Date of Creation
4-1-2019
Degree Type
Departmental Honors Thesis - Restricted Access
First Advisor
Professor Robert Baumann
Abstract
The Men’s Division I National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) March Madness tournament generates 85% of the NCAA’s revenue in a given year. This study examines referee bias in this tournament using data from the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons. Results indicate that referees do not call more fouls upon Blueblood teams. However, more fouls are called on teams that are seeded lower than their opponents and on teams who are leading in games. This study suggests that bias exists towards keeping games close and having highly ranked teams continue through to the final rounds in the tournament. These forms of bias could positively affect consumer demand for the tournament, the NCAA’s primary form of revenue each year.
Recommended Citation
Lyons, Michael, "Referee Bias in March Madness" (2019). Economics and Accounting Honors Theses. 17.
https://crossworks.holycross.edu/econ_honor/17