[h=1]Worst gambling 'bad beats' of the weekend[/h]Rob Nelson, ESPN Staff Writer
Rob Nelson of ESPN Stats & Information revisits the worst bad beats from the weekend's gambling action.
Note: Closing lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook and pick percentages are via Wunderdog sports.
[h=2]Thursday[/h]
Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals
Closing line: Over/under 47
While the Thursday night game the previous week was defined by an improbable Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary to cost bettors on the under, this game will be remembered by a team not scoring at the end of regulation. That team was the Vikings, and the 60 percent of those who took the over won't forget about it anytime soon.
Down 23-20, Teddy Bridgewaterdrove his team to the Arizona 31-yard line with 23 seconds left. After two incomplete passes, Minnesota elected to run another play with no timeouts and 13 seconds on the clock, instead of kicking a 48-yard field goal. Keep in mind, kicker Blair Walsh had made both of his field goal attempts in the game, from 44 and 54 yards out. Mike Zimmer rolled the dice though and Bridgewater was strip-sacked byDwight Freeney, denying those on the over a shot to cash their ticket in overtime.
Final score: Cardinals 23, Vikings 20 (game goes under)
[h=2]Friday[/h]
Richmond Spiders at Illinois State Redbirds
Closing line: O/U 60.5
The spread was never in doubt in this FCS quarterfinal, as Richmond led throughout as a 12.5-point underdog. The over/under on the other hand, got interesting late in the game.
Richmond was on top, 32-14, with less than seven minutes left. Those on the under had a 14.5-point cushion and just needed to avoid a late flurry of scores. Illinois State's offense found life however, and put together a pair of touchdown drives. Trailing 32-27, the Redbirds went for two after their second fourth quarter touchdown, and much to the delight of bettors on the under, were denied the conversion.
Richmond was a first down away from being able to run out the clock, but did more than just move the chains. Jacobi Green broke free on a 28-yard touchdown run with 2:19 left, much to the dismay of those on the under, capping off a 27-point fourth quarter that lost them their bet.
Final score: Richmond 39, Illinois State 27 (game goes over)
[h=2]Sunday[/h]
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Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
Closing line: O/U 49.5
In a game that Andy Dalton left with a thumb injury after the Bengals' first drive, the Steelers led 26-13 with less than 4 minutes left. The 28 percent of bettors who took the under needed to avoid two touchdowns in the final minutes. A late garbage time score would ultimately do them in.
After taking over deep into Cincinnati territory -- thanks to an AJ McCarroninterception -- DeAngelo Williams scored from 1 yard out for Pittsburgh, putting the Steelers up 33-13. Would McCarron -- who was never in a garbage time situation at Alabama -- crush those on the under with a last-minute scoring drive? Since I'm writing about it here, I think you know the answer sadly.
McCarron never even got to third down as he led a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive with ease, capped off by a 5-yard touchdown to Rex Burkhead. It was yet another unfriendly reminder to bettors that an under is never safe until the final whistle.
Final score: Steelers 33, Bengals 20 (game goes over)
Memphis Grizzlies at Miami Heat
Closing line: Heat -2.5
If you've bet on the NBA before, you know that no lead is safe. That was especially true in this game, as the underdog Grizzlies led the entire game, including by 16 at one point.
With less than three minutes left, Memphis had a 97-89 lead and if you include the spread, those who took the Grizzlies were up 10.5 points. The problem was that Memphis would not score again, while Dwyane Wade propelled the Heat comeback. Wade's jumper with 21.9 seconds left put Miami up, 98-97. The Grizzlies couldn't even get a shot up and turned it over with a second left.
But here comes the worst part for those who bet Memphis +2.5: The Grizzlies fouled Justise Winslow with 0.7 on the clock. Winslow drained both free throws and the Heat won by 3.
Final score: Heat 100, Grizzlies 97 (Heat cover)
Rob Nelson of ESPN Stats & Information revisits the worst bad beats from the weekend's gambling action.
Note: Closing lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook and pick percentages are via Wunderdog sports.
[h=2]Thursday[/h]
Closing line: Over/under 47
While the Thursday night game the previous week was defined by an improbable Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary to cost bettors on the under, this game will be remembered by a team not scoring at the end of regulation. That team was the Vikings, and the 60 percent of those who took the over won't forget about it anytime soon.
Down 23-20, Teddy Bridgewaterdrove his team to the Arizona 31-yard line with 23 seconds left. After two incomplete passes, Minnesota elected to run another play with no timeouts and 13 seconds on the clock, instead of kicking a 48-yard field goal. Keep in mind, kicker Blair Walsh had made both of his field goal attempts in the game, from 44 and 54 yards out. Mike Zimmer rolled the dice though and Bridgewater was strip-sacked byDwight Freeney, denying those on the over a shot to cash their ticket in overtime.
Final score: Cardinals 23, Vikings 20 (game goes under)
[h=2]Friday[/h]
Richmond Spiders at Illinois State Redbirds
Closing line: O/U 60.5
The spread was never in doubt in this FCS quarterfinal, as Richmond led throughout as a 12.5-point underdog. The over/under on the other hand, got interesting late in the game.
Richmond was on top, 32-14, with less than seven minutes left. Those on the under had a 14.5-point cushion and just needed to avoid a late flurry of scores. Illinois State's offense found life however, and put together a pair of touchdown drives. Trailing 32-27, the Redbirds went for two after their second fourth quarter touchdown, and much to the delight of bettors on the under, were denied the conversion.
Richmond was a first down away from being able to run out the clock, but did more than just move the chains. Jacobi Green broke free on a 28-yard touchdown run with 2:19 left, much to the dismay of those on the under, capping off a 27-point fourth quarter that lost them their bet.
Final score: Richmond 39, Illinois State 27 (game goes over)
[h=2]Sunday[/h]
</hr<<>
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
Closing line: O/U 49.5
In a game that Andy Dalton left with a thumb injury after the Bengals' first drive, the Steelers led 26-13 with less than 4 minutes left. The 28 percent of bettors who took the under needed to avoid two touchdowns in the final minutes. A late garbage time score would ultimately do them in.
After taking over deep into Cincinnati territory -- thanks to an AJ McCarroninterception -- DeAngelo Williams scored from 1 yard out for Pittsburgh, putting the Steelers up 33-13. Would McCarron -- who was never in a garbage time situation at Alabama -- crush those on the under with a last-minute scoring drive? Since I'm writing about it here, I think you know the answer sadly.
McCarron never even got to third down as he led a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive with ease, capped off by a 5-yard touchdown to Rex Burkhead. It was yet another unfriendly reminder to bettors that an under is never safe until the final whistle.
Final score: Steelers 33, Bengals 20 (game goes over)
Memphis Grizzlies at Miami Heat
Closing line: Heat -2.5
If you've bet on the NBA before, you know that no lead is safe. That was especially true in this game, as the underdog Grizzlies led the entire game, including by 16 at one point.
With less than three minutes left, Memphis had a 97-89 lead and if you include the spread, those who took the Grizzlies were up 10.5 points. The problem was that Memphis would not score again, while Dwyane Wade propelled the Heat comeback. Wade's jumper with 21.9 seconds left put Miami up, 98-97. The Grizzlies couldn't even get a shot up and turned it over with a second left.
But here comes the worst part for those who bet Memphis +2.5: The Grizzlies fouled Justise Winslow with 0.7 on the clock. Winslow drained both free throws and the Heat won by 3.
Final score: Heat 100, Grizzlies 97 (Heat cover)
