MOST AMAZING TURNAROUND ON A BET!!!

THE SHRINK · Feb 20, 2004

For better or worse, I'd love to hear some amazing turn arounds that have happened to some gamblers on this forum when betting on sports...

My most memorable sports bet actually occurred when I was in College (a few years ago)...

I had bet my entire bankroll (not good) on the Pittsburgh Steelers minus 4 1/2 to beat the Cleveland Browns in the mid 70's...

Terry Bradshaw and Brian Sipes were the 2 starting and respective quarterbacks this particular Sunday...

I remember hearing the first score of 14-3, then 21-3. then 28-3 STEELERS at the haltime.

What made me feel like this game was now a lock was that the starting QB for the Browns (Sipes) was carried off on a stretcher in the 2nd quarter, and this game was in Pittsburgh too...

The 3rd qaurter started with a Pitt touchdown and now I was celebrating because the Steelers were up 35-3 and then led 35-10 going into the 4th quarter...

I was on the telephone making plans to go on a vacation when the next score I saw was mid way through the 4th with the Steelers leading 35-17....

Then, with 2 minutes to go, I saw the score flash by of 35-24 and for the first time that day, I slowly started to perspire because the Browns were now within a TD of covering the friggin' pointspread...

Then alas, the TV stated the Steelers had won the game 35-24....

ONLY TO CHANGE it and apologize for their error 5 minutes later, stating that the Browns had scored a TD with a couple of seconds left making the Final Score...

Pittsburgh 35
Cleveland 31!!!!

I was shaking, nauseated and perspiring profusely as I went from planning a dream vacation to having to get a temporary job delivering sandwiches to students that ordered takeout on campus to cover my debt...

THE SHRINK

Dante · Feb 20, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>My most memorable sports bet actually occurred when I was in College (a few years ago)...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I stopped as my eyes teared up with laughing at this statement.. ill read the rest of the story after I can compose myself

TheGeneral+ · Feb 20, 2004

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 05:09 4th Qtr

M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD

TB 35
IND 14

Indianapolis Colts at 3:50 Overtime

M.Vanderjagt 29 yard field goal is GOOD

IND 38
TB 35

TheGeneral+ · Feb 20, 2004

#17 Joe Crawford

Mavericks 29..35..24..15 = 103
Lakers 24..12..25..44 = 105

NickDouglas · Feb 20, 2004

Big comebacks are one thing, but nonsensical events are the ones that make me crazy sometimes.

Back in 1998 Kansas State was seemingly on their way to the BCS title game and they were at home vs. Nebraska, the reigning Big 12 power. The line was 10 or 10.5 depending on where you got it and by this point squares hadn't figured out yet what a fraud Bid Red was so there was tons of money on them.

I got a pick from a tout (I've learned my lesson since) of Kansas State and bet the limit at -10. I was having an unbelievable year following this tout so I bet four figures at Intertops (I was a $25 bettor coming into 1998). I called my friends from back home and told them about it, and one of them bet the limit with his local at -10.5. The local even let him bet more than usual because he had 35 dimes in one sided action on Nebraska +10.5 and decided that he wasn't going to lay any of it off because KSU was going to bury them. This was a local who usually would only take a few dimes of exposure on one side or another.

Well, by the second half the local was practially at the airport. Nebraska had made it a game and really had a chance to win. KSU finally pulled ahead with about a minute left and led by four. It hardly seemed to matter, because my -10 and the local's -10.5 seemed to be toast.

Nebraska starts their drive to attempt to win the game late and it goes nowhere. They are still in their own territory with about 10 seconds to play. On the last play of the game, Nebraska's quarterback scrambles and FUMBLES THE BALL. A KSU player picks it up and scurries in for the touchdown, giving us an all time miracle cover.

The players are celebrating and the students start storming the field. I start to worry because it looks like the officials might just let the game end with Kansas State up by 10. Luckily, order appears to be restored and the teams get onto the field for the point after.

At this point KSU is up 10 so at least I am not going to be losing any money. I am celebrating with my other friends who also thought they had lost a good portion of their bankroll. Our celebration is halted, however, when we see those IDIOTS from KSU lining up to go for two. They are up by TEN and they are going to go for 2 with no time left????? Why????

I gather myself to watch the play, hoping to get my cover and KANSAS STATE KNEELS ON THE BALL. On a two point coversion! Why? Why on earth would you possibly ever kneel on a two point conversion??? I could see it if you just went up by 1 on the last play of the game and you didn't want the opponent to run back a blocked PAT for a 2 point conversion, but they were up by 10 freaking points.

Well, I was still happy with my push but the local back home said it was the worst bad beat he'd seen in his decades behind the counter. He paid off the Nebraska +10.5 winners and didn't stiff anyone.

Since then I have seen a lot of surefire losers turned into winners and vice versa. Garbage time threes, meaningless touchdowns and Buffalo walking off the field as New England scored a two point conversion. But I will never, ever understand why Bill Snyder told his team to kneel on the ball for a meaningless two point conversion.

Oceans11 · Feb 20, 2004

Punter wins £25,000 on miracle FA Cup comeback

A gambler won £25,000 by staking £100 on Manchester City to beat Spurs at odds of 250/1 when they were losing 3-0 and down to ten men at half-time.

City staged one of the greatest comebacks in FA Cup history and fought back to win the FA Cup fourth round replay 3-4.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "We cannot ever recall quoting any team at longer odds than 250/1 at half-time before.

"But Spurs do have previous in situations like this - letting punters down badly a couple of seasons ago when they were 1/100 to hold on to a 3-0 lead over Manchester United and failing to do so."

But Hills covered some of their losses from a punter who staked £18,000 on Tottenham to beat City at odds of 1/25.

The punter only stood to gain around £400 from an initial £10,000 bet on the Wednesday night fixture.

Bookmakers William Hill say the gambler, who has not been named, placed the bet in the second half when home team Spurs were 3-1 up.

And when the score became 3-2, the gambler compounded his mistake by plunging a further £8,000 on Tottenham to win at 4/11.

Story filed: 12:29 Thursday 5th February 2004

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_862854.html?menu=

bigbet1234 · Feb 20, 2004

last night stanford down by 11 at half being a 8.5 favorite. 3 secondls left hits both free throws to go up by 9

blueedwards · Feb 20, 2004

i can't remember the times i won...i only remember the bad beats.

i had u.s.c. last night +8.5

WildBill · Feb 20, 2004

I had the over when Robin Ventura "singled" home the game winning run against the Braves in the NLCS. That one, the K-State game mentioned and the ASU-USC game where the player ran back the INT in OT when taking a knee is the only sane thing to do. Those are three of the most memorable bad beats based on players/coaches not doing what happens 99.9% of the time.

Jazz · Feb 20, 2004

Wildbill makes a great point:

" ... based on players/coaches not doing what happens 99.9% of the time"

This is by FAR the most aggravating cause of losses out there. In the NBA, we all know when a team is leading by say at least 10 points and has just gotten the ball back with less than 24 seconds left (if less than 10 seconds, it's even worse) in the game, they almost always simply dribble it out and no one takes a shot. But then there's the game where you're sitting on a win (straight or middle) and, because of bad blood earlier or simple stupidity (maybe a rookie hustling for a steal), the losing team will foul and the bet gets screwed by the pooch. God, I hate those. In college, of course, they'll usually foul anyway, they're kids and want to play, so I honestly have no expectations whatsoever UNLESS they get down to say 3 seconds left, the other team is up impossibly and they still foul - but at least you've got a fighting chance since most college players are really poor FT shooters.

ignorant · Feb 20, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>Originally posted by THE SHRINK:
My most memorable sports bet actually occurred when I was in College (a few years ago)...

I had bet my entire bankroll (not good) on the Pittsburgh Steelers minus 4 1/2 to beat the Cleveland Browns in the mid 70's...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Is it 1980 or 2004 we live in?

bucsfan67 · Feb 20, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>Originally posted by The General:
#17 Joe Crawford

Mavericks 29..35..24.._15_ = 103
Lakers 24..12..25.._44_ = 105

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

THAT WAS MINE GENERAL....I HAD DALLAS THAT NIGHT, AND WATCHED IN HORROR AS IT UNFOLDED...

Fishhead · Feb 20, 2004

To be honest, I really do not try and dwell on past wins or losses.....good or bad.

Sure, some come to mind, but I do my best to just get them out of my mind as quickly as possible.

Sometimes in a bar if you get a few beers in me, I may speak on a few.

winkyduck · Feb 20, 2004

Houston 35, Buffalo 3

i got the bills -3 and i know i got no shot at winning this bet. i made the bet in vegas but for some reason decide NOT to rip up my ticket.

we all know what happened next.

yes - i "only" got a push on it - but when you are down 35-3 and then get a push out of it - you consider it a win - for under no circumstances did i ever think i would even get a push out of it.

i have one that happened last college hoops season, too.

my friends and i LOAD up on fullerton +16.5 @ usc. usc is killing fullerton the entire game and is UP 23 with 1 minute to go.

fullerton hits a trey to make it 20, then hits another trey to make it 17. usc is gonna run out the clock, but fullerton steals the ball and gets a layup with about 2 seconds left to make it a 15 point game and get me one of the all-time luckiest backdoor covers in my life! i had NO BUSINESS winning this game. in that last minute i believe fullerton was called for a "T" and usc missed BOTH FTs, too.

Fezzik · Feb 20, 2004

CHIEFS -3.5 vs. Chargers (MNF around 1993)

SD led by 4 with 1:30 to play, and they were in KCs red zone. KC was out of time outs.

1. SD fg.
2. KC 1 minute drill TD.
3. Tamarack Vanover 89 yard OT punt return.

!!!

kyhawk · Feb 20, 2004

The bad beats equal the unconscious wins. It's equals out evenutally.

OMNIVOROUS FROG · Feb 20, 2004

Being I have been betting over 25 years I have too many to tell. Had 2 dimes money line on Colts vs. Bucs MNF this year, photocopied bet. But that was nothing compared to PIT/JAX mnf, I am booking a 2 dime straight and 1 dime parlay, Pit and Pit to the over. Jax is killing them, but only settling for FG's. Pitt rallies back, it is way over and they are lining up to kick game winning FG with no time left. You do not get much deader than that. I turn to my son and say, I am dead. He says, Dad there always could be a miracle. Jags pull miracle one, block the kick, and miracle two, instead of falling down and winning game, Jags return it for a covering TD. Cowler wanted to trip the guy, running right in front of him. Bout a 7 dime swing there. Worst swing wrong way, way back, when Pistons, bad boys finally began to beat Celtics. Bought in on opener, 6 dimes -3 1/2, jumped to 7. I could have tried for huge middle, but decided it was just a waste to take Celt side. Celts getting crushed by 25, right away. Kept blowing them out until 4th, I think 18 or 19 point lead in 4th. Then Detroit starts goofing off, failed lobs, low % shots and the lead with less than a minute is 5. Bill Laimbeer has the ball, and the shot clock is off. He is up above the 3 point line and for no reason he heaves up a trey, missing badly. A long rebound flies out to Dirk Minnifield. He runs toward halfcourt and wings one towards the board. Clock runs out, he makes the 1/2 court shot. 12 dime turnaround, and good old Dirk gets busted for drugs offseason and is never in the NBA again. That loss dropped me to my knees. Had a nice little suv picked out and everything. It was the worst emotional roller coaster I have ever been on in a game. Ever. Best Wishes...O F

stewie21 · Feb 20, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>Originally posted by The General:
_Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 05:09 4th Qtr_

M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD

TB 35
IND 14

_Indianapolis Colts at 3:50 Overtime_

M.Vanderjagt 29 yard field goal is GOOD

IND 38
TB 35

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was at that game and it was my birthday and I had the Bucs BIG. The best 3 quarters of my life...and the worst 4th quarter of my life wrapped up in a single game...talk about emotional

MangoMan+ · Feb 20, 2004

The reason Kansas State went for two in that game versus Nebraska was the goal post was torn down by the students at that end and the rule states you must attempt the extra point from the same endzone you scored the touchdown. I also had Kansas State that day.

DavidMatthews · Feb 20, 2004

Baseball season 2003. The Cardinals were playing the Red Sox at Fenway. I took under 11 +115 on the total for a max bet.

Going into the bottom of the 9th inning, the score was 3-0 Cardinals.

Red Sox tie it 3-3 to go into extra innings. In the 11th inning, Cardinals score 2 runs to go up 5-3, but then the Red Sox tied it 5-5 in the bottom of the 11th.

Final score 8-7 Cardinals in the 13th or 15th inning.