Middle Tennessee Beats Minnesota, Pulls Off First Upset

We’ve got our first upset of the 2017 NCAA Tournament, as Middle Tennessee defeated Minnesota 81-72. To Vegas oddsmakers, the game was virtually a pick-em, so it wasn’t exactly a huge shock to see the Blue Raiders come out on top. 12-seeds upsetting 5-seeds also occurs pretty frequently, but it’s still always fun to see a small school vanquish a big-time program.

Middle Tennessee is back, America! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/nGjFIwOc0W

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 16, 2017

You might remember Middle Tennessee as the team that ruined your bracket last year, as the 15-seeded Blue Raiders knocked off the 2-seeded Michigan State Spartans 90-81. They became just the eighth 15-seed to ever win in the first round, but their Cinderella run came to an abrupt end in their very next game. In the round of 32, Middle Tennessee got smoked by 10-seed Syracuse 75-50.
This year’s Middle Tennessee team looks even better, and you know damn well they are hungry to play deeper into March in 2017. Up next for the Blue Raiders is a date with #4 Butler on Saturday, which is the definition of must-see television.