They Didn't Have a Prayer Trivia Quiz

Answer: England

The odd were 500-1 that the United States would win the 1950 FIFA World Cup and 3-1 that England would reign as champions. The United States were such heavy underdogs that even their own coach, Bill Jeffrey, stated that "we have no chance" and that his team were "sheep ready to be slaughtered."

Answer: New York Yankees

Going into this World Series, the heavily favored New York Yankees had won ten of the previous twelve American League Pennants and won seven of the previous twelve World Series. Led by future Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra, the Yankees lost to the Pirates despite outscoring them by a combined total of 55-27 over the seven games.

Answer: Kentucky

The first team to win the NCAA Basketball championship with a starting line up of all black players, the Miners defeated the Wildcats 72 - 65. Kentucky, led by future Basketball Hall of Fame coach Pat Riley, had lost only one game all season and had won four previous championships.

Answer: Baltimore Colts

On the strength of their 13 - 1 regular season record, the Baltimore Colts entered Super Bowl III as a 17 point favorite. Despite this, three days prior to the game, New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath stated, "We're gonna win the game. I guarantee it." The Jets defeated the Colts 16 - 7.

Answer: Baltimore Orioles

In only their eighth season of existence, the Miracle Mets became the first expansion team to win a World Series. In their previous seven seasons, the Mets had never won more than 73 games nor finished higher than next to last. Odds makers predicted an easy victory, with the Orioles taking the series in five games.

Instead, in a shocking turn, it was the New York Mets that took the series four games to one.

Answer: USSR

In an exhibition game played less than two weeks prior to this game, on February 9, 1980, the Soviets destroyed the American squad 10-3. The USA went into the game a 33-1 underdog. The stunning upset prompted sportscaster Al Michaels to ask "Do you believe in miracles?"

Answer: Mike Tyson

A 42-1 underdog, Buster Douglas stunned the boxing world with his tenth round knockout of Tyson. Tyson entered the match with a perfect record of 37-0. This fight is regarded by many as one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports.

Answer: Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics, featuring the Bash Brothers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, entered the 1990 World Series as prohibitive favorites to beat the underdog Cincinnati Reds. Outfielder Billy Hatcher had seven consecutive hits and set a World Series record with a batting average of .750 and World Series MVP Jose Rijo won two games in leading the Reds to the unexpected sweep of the Athletics.

Answer: New England Patriots

The New England Patriots entered the game undefeated and untied, seeking to join the 1972 Dolphins as the only teams to complete a perfect season and win the Super Bowl. The Patriots entered the game a twelve point favorite and had defeated the Giants in the final game of the regular season, 38-35. Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who was named MVP of the game, led the team to a 17-14 upset.

Answer: Man o' War

Man o' War entered this race a 1-100 favorite (aka 100-1 on), meaning you had to bet $100 to win $1. It was the only loss of Man o' War's career and the only time Upset beat Man o' War. Despite being aptly named, Upset's defeat of Man o' War was not the beginning of the use of the word upset to describe a shocking defeat.

The word had been used in this context for decades prior to the race.