Kentucky Basketball can help Mattress Mack win big March Madness bet

Kentucky can reverse the fortune of an infamous bettor, Mattress Mack.

Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale is the proprietor of Gallery Furniture, a chain of retail stores in the state of Texas. To increase sales, Mattress Mack ties in sporting events with his promotions. In order to ensure he does not take a bath, he hedges his promotional bet by making significant sports bets.

This year for March Madness he placed a $1 million wager for a team from the East Region to win the NCAA Tournament. With +260 odds, Mattress Mack could bring home $2.6 million if the Kentucky Wildcats cut down the nets in New Orleans. The East Region is also home to 6-seed Texas, and the defending National Champs, Baylor. His customers will receive all of their money back if they spent $3,000 or more and a team from Texas wins the title.

In short, Mattress Mack is funding his promotions through sports gambling. The problem is they almost always fail.

According to ESPN, Mattress Mack has lost more than $21 million in bets over the last year, starting with a $3.35 million wager on the Astros to win the World Series at 10-1. His biggest losses include a $6.15 million bet on Alabama to win the CFB Playoff at +130 and $9.5 million on the Bengals in the Super Bowl. Cincinnati covered the 4.5-point spread, but McIngvale went for it all and bet the money-line.

One of the world’s most infamous losers could be a big winner with the Wildcats. Does that put the Fade on UK? If the promo is all about Texas teams winning the National Title, consider the Cats safe from Mattress Mack’s hex.