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Hoosier in 'Jeopardy!' College Championship finals talks about going big

He answered the question correctly, bet the house and won.

GREENFIELD, Ind. (WTHR) — Tyler Combs calls his win on "Jeopardy!" Tuesday night an upset, but he says he knew since he was trailing at the end what he needed to do.

"I was counting on Beni (Keown) not being as bold as I was. 'OK, I assume he gets it right bets big I lose, or he gets it wrong I win or he gets it right and doesn't bet enough. I have to risk it all. Talk or walk,'" he said as he sat in his room at home in Greenfield. We talked to him in between his online courses.

His strategy proved to be the right one. He answered the question correctly, bet the house and won. So now he is in the two-night finals, which begin Thursday night on "Jeopardy!".

"It's been crazy the amount of support I have got. It feels like I am a hometown hero in Bloomington, IU and Greenfield. It's amazing how many people are watching. I've had tons of people tell me since all sports have been canceled because of the pandemic, this is the next best thing," he said shaking his head in disbelief.

Because of the pandemic and fact that he is still taking online classes, he has not been able to get out and celebrate his success.

“I know, I am so sad about that. That was the one thing I was really excited for. Walking to class, 'He was on Jeopardy!' or going out with friends and having people greet me as the guy on 'Jeopardy!'. I'm not getting that right now and it is so disappointing, but it is what it is,” he said.

"Jeopardy!" airs weeknights at 7:30 on Channel 13.

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