The article quotes Jeff Bergen, a math professor at DePaul University, who
determined that we have a one in 9 quintillion chance of filling out a perfect
bracket. Really? Well show us your work
professor. Professor Bergen details in the article that there are 64 teams in
total, but only 63 are entered into the formula because one team will not lose
any games.
Perfection is required in 63 straight games. Not so hard, right? After
all, the Miami Heat is currently on a 25 game win streak.
This means you can determine the
chances of getting a correct bracket by multiplying 2x2 63 times, which yields
the number 9,223,372,036,854,775,808.
Professor Bergen details a formula for those who had knowledge of
basketball, and determined that their chances of winning are one out of
128,000,000,000. So, OK, as the article states, someone who has this undefined “better
knowledge” has a “better chance” but it is clear that neither should be playing
their retirement money on a bracket in Vegas.
The article reveals that a person who knows basketball has less than a
.25 percent chance of creating a correct bracket.
You also have a much better chance of getting struck by lightning
inside your home in a thunderstorm if you are taking a shower.
Nice payoff if you can win it. Your
chance of winning the Florida Powerball lottery? 1 in 175,223,510
I think I will stick to watching the games and rooting for great play
(and a University of Miami Final Four)
Click the headline to read Ben Chodos' column in CNN Sports online:
"FloridaGulf Coast Stuns Georgetown in Shocking Upset" to read more coverage
on the dramatic update as well as view embedded video of Chase Fieler's
thunderous dunk. You have to love the announcer's comment ”Welcome to your Kodak
moment!”
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