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2025 NCAA Tournament: Dave Portnoy places big bet on Michigan to win 2025 national title

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•03/22/25
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(@stoolpresidente)

Everybody knows that Barstool’s Dave Portnoy is one of the biggest Michigan Wolverines fans out there. He hasn’t been shy about betting on his beloved team in the past. And in March Madness is no different for the Barstool CEO. On Saturday, evening, Portnoy placed a bet on Michigan to win the 2025 national title. He placed $10,000 on them and if Dusty May and company can actually pull it off, the Barstool founder will win $810,000.

“Am I insane or is #DKPartner insane? 80-1 and we’re locked in to the sweet 16 and playing great basketball!” Portnoy tweeted on Saturday with his bet slip.

Love him or hate him, Portnoy is not afraid to put his money where his mouth is. And he’s got plenty of money to burn. Which is what will likely happen with his $10,000. But that’s exactly why they play the games. And it’s precisely why they call it March Madness. Truly anything can happen. It would be a pretty astonishing upset if the Wolverines could actually put it off and bring Portnoy another cool $810,000.

He’s got millions to burn, so it’s always easier to take risks when you’ve got that kind of cash to play with. But, Portnoy had one of the biggest heaters of all heaters in 2024. First, he won $1.3 million off Scottie Scheffler winning The Masters. Then he won $2.1 million off the UConn Huskies winning the National Championship in basketball. The Kansas City Chiefs won him $500,000 off winning the Super Bowl. He won $500,000 off Washington defeating Texas in the Sugar Bowl. And Portnoy raked in $1 million off Michigan defeating Alabama in the Rose Bowl. Combined, he had winnings of $5.4 million.

The losses aren’t in there, but that’s a tough stretch for anyone to match. Can the Wolverines come through for him yet again? This time it’s a much steeper hill to climb. The good news for him is Michigan is back in the Sweet 16. The bad news is they’ll have to face the No. 1 seed Auburn Tigers.

The Wolverines handled Texas A&M 91-79 in the second round, thanks to stellar performances from Roddy Gayle Jr. (26 points) and Vlad Goldin (23 points). Goldin stuffed the stat sheet with a double-double, also grabbing 12 rebounds in a big-time performance on the big stage. Danny Wolf had 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in a really complete performance for Michigan.