You can thank the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) for free lunch today.
In a nationwide promotion called If Crazy Happens with Little Caesars Pizza Promotion -- yes, all 50 states and Washington, D.C. -- Little Caesars is giving away a $5 Hot-N-Ready lunch combo, which is a four-slice deep dish pepperoni pizza and a 20-ounce drink from the Pepsi family. No purchase is necessary, but the offer is only good for in-store purchases (sorry, no delivery or drive-thrus).
Why? Little Caesars announced that it would give customers a free lunch combo if a No. 16 seed defeated a No. 1 seed in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament. It happened March 16 when UMBC defeated Virginia 74-54. It seemed like a safe bet at the time -- 16 seeds were 0-123 against No. 1 seeds until last month.
So, Little Caesars is paying up.
If a #16 BEATS a #1 in men's basketball TONIGHT, you could score a @LittleCaesars Lunch Combo! 😱🍕🏀 #stayTUNED https://t.co/vHuy8315ee pic.twitter.com/jhq2yjdBu0
— Little Caesars Pizza (@littlecaesars) March 16, 2018
Here what you need to know to score your free combo:
It's only valid from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time or while supplies last. There's a limit of one lunch combo per family.
To qualify, you must place your order no later than 1 p.m. local time at the cashier. "If you place your order, afterward, even if you were in line at 1 p.m. local time, the offer will have expired and will not be fulfilled," according to Detroit-based Little Caesars.
The deal is redeemable only in store and only at participating stores (check ahead). It's not available online, through a mobile app or at the drive-thru/pickup window or delivery.
