If a No. 13 seed upsetting a No. 4 seed in the NCAAB Tournament seems like a huge long shot, be aware that it has happened at least once in 16 of the past 22 tournaments, the exceptions being 2004, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2022.
Last year, March Madness bettors saw No. 13 Furman knock off No. 4 Virginia by one point after a brutal last-second turnover. Though No.13 seeds are just 4-12 SU over the past four tournaments, they’ve been ultra-impressive ATS going 10-6 since 2019. With both Furman and Louisiana-Lafayette covering the spread last season.
Though the 4-seeds won all four matchups in 2022, the underdog No.13’s went 3-1 ATS. This year the No. 4 seeds are a strong group including Duke, Auburn, Alabama, and Kansas.
2024 4 vs 13 Seed Matchups
Check out all 4 vs 13 seed March Madness matchups.
South: No. 4 Duke vs No. 13 Vermont
East: No. 4 Auburn vs No. 13 Yale
West: No. 4 Alabama vs No. 13 Charleston
Midwest: No. 4 Kansas vs No. 13 Samford
Seed vs Seed Stats: 1 vs 16 | 2 vs 15 | 3 vs 14 | 4 vs 13 | 5 vs 12 | 6 vs 11 | 7 vs 10 | 8 vs 9
| #4 Seed | Score | #13 Seed | Score | Date | ATS Win | Win Seed | ATS Seed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 64 | Vermont | 47 | 2024-03-22 | Duke | 4 | 4 |
| Auburn | 76 | Yale | 78 | 2024-03-22 | Yale | 13 | 13 |
| Alabama | 109 | Charleston | 96 | 2024-03-22 | Alabama | 4 | 4 |
| Kansas | 93 | Samford | 89 | 2024-03-21 | Samford | 4 | 13 |
| Virginia | 67 | Furman | 68 | 2023-03-16 | Furman | 13 | 13 |
| Tennessee | 58 | LA-Lafayette | 55 | 2023-03-17 | LA-Lafayette | 4 | 13 |
| UConn | 87 | Iona | 63 | 2023-03-17 | UConn | 4 | 4 |
| Indiana | 71 | Kent State | 60 | 2023-03-18 | Indiana | 4 | 4 |
| Illinois | 54 | Chattanooga | 53 | 2022-03-18 | Chattanooga | 4 | 13 |
| UCLA | 57 | Akron | 53 | 2022-03-17 | Akron | 4 | 13 |
| Arkansas | 75 | Vermont | 71 | 2022-03-17 | Vermont | 4 | 13 |
| Providence | 66 | South Dakota State | 57 | 2022-03-17 | Providence | 4 | 4 |
| Purdue | 69 | North Texas | 78 | 2021-03-19 | North Texas | 13 | 13 |
| Oklahoma State | 69 | Liberty | 60 | 2021-03-19 | Oklahoma State | 4 | 4 |
| Florida State | 64 | UNC Greensboro | 54 | 2021-03-20 | UNC Greensboro | 4 | 13 |
| Virginia | 58 | Ohio | 62 | 2021-03-20 | Ohio | 13 | 13 |
| Kansas State | 64 | UC Irvine | 70 | 2019-03-22 | UC Irvine | 13 | 13 |
| Florida State | 76 | Vermont | 69 | 2019-03-21 | Vermont | 4 | 13 |
| Virginia Tech | 73 | St. Louis | 47 | 2019-03-22 | Virginia Tech | 4 | 4 |
| Kansas | 87 | Northeastern | 53 | 2019-03-21 | Kansas | 4 | 4 |
| Gonzaga | 68 | UNC Greensboro | 64 | 2018-03-15 | UNC Greensboro | 4 | 13 |
| Arizona | 68 | Buffalo | 89 | 2018-03-15 | Buffalo | 13 | 13 |
| Wichita State | 75 | Marshall | 81 | 2018-03-16 | Marshall | 13 | 13 |
| Auburn | 62 | Charleston | 58 | 2018-03-16 | Charleston | 4 | 13 |
| Florida | 80 | East Tennessee State | 65 | 2017-03-16 | Florida | 4 | 4 |
| Purdue | 80 | Vermont | 70 | 2017-03-16 | Purdue | 4 | 4 |
| West Virginia | 86 | Bucknell | 80 | 2017-03-16 | Bucknell | 4 | 13 |
| Butler | 76 | Winthrop | 64 | 2017-03-16 | Butler | 4 | 4 |
| Iowa State | 94 | Iona | 81 | 2016-03-17 | Iowa State | 4 | 4 |
| Duke | 93 | UNC Wilmington | 85 | 2016-03-17 | UNC Wilmington | 4 | 13 |
| Kentucky | 85 | Stony Brook | 57 | 2016-03-17 | Kentucky | 4 | 4 |
| California | 66 | Hawaii | 77 | 2016-03-18 | Hawaii | 13 | 13 |
| Maryland | 65 | Valparaiso | 62 | 2015-03-20 | Valparaiso | 4 | 13 |
| Louisville | 57 | UC Irvine | 55 | 2015-03-20 | UC Irvine | 4 | 13 |
| Georgetown | 84 | Eastern Washington | 74 | 2015-03-19 | Georgetown | 4 | 4 |
| North Carolina | 67 | Harvard | 65 | 2015-03-19 | Harvard | 4 | 13 |
| UCLA | 76 | Tulsa | 59 | 2014-03-21 | UCLA | 4 | 4 |
| San Diego State | 73 | New Mexico State | 69 | 2014-03-20 | New Mexico State | 4 | 13 |
| Louisville | 71 | Manhattan | 64 | 2014-03-20 | Manhattan | 4 | 13 |
| Michigan State | 93 | Delaware | 78 | 2014-03-20 | Michigan State | 4 | 4 |
| Kansas State | 61 | La Salle | 63 | 2013-03-22 | La Salle | 13 | 13 |
| Syracuse | 81 | Montana | 34 | 2013-03-21 | Syracuse | 4 | 4 |
| Michigan | 71 | South Dakota State | 56 | 2013-03-21 | Michigan | 4 | 4 |
| Saint Louis | 64 | New Mexico State | 44 | 2013-03-21 | Saint Louis | 4 | 4 |
| Michigan | 60 | Ohio | 65 | 2012-03-16 | Ohio | 13 | 13 |
| Indiana | 79 | New Mexico State | 66 | 2012-03-15 | Indiana | 4 | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 73 | Montana | 49 | 2012-03-15 | Wisconsin | 4 | 4 |
| Louisville | 69 | Davidson | 62 | 2012-03-15 | Louisville | 4 | 4 |
| Texas | 85 | Oakland | 81 | 2011-03-18 | Oakland | 4 | 13 |
| Wisconsin | 72 | Belmont | 58 | 2011-03-17 | Wisconsin | 4 | 4 |
| Kentucky | 59 | Princeton | 57 | 2011-03-17 | Princeton | 4 | 13 |
| Louisville | 61 | Morehead State | 62 | 2011-03-17 | Morehead State | 13 | 13 |
| Maryland | 89 | Houston | 77 | 2010-03-19 | Maryland | 4 | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 53 | Wofford | 49 | 2010-03-19 | Wofford | 4 | 13 |
| Purdue | 72 | Siena | 64 | 2010-03-19 | Purdue | 4 | 4 |
| Vanderbilt | 65 | Murray State | 66 | 2010-03-18 | Murray State | 13 | 13 |
| Wake Forest | 69 | Cleveland State | 84 | 2009-03-20 | Cleveland State | 13 | 13 |
| Xavier | 77 | Portland State | 59 | 2009-03-20 | Xavier | 4 | 4 |
| Gonzaga | 77 | Akron | 64 | 2009-03-19 | Akron | 4 | 13 |
| Washington | 71 | Mississippi State | 58 | 2009-03-19 | Washington | 4 | 4 |
| Vanderbilt | 62 | Siena | 83 | 2008-03-21 | Siena | 13 | 13 |
| Connecticut | 69 | San Diego | 70 | 2008-03-21 | San Diego | 13 | 13 |
| Washington State | 71 | Winthrop | 40 | 2008-03-20 | Washington State | 4 | 4 |
| Pittsburgh | 82 | Oral Roberts | 63 | 2008-03-20 | Pittsburgh | 4 | 4 |
| Southern Illinois | 61 | Holy Cross | 51 | 2007-03-16 | Southern Illinois | 4 | 4 |
| Texas | 79 | New Mexico State | 67 | 2007-03-16 | Texas | 4 | 4 |
| Virginia | 84 | Albany | 57 | 2007-03-16 | Virginia | 4 | 4 |
| Maryland | 82 | Davidson | 70 | 2007-03-15 | Maryland | 4 | 4 |
| Kansas | 73 | Bradley | 77 | 2006-03-17 | Bradley | 13 | 13 |
| Illinois | 78 | Air Force | 69 | 2006-03-16 | Illinois | 4 | 4 |
| LSU | 80 | Iona | 64 | 2006-03-16 | LSU | 4 | 4 |
| Boston College | 88 | Pacific | 76 | 2006-03-16 | Boston College | 4 | 4 |
| Syracuse | 57 | Vermont | 60 | 2005-03-18 | Vermont | 13 | 13 |
| Louisville | 68 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 62 | 2005-03-18 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 4 | 13 |
| Florida | 67 | Ohio | 62 | 2005-03-18 | Ohio | 4 | 13 |
| Boston College | 85 | Pennsylvania | 65 | 2005-03-17 | Boston College | 4 | 4 |
| Kansas | 78 | Illinois-Chicago | 53 | 2004-03-19 | Kansas | 4 | 4 |
| Cincinnati | 80 | East Tennessee State | 77 | 2004-03-19 | East Tennessee State | 4 | 13 |
| Wake Forest | 79 | Virginia Commonwealth | 78 | 2004-03-18 | Virginia Commonwealth | 4 | 13 |
| Maryland | 86 | Texas El Paso | 83 | 2004-03-18 | Texas El Paso | 4 | 13 |
| Louisville | 86 | Austin Peay | 64 | 2003-03-21 | Louisville | 4 | 4 |
| Dayton | 71 | Tulsa | 84 | 2003-03-20 | Tulsa | 13 | 13 |
| Stanford | 77 | San Diego | 69 | 2003-03-20 | Stanford | 4 | 4 |
| Illinois | 65 | Western Kentucky | 60 | 2003-03-20 | Western Kentucky | 4 | 13 |
| Illinois | 93 | San Diego State | 64 | 2002-03-15 | Illinois | 4 | 4 |
| Ohio State | 69 | Davidson | 64 | 2002-03-14 | Davidson | 4 | 13 |
| USC | 89 | UNC Wilmington | 93 | 2002-03-14 | UNC Wilmington | 13 | 13 |
| Kentucky | 83 | Valparaiso | 68 | 2002-03-14 | Kentucky | 4 | 4 |
| Oklahoma | 68 | Indiana State | 70 | 2001-03-16 | Indiana State | 13 | 13 |
| Kansas | 99 | CS Northridge | 75 | 2001-03-16 | Kansas | 4 | 4 |
| UCLA | 61 | Hofstra | 48 | 2001-03-15 | UCLA | 4 | 4 |
| Indiana | 73 | Kent State | 77 | 2001-03-15 | Kent State | 13 | 13 |
| Illinois | 68 | Pennsylvania | 58 | 2000-03-17 | Illinois | 4 | 4 |
| Tennessee | 63 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 58 | 2000-03-17 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 4 | 13 |
| Syracuse | 79 | Samford | 65 | 2000-03-16 | Syracuse | 4 | 4 |
| LSU | 64 | SE Missouri State | 61 | 2000-03-16 | SE Missouri State | 4 | 13 |
| Tennessee | 62 | Delaware | 52 | 1999-03-12 | PUSH | 4 | |
| Arizona | 60 | Oklahoma | 61 | 1999-03-12 | Oklahoma | 13 | 13 |
| Ohio State | 72 | Murray State | 58 | 1999-03-11 | Ohio State | 4 | 4 |
| Arkansas | 94 | Siena | 80 | 1999-03-11 | Arkansas | 4 | 4 |
| Mississippi | 69 | Valparaiso | 70 | 1998-03-13 | Valparaiso | 13 | 13 |
| New Mexico | 79 | Butler | 62 | 1998-03-13 | New Mexico | 4 | 4 |
| Michigan State | 83 | Eastern Michigan | 71 | 1998-03-12 | Michigan State | 4 | 4 |
| Maryland | 82 | Utah State | 68 | 1998-03-12 | Maryland | 4 | 4 |
| Clemson | 68 | Miami (Ohio) | 56 | 1997-03-14 | Clemson | 4 | 4 |
| Saint Joseph’s | 75 | Pacific | 65 | 1997-03-13 | Saint Joseph’s | 4 | 4 |
| Arizona | 65 | South Alabama | 57 | 1997-03-13 | South Alabama | 4 | 13 |
| Villanova | 101 | Long Island | 91 | 1997-03-13 | Long Island | 4 | 13 |
| Syracuse | 88 | Montana State | 55 | 1996-03-14 | Syracuse | 4 | 4 |
| UCLA | 41 | Princeton | 43 | 1996-03-14 | Princeton | 13 | 13 |
| Utah | 72 | Canisius | 43 | 1996-03-14 | Utah | 4 | 4 |
| Marquette | 68 | Monmouth | 44 | 1996-03-14 | Marquette | 4 | 4 |
No. 4 Vs No. 13 Betting History
It was nearly a clean sweep for No. 4 seeds in 2016 and 2017, as the only higher seed to lose was Cal in ’16. The Golden Bears were upset 77-66 by Hawaii despite closing as 5.5-point favorites, but Cal was missing several players due to injuries and popular assistant coach Yann Hufnagel following his dismissal amid sexual harassment allegations.
Aside from Cal’s poor performance, Duke just barely held off a hard-charging UNC Wilmington team and won 93-85 while failing to cover the 10-point spread. In the 2018 NCAA Tournament, No. 13 seeds Buffalo and Marshall upset Arizona and Wichita State, respectively. Both teams ended up falling in the Round of 32, however.
No. 13 seeds haven’t gone down without a fight even in years when they didn’t manage an upset. In 2015, they still went 3-1 ATS with Valparaiso (+5), UC Irvine (+8.5) and Harvard (+9.5) each covering the number in games that were decided by a combined seven points. In 2012 and 2013, the No. 13 seeds went 2-6 ATS but both teams that covered moved on to the next round. In 2010 and 2011, the No. 13 seeds went 5-3 ATS.
Largest No. 13 Seed Upsets In March Madness History
There have been 32 No. 13 seeds that have pulled off upsets in the first round over the past 37 years of the NCAA Tournament. That includes the very first year of the bigger March Madness bracket in 1985 when Navy crushed LSU 78-55 for the largest margin of victory ever for the matchup.
Even though college basketball bettors have never seen a No. 13 seed win a Sweet 16 game, six have made it to the third round before getting knocked out at that point of the NCAA Tournament. The two most recent times saw La Salle (2013) and Ohio (2012) take down No. 12 seeds in the second round to make it to the Sweet 16, which has actually happened in three of the six occurrences overall.
NCAAB Picks
Picks by League
March Madness 4 vs 13 Betting History FAQ
Where can I bet on the 4 vs 13 seed March Madness games?
For bettors and college basketball fans looking to bet on the 4 vs 13 seed March Madness games this year, Odds Shark has put together a list of the Best March Madness Betting Sites online. The list includes extensive reviews of each digital sportsbook, a ranking of all the best options, and some bonus codes for first-time wagerers.
What kind of bets can I make on the 4 vs 13 seed March Madness games?
You can make all sorts of bets on the 4 vs 13 seed March Madness games in this year's NCAAB Tournament. The most common betting types are a moneyline or spread bet on the winner of the game, but Odds Shark's How To Bet on March Madness guide outlines all the betting options and some general strategies for each.
When was the last time a 13 seed beat a 4 seed in March Madness?
In the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the No. 13 Furman Paladins upset the No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers 68-67 on a shocking late-game turnover and ensuing three-pointer from JP Pegues in the dying seconds.
