02.12.2010
Unless all '80s movies featuring rag-tag sports teams have lied to us, underdogs always win because they try harder. Not so fast with your "underdog theory," say scientists who apparently get off on ruining everything fun. Their study using college students from different-ranked schools found that underdogs don't tend to rally to try harder because they see losing as confirmation that they, frankly, suck. The better team, with more to lose, tries even harder to avoid an ignominious defeat. Then you end up with things like the 2007 New England Patriots. 3 comments