apparently.
Florida defeated the first 15 seed to make the Sweet 16... and it lost to the second one.
— Matt Zemek (@MattZemek) March 22, 2021
This continues to be a day of bookends.
Florida was a nine-point favorite and led by as many as 12 points, but 20 turnovers by the Gators were too many to overcome in the end.
While pretty much no one saw it coming, someone just made a whole lot of money with a bold bet.
Longshot bet of the tournament: @FDSportsbook had a bettor wager $45,000 on Oral Roberts to beat Florida.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 22, 2021
Netted $153,000.
The Twitter account for r/collegefootball dropped the tweet of the night at the expense of Florida and Ohio State, who were knocked out by Oral Roberts in the first round.
Oral Roberts has officially ended Ohio State and Florida’s runs, a feat last accomplished by Urban Meyer’s health problems
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) March 22, 2021
And that wasn’t the only dig at Florida football to be found on Twitter.
Florida didn't want to be there because it wasn't the national championship
— Boomer Beamer (@ImDerBatman) March 22, 2021
Of all the themes you’d expect to see during March Madness, golf memes were unexpected but brilliant.
How Oral Roberts advancing to the Sweet 16 after beating Florida pic.twitter.com/RUqm1KoEnb
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) March 22, 2021
March Madness. 🐊
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 22, 2021
15 seed Oral Roberts sends the Florida Gators home. pic.twitter.com/vReWPeeHJ6
The letters say it all.
Florida: “We’re going to the Sweet 16.”
— Robert Behrens (@rcb05) March 22, 2021
Oral Roberts: pic.twitter.com/UgZjIuvibO
Forget coaching, guard play, and star power. The key to victory this March might be prayer power.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?
— Stuart Feiner (@StuartFeiner) March 22, 2021
FIRST ORAL ROBERTS AS A 15 SEED BEATS OHIO STATE!
THEN ABILENE CHRISTIAN AS A 14 SEED BEATS TEXAS!
THEN LOYOLA CHICAGO KNOCKS OUT THE 1 SEED ILLINOIS!
THEN ORAL ROBERTS BEATS FLORIDA!
JESUS IS UNDEFEATED IN MARCH!#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/eC36RHzqOd
It helped that Florida didn’t seem to have any sort of plan on their final possession.
Breaking: Live video from the Florida bench before the last possession! pic.twitter.com/ygO2U6m2c9
— Hersh (@JHershey21) March 22, 2021
Even Oral Roberts couldn’t have expected to make it out of the first weekend. Now they get to look forward to the Sweet 16, where they will face the No. 3 seed, Arkansas. More people will be betting on them this time.
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