[h=1]Worst gambling 'bad beats' of the weekend[/h]
Note: Closing lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook and pick percentages are via Wunderdog sports.
[h=2]Saturday[/h]Texas A&M Aggies vs Arkansas Razorbacks Closing line: Texas A&M -6.5 Arkansas came into this game having lost two straight, with both losses coming as a double-digit favorite. It was a different story in this one, as the Razorbacks closed as a 6.5-point underdog. Bret Bielema's team stayed within that number for all 60 minutes of regulation. For the 34 percent of people who took Arkansas, an unfortunate series of plays sent this game into overtime. Arkansas led 21-13 late in the fourth quarter, and if you add the 6.5-point spread, the Razorbacks were covering by 14.5. Starting at its own 15-yard line with just over four minutes left, Texas A&M went right down the field, capping off a five-play, 85-yard drive with a Tra Carson 2-yard touchdown run. The Aggies still needed a two-point conversion to tie ... which they would of course get. With the game now tied at 21, Arkansas got the ball back, and five plays later Texas A&M forced and recovered a fumble. The Aggies would take over with 1:04 left inside Arkansas territory.
All Texas A&M -- and those who bet Arkansas plus-6.5 -- needed was a field goal to win. The Aggies got into field goal range, as Taylor Bertolet was set to attempt a 38-yarder that would end it. Bertolet was perfect on his previous six attempts this season. On the final play of regulation, Bertolet missed, as the perfect storm of "You gotta be kidding me!" plays for Arkansas backers continued. Texas A&M got the ball first in overtime and scored a touchdown on its second play. Bertolet added the extra point, and the Aggies now led 28-21. It marked the first time that Texas A&M was covering in the game. That would be the final score, as Arkansas turned it over on downs. After the game, Bielema had this to say:
"Ten years I've gone through this, and every win or every loss seems like it's so extremely high and so extremely low. It actually is easier for players and coaches. We go right back into prep and you don't have any time to feel sorry for yourself." Unfortunately for those who took Arkansas, they've had the whole weekend to feel sorry for themselves.
Final score: Texas A&M 28, Arkansas 21 (Texas A&M covers)
Marshall Thundering Herd at Kent State Golden Flashes
Closing line: Marshall -6, Over/under 47
Only 29 percent of the bets were on Kent State, as the public sided with Marshall, which closed as the Vegas favorite for the 29th straight time. Taking Kent State looked like the right play, as the Golden Flashes not only outgained Marshall by 159 yards but had a plus-2 turnover margin. This game followed a script similar to Texas A&M-Arkansas, as overtime would end up being the thorn in the side of those who took the underdog. Kent State led by 12 in the third quarter, but 15 unanswered points by Marshall put the Thundering Herd ahead by three. Much to the dismay of folks who took the Golden Flashes, Kent State kicker Shane Hynes tied the game, and it stayed that way until overtime. The Golden Flashes got the ball first and scored a touchdown to go up 29-22. All they needed was a stop. They didn't get it. Marshall's Davonte Allen caught a 3-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal to tie it up and send the game into double overtime. Three plays into the second overtime, Marshall found the end zone again to go up 36-29. Kent State had no answer and turned it over on downs. It wasn't just those who took Kent State who were left shaking their heads -- the 36 percent of bettors who had under 47 points weren't exactly pleased either. Final score: Marshall 36, Kent State 29 (Marshall covers & game goes over)
[h=2]Sunday[/h]Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens Closing line: Over/under 45.5
In what was an ugly game for most of the day (especially for the Ravens offense), you could not have asked for a more exciting fourth quarter. Well, unless you were one of the 38 percent on the under.
The Ravens didn't score until more than halfway through the third quarter and trailed 14-7 entering the fourth. Those who had the under were enjoying a nice 24.5-point cushion entering the final 15 minutes. A Justin Tucker field goal made the score 14-10, and it stayed that way until there was less than seven minutes to go in the game.
Then things got crazy in Baltimore.
<article class="ad-300" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; overflow: hidden; position: relative; z-index: 1000026; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; float: right; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
</article>C.J. Mosley returned an Andy Dalton fumble 41 yards for a touchdown that put the Ravens up 17-14. At that moment, Bengals' fans probably didn't have many kind things to say about their quarterback. But on the very next play from scrimmage, Dalton connected with A.J. Green for an 80-yard touchdown to put the Bengals on top 21-17. How would the Ravens respond? They came right back and scored another touchdown, asJoe Flacco and Steve Smith Sr. hooked up for a 16-yard score. Now all of a sudden, the total amount of points was at 45 and those on the under needed the score to stay the same. It wouldn't. Dalton connected with Green again for a touchdown and put the Bengals up for good while mystifying bettors who took the under.
How unlucky was it to have the under?
The two teams combined for 31 points in the fourth, including 28 in a 4-minute, 39-second span.
Ouch.
Final score: Bengals 28, Ravens 24 (game goes over 45.5)
- Rob Nelson
[*=center]70Shares- Comment
Note: Closing lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook and pick percentages are via Wunderdog sports.
[h=2]Saturday[/h]Texas A&M Aggies vs Arkansas Razorbacks Closing line: Texas A&M -6.5 Arkansas came into this game having lost two straight, with both losses coming as a double-digit favorite. It was a different story in this one, as the Razorbacks closed as a 6.5-point underdog. Bret Bielema's team stayed within that number for all 60 minutes of regulation. For the 34 percent of people who took Arkansas, an unfortunate series of plays sent this game into overtime. Arkansas led 21-13 late in the fourth quarter, and if you add the 6.5-point spread, the Razorbacks were covering by 14.5. Starting at its own 15-yard line with just over four minutes left, Texas A&M went right down the field, capping off a five-play, 85-yard drive with a Tra Carson 2-yard touchdown run. The Aggies still needed a two-point conversion to tie ... which they would of course get. With the game now tied at 21, Arkansas got the ball back, and five plays later Texas A&M forced and recovered a fumble. The Aggies would take over with 1:04 left inside Arkansas territory.
All Texas A&M -- and those who bet Arkansas plus-6.5 -- needed was a field goal to win. The Aggies got into field goal range, as Taylor Bertolet was set to attempt a 38-yarder that would end it. Bertolet was perfect on his previous six attempts this season. On the final play of regulation, Bertolet missed, as the perfect storm of "You gotta be kidding me!" plays for Arkansas backers continued. Texas A&M got the ball first in overtime and scored a touchdown on its second play. Bertolet added the extra point, and the Aggies now led 28-21. It marked the first time that Texas A&M was covering in the game. That would be the final score, as Arkansas turned it over on downs. After the game, Bielema had this to say:
"Ten years I've gone through this, and every win or every loss seems like it's so extremely high and so extremely low. It actually is easier for players and coaches. We go right back into prep and you don't have any time to feel sorry for yourself." Unfortunately for those who took Arkansas, they've had the whole weekend to feel sorry for themselves.
Final score: Texas A&M 28, Arkansas 21 (Texas A&M covers)
Marshall Thundering Herd at Kent State Golden Flashes
Closing line: Marshall -6, Over/under 47
Only 29 percent of the bets were on Kent State, as the public sided with Marshall, which closed as the Vegas favorite for the 29th straight time. Taking Kent State looked like the right play, as the Golden Flashes not only outgained Marshall by 159 yards but had a plus-2 turnover margin. This game followed a script similar to Texas A&M-Arkansas, as overtime would end up being the thorn in the side of those who took the underdog. Kent State led by 12 in the third quarter, but 15 unanswered points by Marshall put the Thundering Herd ahead by three. Much to the dismay of folks who took the Golden Flashes, Kent State kicker Shane Hynes tied the game, and it stayed that way until overtime. The Golden Flashes got the ball first and scored a touchdown to go up 29-22. All they needed was a stop. They didn't get it. Marshall's Davonte Allen caught a 3-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal to tie it up and send the game into double overtime. Three plays into the second overtime, Marshall found the end zone again to go up 36-29. Kent State had no answer and turned it over on downs. It wasn't just those who took Kent State who were left shaking their heads -- the 36 percent of bettors who had under 47 points weren't exactly pleased either. Final score: Marshall 36, Kent State 29 (Marshall covers & game goes over)
[h=2]Sunday[/h]Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens Closing line: Over/under 45.5
In what was an ugly game for most of the day (especially for the Ravens offense), you could not have asked for a more exciting fourth quarter. Well, unless you were one of the 38 percent on the under.
The Ravens didn't score until more than halfway through the third quarter and trailed 14-7 entering the fourth. Those who had the under were enjoying a nice 24.5-point cushion entering the final 15 minutes. A Justin Tucker field goal made the score 14-10, and it stayed that way until there was less than seven minutes to go in the game.
Then things got crazy in Baltimore.
<article class="ad-300" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; overflow: hidden; position: relative; z-index: 1000026; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; float: right; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
</article>C.J. Mosley returned an Andy Dalton fumble 41 yards for a touchdown that put the Ravens up 17-14. At that moment, Bengals' fans probably didn't have many kind things to say about their quarterback. But on the very next play from scrimmage, Dalton connected with A.J. Green for an 80-yard touchdown to put the Bengals on top 21-17. How would the Ravens respond? They came right back and scored another touchdown, asJoe Flacco and Steve Smith Sr. hooked up for a 16-yard score. Now all of a sudden, the total amount of points was at 45 and those on the under needed the score to stay the same. It wouldn't. Dalton connected with Green again for a touchdown and put the Bengals up for good while mystifying bettors who took the under.
How unlucky was it to have the under?
The two teams combined for 31 points in the fourth, including 28 in a 4-minute, 39-second span.
Ouch.
Final score: Bengals 28, Ravens 24 (game goes over 45.5)
