The worst gambling 'bad beats' of the weekend
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 Les Vegas SuperBook and pick percentages are via Wunderdog Sports.
[h=3]Friday[/h]
Arkansas State Red Wolves at Utah State Aggies
Closing line: Utah State -9
A slow start and an ugly finish ended up costing bettors who took the underdogs in this one.
Arkansas State turned it over on two of its first four possessions, falling behind 24-0 at halftime. In the second half, the Red Wolves got back in it by scoring touchdowns on each of their first two possessions. But all that did was set up eventual disappointment for the 31 percent who took them to cover the nine points.
Trailing 27-14 entering the fourth, Arkansas State's first three drives in the quarter all reached Utah State territory. Those possessions turned out to be a field goal, interception and another field goal (after having the ball second-and-goal from the 1-yard line). That second field goal made the score, 27-20, with 7:28 left in the game. Utah State proceeded to go on 13-play, 91-yard drive, that ended with a Tonny Lindsey 1-yard touchdown with 29 seconds left. The touchdown came on first-and-goal with Arkansas State out of timeouts.
Final score: Utah State 34, Arkansas State 20 (Utah State covers)
[h=3]Saturday[/h]
Liberty Flames at SMU Mustangs
Closing line: SMU -14.5
An overwhelming 92 percent of the action was on SMU to cover the 14.5-point spread. As for the 8 percent who took Liberty, this would turn out to be an ending to forget.
Liberty trailed 19-14 with less than a minute to go in the game. At this point, it was hard to imagine a scenario in which the Flames didn't cover. SMU's Josh Williams pushed the margin to eight after his field goal with 47 seconds left. Two plays later, that unimaginable scenario was realized. Liberty's Stephen Calvert was picked off by Jordan Wyatt, who instead of going down, returned it 34 yards for a touchdown. The Williams' PAT put SMU up 15 with 18 seconds left, which covered the spread by a half-point.
Final score: SMU 29, Liberty 14 (SMU covers)
New Mexico Lobos at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Closing line: Rutgers -7.5
You couldn't have asked for better start if you took New Mexico +7.5, as the Lobos jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. That big lead didn't last long, though, as Rutgers scored the next 31 points and led by 10 entering the fourth quarter.
Early in the final quarter, Richard McQuarley's touchdown run gave New Mexico its first points in over 33 minutes of game time, and cut the deficit to three. A pair of Rutgers field goals pushed the margin up to nine, as New Mexico now needed a score on its final possession to cover. The Lobos reached the Scarlet Knights' 10-yard line, but ended up having to settle for a field goal attempt. Jason Sanders -- who was a perfect 3-3 on field goals in 2016 -- missed the 32-yard attempt with 43 seconds left. Rutgers ran out the clock, and gave the 32 percent on New Mexico a bad beat they won't soon forget.
Final score: Rutgers 37, New Mexico 28 (Rutgers covers)
[h=3]Sunday[/h]
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos
Closing line: Broncos -6 (-6.5 for most of week), over/under 47
The Broncos officially closed as a six-point favorite, but the line was 6.5 for most of the week. By games end, it didn't matter what number you had if you bet the Colts.
With two minutes left in the game, the Broncos led 23-20, and faced a third-and-1 from the Colts' 17-yard-line. A first down and Denver could run out of the clock, while giving those on the Colts and/or the under, a winning bet. But C.J. Anderson was stuffed for no gain and instead of going for it on fourth down, Gary Kubiak took the three points and put the game in the hands of his defense. That turned out to be a great decision for the Broncos, but not so much for the 47 percent who took the Colts to cover.
On Indy's first play of the possession, Von Miller stripped Andrew Luck (who was a perfect 4-0 ATS in his career vs. Denver entering Sunday) and fellow linebacker Shane Ray scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown -- that one play cost both those who took the Colts and the under.
Final score: Broncos 34, Colts 20 (Broncos cover and game goes over)
Honorable mention
South Carolina State Bulldogs at Clemson Tigers
Closing line: Clemson -53.5
If you took Clemson to cover the 53.5-point spread, you clearly felt that South Carolina State couldn't compete. And you were right. But unfortunately, after the Tigers led 45-0 at halftime, both sides agreed to play 12-minute quarters in the second half.
In the betting world, a football game is only official if it goes at least 55 minutes. South Carolina State and Clemson would play just 54 minutes, costing those who took the Tigers -- who eventually won by 59 -- a winning bet.
Note: Some books paid out winning tickets on Clemson and paid out South Carolina State as no action.
Final score: Clemson 59, South Carolina State 0 (No action)
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 Les Vegas SuperBook and pick percentages are via Wunderdog Sports.
[h=3]Friday[/h]
Arkansas State Red Wolves at Utah State Aggies
Closing line: Utah State -9
A slow start and an ugly finish ended up costing bettors who took the underdogs in this one.
Arkansas State turned it over on two of its first four possessions, falling behind 24-0 at halftime. In the second half, the Red Wolves got back in it by scoring touchdowns on each of their first two possessions. But all that did was set up eventual disappointment for the 31 percent who took them to cover the nine points.
Trailing 27-14 entering the fourth, Arkansas State's first three drives in the quarter all reached Utah State territory. Those possessions turned out to be a field goal, interception and another field goal (after having the ball second-and-goal from the 1-yard line). That second field goal made the score, 27-20, with 7:28 left in the game. Utah State proceeded to go on 13-play, 91-yard drive, that ended with a Tonny Lindsey 1-yard touchdown with 29 seconds left. The touchdown came on first-and-goal with Arkansas State out of timeouts.
Final score: Utah State 34, Arkansas State 20 (Utah State covers)
[h=3]Saturday[/h]
Liberty Flames at SMU Mustangs
Closing line: SMU -14.5
An overwhelming 92 percent of the action was on SMU to cover the 14.5-point spread. As for the 8 percent who took Liberty, this would turn out to be an ending to forget.
Liberty trailed 19-14 with less than a minute to go in the game. At this point, it was hard to imagine a scenario in which the Flames didn't cover. SMU's Josh Williams pushed the margin to eight after his field goal with 47 seconds left. Two plays later, that unimaginable scenario was realized. Liberty's Stephen Calvert was picked off by Jordan Wyatt, who instead of going down, returned it 34 yards for a touchdown. The Williams' PAT put SMU up 15 with 18 seconds left, which covered the spread by a half-point.
Final score: SMU 29, Liberty 14 (SMU covers)
Closing line: Rutgers -7.5
You couldn't have asked for better start if you took New Mexico +7.5, as the Lobos jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. That big lead didn't last long, though, as Rutgers scored the next 31 points and led by 10 entering the fourth quarter.
Early in the final quarter, Richard McQuarley's touchdown run gave New Mexico its first points in over 33 minutes of game time, and cut the deficit to three. A pair of Rutgers field goals pushed the margin up to nine, as New Mexico now needed a score on its final possession to cover. The Lobos reached the Scarlet Knights' 10-yard line, but ended up having to settle for a field goal attempt. Jason Sanders -- who was a perfect 3-3 on field goals in 2016 -- missed the 32-yard attempt with 43 seconds left. Rutgers ran out the clock, and gave the 32 percent on New Mexico a bad beat they won't soon forget.
Final score: Rutgers 37, New Mexico 28 (Rutgers covers)
[h=3]Sunday[/h]
Closing line: Broncos -6 (-6.5 for most of week), over/under 47
The Broncos officially closed as a six-point favorite, but the line was 6.5 for most of the week. By games end, it didn't matter what number you had if you bet the Colts.
With two minutes left in the game, the Broncos led 23-20, and faced a third-and-1 from the Colts' 17-yard-line. A first down and Denver could run out of the clock, while giving those on the Colts and/or the under, a winning bet. But C.J. Anderson was stuffed for no gain and instead of going for it on fourth down, Gary Kubiak took the three points and put the game in the hands of his defense. That turned out to be a great decision for the Broncos, but not so much for the 47 percent who took the Colts to cover.
On Indy's first play of the possession, Von Miller stripped Andrew Luck (who was a perfect 4-0 ATS in his career vs. Denver entering Sunday) and fellow linebacker Shane Ray scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown -- that one play cost both those who took the Colts and the under.
Final score: Broncos 34, Colts 20 (Broncos cover and game goes over)
Honorable mention
South Carolina State Bulldogs at Clemson Tigers
Closing line: Clemson -53.5
If you took Clemson to cover the 53.5-point spread, you clearly felt that South Carolina State couldn't compete. And you were right. But unfortunately, after the Tigers led 45-0 at halftime, both sides agreed to play 12-minute quarters in the second half.
In the betting world, a football game is only official if it goes at least 55 minutes. South Carolina State and Clemson would play just 54 minutes, costing those who took the Tigers -- who eventually won by 59 -- a winning bet.
Note: Some books paid out winning tickets on Clemson and paid out South Carolina State as no action.
Final score: Clemson 59, South Carolina State 0 (No action)
