According to the FBI, more than 2.5 billion dollars is wagered on March Madness every year – mostly in tourney pools.  If you tend toward the more legit, you could have placed a legal bet with a Nevada sports book.

A $1 bet on Wichita State vs. Pitt would have netted you a total of $2.75. Letting the whole wad ride on the outcome of WSU vs. Gonzaga would return $10.45.

Assuming you didn’t panic, and left that hefty sum on the result of WSU vs. La Salle, you would have returned $18.81. The La Salle game was the only NCAA Tournament contest in which WSU was not an underdog.

You start realizing serious money when you leave your $18.81 on the Ohio State game.  That Shocker win would have converted your money into $58.31.

WSU is currently a 10-point underdog in its Final Four matchup with Louisville.  However, if you are bold enough to leave your winnings on the Shocks, you’ll pocket $390.69 off of your original $1 investment – almost enough to cover your airfare to Atlanta.

Letting a standard $20 bet ride all the way to the showdown with Louisville would net you $7,913.80, enough for you and several friends to attend the NCAA final in style.