[h=1]Eagles-Cowboys among worst '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. Closing lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, and pick percentages are via Wunderdog Sports.
[h=2]Saturday[/h]
[h=3]Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans[/h]Closing line: Over/under 50
Michigan closed as a 24.5-point favorite in this game, marking the third-largest spread in this rivalry dating back 40 seasons. Michigan State stayed within that number the entire game, and ended up covering easily. But those who took the under could have done without a pair of late scores by the Spartans.
Michigan led 30-10 with less than eight minutes left as Michigan State faced a fourth-and-5 from its own 46-yard line. Reserve quarterback Brian Lewerkehooked up with R.J. Shelton for a 34-yard completion on fourth down, and then found Monty Madaris for a touchdown on the next play. That made the score 30-17, and it stayed that way until the final seconds. The Spartans got the ball back at their own 25-yard line with 27 seconds left and those on the under just needed one stop. Unfortunately for them, Michigan State marched right down the field and scored a touchdown with one second left to send the total over.
In a play that might be shown at the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December, Jabrill Peppers returned a fumble back on the following two-point conversion. That will serve as an unfriendly reminder of this bad beat for those who took the under.
Final score: Michigan 32, Michigan State 23 (game goes over)
[h=3]Kansas State Wildcats at Iowa State Cyclones[/h]Closing line: Kansas State -6
Over 60 percent of the action was on Kansas State to cover the 6-point spread at Iowa State, who came into the game winless in conference play and 1-6 overall. It was looking good for those on the Wildcats, who led 31-10 entering the fourth quarter.
But it turned out to be a fourth quarter to forget if you had Kansas State. The Wildcats were outscored 16-0 in the final 15 minutes, capped off by a Jacob Park-to-Deshaunte Jones touchdown on fourth down with less than a minute left to cover the spread for the Cyclones. This marked the most points Kansas State had been outscored in a fourth quarter since 2004.
Final score: Kansas State 31, Iowa State 26 (Iowa State covers)
[h=3]Miami Hurricanes at Notre Dame Fighting Irish[/h]Closing line: O/U 58
The 61 percent who took the over in this one are still wondering how Notre Dame didn't score a touchdown on its final drive.
With the game tied at 27 late in the fourth quarter, those on the over needed a touchdown to cash their bets. It appeared they were going to get their touchdown when Notre Dame's Durham Smythe was about to score, but instead fumbled at the goal line. The Fighting Irish recovered and had first-and-goal at the Miami 1-yard line after an offsides call on the Hurricanes. But they couldn't punch it in and had to settle for a Justin Yoon 23-yard field goal with 30 seconds left. Miami ran out of time on their final drive and the total ended up going under by one point.
Final score: Notre Dame 30, Miami 27 (game goes under)
[h=3]Baylor Bears at Texas Longhorns[/h]Closing line: O/U 73
You couldn't have asked for a better start if you took the over. Less than six minutes in, the score was 14-14 and it looked like those bets could win before halftime.
The scoring cooled off, with no points until a Texas safety midway through the second quarter. Each team added a touchdown and the Longhorns led 23-21 at halftime, with the total still on pace to go over. But the second half slowed down significantly and after a Trent Domingue 39-yard field goal, Texas led 35-34 with 46 seconds left. It wasn't looking good for those on the over, who needed a touchdown to win their bet. It appeared they got their touchdown when Texas scooped and scored a Seth Russell fumble to make the score 41-34. But in a questionable decision, the refs ruled that Russell's forward progress had stopped and the touchdown did not count. Two plays later, the game ended and over 73 was a losing bet.
Final score: Texas 35, Baylor 34 (game goes under)
[h=2]Sunday[/h]
[h=3]Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys[/h]Closing line: Cowboys -5
For a third straight week, the Sunday night game went to overtime and ended up as a bad beat for gamblers.
The Eagles took a 23-13 lead early in the fourth quarter, as those who took the underdog were feeling great. After all, if you factor in the spread, the Eagles were up 15. After forcing a three-and-out, Philadelphia got the ball back but Wendell Smallwood fumbled on the first play of the Eagles drive to give it back to Dallas. It all went downhill for the Eagles after that. The Cowboys scored the next 10 points to send the game to overtime. Dallas won the toss and marched right down the field, capping off the drive with a Jason Witten5-yard touchdown catch to win by six.
Final score: Cowboys 29, Eagles 23 in OT (Cowboys cover)
ESPN Staff Writer
Rob Nelson of ESPN Stats & Information revisits the worst bad beats from the weekend's gambling action. Closing lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, and pick percentages are via Wunderdog Sports.
[h=2]Saturday[/h]
[h=3]Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans[/h]Closing line: Over/under 50
Michigan closed as a 24.5-point favorite in this game, marking the third-largest spread in this rivalry dating back 40 seasons. Michigan State stayed within that number the entire game, and ended up covering easily. But those who took the under could have done without a pair of late scores by the Spartans.
Michigan led 30-10 with less than eight minutes left as Michigan State faced a fourth-and-5 from its own 46-yard line. Reserve quarterback Brian Lewerkehooked up with R.J. Shelton for a 34-yard completion on fourth down, and then found Monty Madaris for a touchdown on the next play. That made the score 30-17, and it stayed that way until the final seconds. The Spartans got the ball back at their own 25-yard line with 27 seconds left and those on the under just needed one stop. Unfortunately for them, Michigan State marched right down the field and scored a touchdown with one second left to send the total over.
In a play that might be shown at the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December, Jabrill Peppers returned a fumble back on the following two-point conversion. That will serve as an unfriendly reminder of this bad beat for those who took the under.
Final score: Michigan 32, Michigan State 23 (game goes over)
[h=3]Kansas State Wildcats at Iowa State Cyclones[/h]Closing line: Kansas State -6
Over 60 percent of the action was on Kansas State to cover the 6-point spread at Iowa State, who came into the game winless in conference play and 1-6 overall. It was looking good for those on the Wildcats, who led 31-10 entering the fourth quarter.
But it turned out to be a fourth quarter to forget if you had Kansas State. The Wildcats were outscored 16-0 in the final 15 minutes, capped off by a Jacob Park-to-Deshaunte Jones touchdown on fourth down with less than a minute left to cover the spread for the Cyclones. This marked the most points Kansas State had been outscored in a fourth quarter since 2004.
Final score: Kansas State 31, Iowa State 26 (Iowa State covers)
[h=3]Miami Hurricanes at Notre Dame Fighting Irish[/h]Closing line: O/U 58
The 61 percent who took the over in this one are still wondering how Notre Dame didn't score a touchdown on its final drive.
With the game tied at 27 late in the fourth quarter, those on the over needed a touchdown to cash their bets. It appeared they were going to get their touchdown when Notre Dame's Durham Smythe was about to score, but instead fumbled at the goal line. The Fighting Irish recovered and had first-and-goal at the Miami 1-yard line after an offsides call on the Hurricanes. But they couldn't punch it in and had to settle for a Justin Yoon 23-yard field goal with 30 seconds left. Miami ran out of time on their final drive and the total ended up going under by one point.
Final score: Notre Dame 30, Miami 27 (game goes under)
[h=3]Baylor Bears at Texas Longhorns[/h]Closing line: O/U 73
You couldn't have asked for a better start if you took the over. Less than six minutes in, the score was 14-14 and it looked like those bets could win before halftime.
The scoring cooled off, with no points until a Texas safety midway through the second quarter. Each team added a touchdown and the Longhorns led 23-21 at halftime, with the total still on pace to go over. But the second half slowed down significantly and after a Trent Domingue 39-yard field goal, Texas led 35-34 with 46 seconds left. It wasn't looking good for those on the over, who needed a touchdown to win their bet. It appeared they got their touchdown when Texas scooped and scored a Seth Russell fumble to make the score 41-34. But in a questionable decision, the refs ruled that Russell's forward progress had stopped and the touchdown did not count. Two plays later, the game ended and over 73 was a losing bet.
Final score: Texas 35, Baylor 34 (game goes under)
[h=2]Sunday[/h]
For a third straight week, the Sunday night game went to overtime and ended up as a bad beat for gamblers.
The Eagles took a 23-13 lead early in the fourth quarter, as those who took the underdog were feeling great. After all, if you factor in the spread, the Eagles were up 15. After forcing a three-and-out, Philadelphia got the ball back but Wendell Smallwood fumbled on the first play of the Eagles drive to give it back to Dallas. It all went downhill for the Eagles after that. The Cowboys scored the next 10 points to send the game to overtime. Dallas won the toss and marched right down the field, capping off the drive with a Jason Witten5-yard touchdown catch to win by six.
Final score: Cowboys 29, Eagles 23 in OT (Cowboys cover)
