Traditionally, being selected as a No. 6 seed heading into the NCAA Tournament has been a curse in March Madness brackets as No. 11 seeds are 19-17 SU and 23-13 ATS in the last nine tournaments.
Getting seeded at No. 11 has consequently proven to be a great underdog position. In 2018, No. 11 seeds went 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS with only the Florida Gators winning and covering from No. 6. The trend continued with the No. 11 seeds going 3-1 SU and ATS in 2022.
This season, we saw a single upset when No. 11 Pittsburgh waved goodbye to No. 6 Iowa State in a 59-41 tilt. The Cyclones entered as generous +220 favorites ahead of tipoff, but it was the Panthers who cashed in the plus-money value. Overall, No. 11 seeds went 2-2 ATS in 2023 with Arizona State also covering the spread in a 72-70 loss to TCU.
Pittsburgh (11) is up 19-2 on Iowa State (6). 😳
— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) March 17, 2023
ISU were 5-point favorites before tipoff.
pic.twitter.com/QDrUtxGiJ2
Why Should You Bet On An 11 Seed Over The 6 Seed?
Three No. 11 seeds covered the spread in 2018, while two of them won straight up in the first round to move on in the NCAA Tournament. In 2017 and 2016, No. 11 seeds went 3-1 SU and ATS both years. The No. 11 seeds had another great year in 2022, going 3-1 SU and ATS. The fact that No. 11 seeds are 12-12 SU vs No. 6 seeds in the last six year-end tournaments should be enough to make bettors think twice before writing off the lower seed.
Sounds like a great time to find a high underdog spread!
Will An 11 Seed Make The Final Four?
Five No. 11 seeds have made it to the Final Four – UCLA in 2021, Loyola Chicago in 2018, VCU in 2011, George Mason in 2006 and LSU in 1986 – while eight No. 11 seeds have made it at least to the Elite Eight. More than half (28 of 54) of the advancing No. 11 seeds all-time have advanced to the Sweet 16.
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
| #6 Seed | Score | #11 Seed | Score | Date | ATS Win | Win Seed | ATS Seed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State | 41 | Pittsburgh | 59 | 2023-03-17 | Pittsburgh | 11 | 11 |
| Creighton | 72 | NC State | 63 | 2023-03-17 | Creighton | 6 | 6 |
| Kentucky | 61 | Providence | 53 | 2023-03-18 | Kentucky | 6 | 6 |
| TCU | 72 | Arizona State | 70 | 2023-03-18 | Arizona State | 6 | 11 |
| LSU | 54 | Iowa State | 59 | 2022-03-18 | Iowa State | 11 | 11 |
| Texas | 81 | Virginia Tech | 73 | 2022-03-18 | Texas | 6 | 6 |
| Alabama | 64 | Notre Dame | 78 | 2022-03-18 | Notre Dame | 11 | 11 |
| Colorado State | 63 | Michigan | 75 | 2022-03-17 | Michigan | 11 | 11 |
| San Diego State | 62 | Syracuse | 78 | 2021-03-19 | Syracuse | 11 | 11 |
| Texas Tech | 65 | Utah State | 53 | 2021-03-19 | Texas Tech | 6 | 6 |
| BYU | 62 | UCLA | 73 | 2021-03-20 | UCLA | 11 | 11 |
| USC | 72 | Drake | 56 | 2021-03-20 | USC | 6 | 6 |
| Maryland | 79 | Belmont | 77 | 2019-03-21 | Belmont | 6 | 11 |
| Buffalo | 91 | Arizona State | 74 | 2019-03-22 | Buffalo | 6 | 6 |
| Villanova | 61 | Saint Mary’s | 57 | 2019-03-21 | Villanova | 6 | 6 |
| Iowa State | 59 | Ohio State | 62 | 2019-03-22 | Ohio State | 11 | 11 |
| Miami | 62 | Loyola Chicago | 64 | 2018-03-15 | Loyola Chicago | 11 | 11 |
| Florida | 77 | St. Bonaventure | 62 | 2018-03-15 | Florida | 6 | 6 |
| TCU | 52 | Syracuse | 57 | 2018-03-16 | Syracuse | 11 | 11 |
| Houston | 67 | San Diego State | 65 | 2018-03-16 | San Diego State | 6 | 11 |
| Creighton | 72 | Rhode Island | 84 | 2017-03-17 | Rhode Island | 11 | 11 |
| SMU | 65 | USC | 66 | 2017-03-17 | USC | 11 | 11 |
| Maryland | 65 | Xavier | 76 | 2017-03-16 | Xavier | 11 | 11 |
| Cincinnati | 76 | Kansas State | 61 | 2017-03-16 | Cincinnati | 6 | 6 |
| Seton Hall | 52 | Gonzaga | 68 | 2016-03-17 | Gonzaga | 11 | 11 |
| Texas | 72 | Northern Iowa | 75 | 2016-03-18 | Northern Iowa | 11 | 11 |
| Notre Dame | 70 | Michigan | 63 | 2016-03-18 | Notre Dame | 6 | 6 |
| Arizona | 55 | Wichita State | 65 | 2016-03-17 | Wichita State | 11 | 11 |
| SMU | 59 | UCLA | 60 | 2015-03-20 | UCLA | 11 | 11 |
| Providence | 53 | Dayton | 66 | 2015-03-21 | Dayton | 11 | 11 |
| Xavier | 76 | Ole Miss | 57 | 2015-03-20 | Xavier | 6 | 6 |
| Butler | 56 | Texas | 48 | 2015-03-20 | Butler | 6 | 6 |
| North Carolina | 79 | Providence | 77 | 2014-03-21 | Providence | 6 | 11 |
| Massachusetts | 67 | Tennessee | 86 | 2014-03-21 | Tennessee | 11 | 11 |
| Baylor | 74 | Nebraska | 60 | 2014-03-21 | Baylor | 6 | 6 |
| Ohio State | 59 | Dayton | 60 | 2014-03-20 | Dayton | 11 | 11 |
| UCLA | 63 | Minnesota | 83 | 2013-03-22 | Minnesota | 11 | 11 |
| Arizona | 81 | Belmont | 64 | 2013-03-21 | Arizona | 6 | 6 |
| Memphis | 54 | Saint Mary’s | 52 | 2013-03-21 | Memphis | 6 | 6 |
| Butler | 68 | Bucknell | 56 | 2013-03-21 | Butler | 6 | 6 |
| San Diego State | 65 | North Carolina State | 79 | 2012-03-16 | North Carolina State | 11 | 11 |
| Cincinnati | 65 | Texas | 59 | 2012-03-16 | Cincinnati | 6 | 6 |
| UNLV | 64 | Colorado | 68 | 2012-03-15 | Colorado | 11 | 11 |
| Murray State | 58 | Colorado State | 41 | 2012-03-15 | Murray State | 6 | 6 |
| Georgetown | 56 | Virginia Commonwealth | 74 | 2011-03-18 | Virginia Commonwealth | 11 | 11 |
| Xavier | 55 | Marquette | 66 | 2011-03-18 | Marquette | 11 | 11 |
| Cincinnati | 78 | Missouri | 63 | 2011-03-17 | Cincinnati | 6 | 6 |
| St. John’s | 71 | Gonzaga | 86 | 2011-03-17 | Gonzaga | 11 | 11 |
| Xavier | 65 | Minnesota | 54 | 2010-03-19 | Xavier | 6 | 6 |
| Tennessee | 62 | San Diego State | 59 | 2010-03-18 | PUSH | 6 | |
| Marquette | 78 | Washington | 80 | 2010-03-18 | Washington | 11 | 11 |
| Notre Dame | 50 | Old Dominion | 51 | 2010-03-18 | Old Dominion | 11 | 11 |
| West Virginia | 60 | Dayton | 68 | 2009-03-20 | Dayton | 11 | 11 |
| Arizona State | 66 | Temple | 57 | 2009-03-20 | Arizona State | 6 | 6 |
| Marquette | 58 | Utah State | 57 | 2009-03-20 | Utah State | 6 | 11 |
| UCLA | 65 | Virginia Commonwealth | 64 | 2009-03-19 | Virginia Commonwealth | 6 | 11 |
| Oklahoma | 72 | Saint Joseph’s | 64 | 2008-03-21 | Oklahoma | 6 | 6 |
| USC | 67 | Kansas State | 80 | 2008-03-20 | Kansas State | 11 | 11 |
| Purdue | 90 | Baylor | 79 | 2008-03-20 | Purdue | 6 | 6 |
| Marquette | 74 | Kentucky | 66 | 2008-03-20 | Marquette | 6 | 6 |
| Notre Dame | 64 | Winthrop | 74 | 2007-03-16 | Winthrop | 11 | 11 |
| Duke | 77 | Virginia Commonwealth | 79 | 2007-03-15 | Virginia Commonwealth | 11 | 11 |
| Vanderbilt | 77 | George Washington | 44 | 2007-03-15 | Vanderbilt | 6 | 6 |
| Louisville | 78 | Stanford | 58 | 2007-03-15 | Louisville | 6 | 6 |
| Michigan State | 65 | George Mason | 75 | 2006-03-17 | George Mason | 11 | 11 |
| West Virginia | 64 | Southern Illinois | 46 | 2006-03-17 | West Virginia | 6 | 6 |
| Indiana | 87 | San Diego State | 83 | 2006-03-16 | Indiana | 6 | 6 |
| Oklahoma | 74 | Wisc-Milwaukee | 82 | 2006-03-16 | Wisc-Milwaukee | 11 | 11 |
| Wisconsin | 57 | Northern Iowa | 52 | 2005-03-18 | Northern Iowa | 6 | 11 |
| Texas Tech | 78 | UCLA | 66 | 2005-03-17 | Texas Tech | 6 | 6 |
| LSU | 68 | UAB | 82 | 2005-03-17 | UAB | 11 | 11 |
| Utah | 60 | Texas El Paso | 54 | 2005-03-17 | Utah | 6 | 6 |
| Wisconsin | 76 | Richmond | 64 | 2004-03-19 | Wisconsin | 6 | 6 |
| Vanderbilt | 71 | Western Michigan | 58 | 2004-03-19 | Vanderbilt | 6 | 6 |
| Boston College | 58 | Utah | 51 | 2004-03-19 | Boston College | 6 | 6 |
| North Carolina | 63 | Air Force | 52 | 2004-03-18 | North Carolina | 6 | 6 |
| Oklahoma State | 77 | Pennsylvania | 63 | 2003-03-21 | Oklahoma State | 6 | 6 |
| Maryland | 75 | UNC Wilmington | 73 | 2003-03-21 | UNC Wilmington | 6 | 11 |
| Missouri | 72 | Southern Illinois | 71 | 2003-03-20 | Southern Illinois | 6 | 11 |
| Creighton | 73 | Central Michigan | 79 | 2003-03-20 | Central Michigan | 11 | 11 |
| Texas Tech | 68 | Southern Illinois | 76 | 2002-03-15 | Southern Illinois | 11 | 11 |
| California | 82 | Pennsylvania | 75 | 2002-03-15 | California | 6 | 6 |
| Texas | 70 | Boston College | 57 | 2002-03-15 | Texas | 6 | 6 |
| Gonzaga | 66 | Wyoming | 73 | 2002-03-14 | Wyoming | 11 | 11 |
| Texas | 65 | Temple | 79 | 2001-03-16 | Temple | 11 | 11 |
| Notre Dame | 83 | Xavier | 71 | 2001-03-16 | Notre Dame | 6 | 6 |
| Wisconsin | 49 | Georgia State | 50 | 2001-03-15 | Georgia State | 11 | 11 |
| USC | 69 | Oklahoma State | 54 | 2001-03-15 | USC | 6 | 6 |
| Indiana | 57 | Pepperdine | 77 | 2000-03-17 | Pepperdine | 11 | 11 |
| Miami | 75 | Arkansas | 71 | 2000-03-17 | Miami | 6 | 6 |
| UCLA | 65 | Ball State | 57 | 2000-03-16 | UCLA | 6 | 6 |
| Purdue | 62 | Dayton | 61 | 2000-03-16 | Dayton | 6 | 11 |
| Kansas | 95 | Evansville | 74 | 1999-03-12 | Kansas | 6 | 6 |
| Temple | 61 | Kent State | 54 | 1999-03-12 | Kent State | 6 | 11 |
| George Washington | 88 | Indiana | 108 | 1999-03-11 | Indiana | 11 | 11 |
| Florida | 75 | Pennsylvania | 61 | 1999-03-11 | Florida | 6 | 6 |
| UCLA | 65 | Miami | 62 | 1998-03-13 | Miami | 6 | 11 |
| Clemson | 72 | Western Michigan | 75 | 1998-03-13 | Western Michigan | 11 | 11 |
| Xavier | 68 | Washington | 69 | 1998-03-12 | Washington | 11 | 11 |
| Arkansas | 74 | Nebraska | 65 | 1998-03-12 | Arkansas | 6 | 6 |
| Stanford | 80 | Oklahoma | 67 | 1997-03-14 | Stanford | 6 | 6 |
| Louisville | 65 | Massachusetts | 57 | 1997-03-14 | Louisville | 6 | 6 |
| Illinois | 90 | USC | 77 | 1997-03-14 | Illinois | 6 | 6 |
| Iowa State | 69 | Illinois State | 57 | 1997-03-13 | Iowa State | 6 | 6 |
| North Carolina | 83 | New Orleans | 62 | 1996-03-15 | North Carolina | 6 | 6 |
| Louisville | 82 | Tulsa | 80 | 1996-03-15 | Tulsa | 6 | 11 |
| Indiana | 51 | Boston College | 64 | 1996-03-15 | Boston College | 11 | 11 |
| Iowa | 81 | George Washington | 79 | 1996-03-15 | George Washington | 6 | 11 |
March Madness 6 vs 11 Betting History FAQ
Where can I bet on the 6 vs 11 seed March Madness games?
You can bet on the 6 vs 11 seed March Madness games at the top March Madness betting sites online. Once you’ve landed on that page, you’ll see the best sites to bet on March Madness. Each and every NCAA basketball sportsbook is essentially seeded as the best place to bet on March Madness.
I want to bet on the 6 vs 11 seed games for March Madness? How do I do that?
Our How to Bet on March Madness page has everything you need in regards to making a bet on the 6 vs 11 seed games for March Madness. Our guide includes March Madness betting strategy and March Madness betting tips, so you can find the best way to place bets on March Madness matchups.
When was the last time an 11 seed beat a 6 seed in March Madness?
In 2023, the 11th-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers routed the higher-seeded Iowa State Cyclones 59-41. A year earlier, three of four No. 11 seeds pulled off upsets over No. 6 seeds.