If getting bet on by Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale was a curse, then a pregame speech from the furniture tycoon might be even worse.
The notorious gambler told “Houston’s Morning News” on 740 KTRH radio that he will host the Florida Atlantic Owls basketball team for dinner, give them a pregame “pep talk,” and pay for friends and family to attend the March Madness Final Four matchup with San Diego State University in Houston Saturday.
In exchange, the players will offer their names, image, and likeness (NIL) for his Gallery Furniture retail chain.
“Their basketball gym seats a total of 2,900 people on a good day,” Mack said on the radio show. “Their locker room is smaller than this radio studio.”
It is unclear in what capacity the Owls team will be affiliated with Gallery Furniture, but he is looking to capitalize on the incredible season that resulted in the best record in NCAA Division I during the regular season.
After a 19-15 finish in 2022, the Owls had an outstanding 35-3 record this year with their second NCAA Tournament berth in school history.
They then dispatched Memphis, Fairleigh Dickinson, Tennessee and Kansas State en route to a Final Four berth.
“It’s a real rags-to-riches story,” Mack said. “It’s a ‘Rocky’ story. It is a story of inspiration, and we can use a lot of that in this country nowadays.”
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FAU are currently the betting underdogs on BetMGM (+2) for their 6:09 p.m. ET. game against San Diego State on CBS Saturday night.
As far as we know, Mack has not bet the Owls to win the game, but that might be a good thing.
He has lost several high-profile bets recently, including several big wagers on the Houston Cougars basketball team, since he won $75 million when the Astros won the 2022 World Series.