Top 10 Sports Upsets of 2008

Honrable Mention: VMI Shocks Kentucky in Basketball

The University of Kentucky men's basketball team was hosting VMI of the Big South Conference on Nov. 14, opening night. The Wildcats, of the SEC and holders of seven national championships, were trying to avoid an embarrassment similar to last year—an 84-68 drubbing by Gardner-Webb, another Big South Conference member.

Once again, the Wildcats suffered a humiliating defeat to a huge underdog when VMI held off the Wildcats for a 111-103 upset win.

10. Yankees, Tigers and Mets Don't Make Playoffs

The three major league baseball teams with the highest 2008 payrolls failed to make the playoffs. The Yankees' payroll was $209 million, the Tigers was $138 million and the Mets was $137 million.

The Mets and Yankees both finished with an 89-73 record. The Mets finished second in the NL East behind the Phillies. The Yankees finished third in the AL East behind the Rays and the Red Sox. The Tigers finished dead last in the AL Central with a record of 74-88.

9. Oregon State Beats USC in Football

On Sept. 25 No. 1 USC headed up to Corvalis, Oregon to play the Beavers. USC was 2-0 and had beaten Ohio State 35-3 the week before. The Trojans came into this game as a 24-point favorite.

Oregon State had a record of 1-2 with a loss to Stamford and a 45-14 beat-down by Penn State.

Oregon State held off the Trojans at the end of the game and this defeat ultimately cost USC a shot at the national championship.

8. Buffalo Surprises Ball State in MAC Championship

The No. 12 Ball State Cardinals were 12-0 and talking about a chance to go to a really good bowl game. They still had to play the MAC Championship game against 7-5 Buffalo.

Instead, Buffalo handed the Cardinals their first loss, 42-14. Until this defeat, Ball State's closest game was a seven-point win over Western Michigan, and the most points they had allowed all season was 24.

7. Tampa Bay Rays Edge out Yankees and Red Sox for AL East

The Tampa Bay Rays won the American League East by two games over the Red Sox and Yankees.  The Rays finished 97-65 with a payroll of only $44 million, second lowest in all of baseball.

This was a remrkable achievement after finishing in last place in 2007 with a record of 65-96.

6. Mississippi Rebels Block Extra Point to Beat Florida

The No. 4-ranked Florida Gators hosted the Mississippi Rebels. The Gators were 3-0 with wins over Miami and Tennessee, on the road. The Rebels were 2-2 with wins over Samford and Memphis State, and loses over Wake Forest and Vanderbilt.

Florida went into the locker room ahead 17-7 at the half but Mississippi came back in the second half and eventually took a 31-24 lead. 

With 3:28 left on the clock the Gators scored a touchdown to make it 31-30 but missed the extra point. The Gators got the ball back but were stopped at mid-field when the game ended.

5. Dodgers Sweep Cubs in First Round of Playoffs

The Chicago Cubs had a super year and finished first in their division with a 97-64 record. They finished in first by 7.5 games. The Cubs spent some serious money and increased the payroll by $20 million over the previous year.

The Cubs looked like they had a good chance to get to the World Series and maybe win it for the first time in 100 years.

The 84-78 Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Cubs in the Division Series.

4. Miami Dolphins Win AFC East After 1-15 2007 

After going 1-15 in 2007 the Miam Dolphins won the AFC East over the heavily favored Patriots and Jets.  The Dolphins finished the regular season 11-5 and will be hosting the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the playoffs. 

The Dolphins weren't given a chance to win more than five or six games and this remarkable turnaroun is the greatest in NFL history.   

3. Kansas Comes Back to Beat Memphis in NCAA Basketball Final

In the men's NCAA Basketball Championship game between Kansas and Memphis, Kansas was down by nine points with 2:12 left on the clock. They fought back with the help of four of five missed free throws by Memphis.

With 2.1 seconds left, Kansas' Mario Chalmers put in a desperation three point shot and tied the game. 

Kansas eventually won the game in overtime, 75-68.

2. Giants Tumble Unbeaten Patriots and Win Super Bowl

The New England Patriots were an unbelievable 18-0 and entered the Super Bowl against a pretty good New York Giant team as a thirteen and one-half point favorite.

Late in the game the Giants had one drive left and with the help of David Tyree's miracle catch and Plaxico Burress' touchdown reception with 35 seconds left, the Giants pulled off the win.

1. Big Brown Gets Beat in Belmont

Big Brown, all 17 hands of muscle, was so impressive. He won the Kentucky Derby by four and one-half lengths and was the first horse to win from the 20th gate.

Two weeks later Big Brown won the Preakness Stakes by five and one-quarter lengths.

The horse went off as a 3-10 favorite in the Belmont Stakes and finished out of the money.