[h=1]Stanford-UCLA among worst CFB '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]
Stanford Cardinal at UCLA Bruins
Closing line: Stanford -3
Whether or not you had action on this game, it will certainly be remembered as one of the worst bad beats anyone has seen. Less than 20 percent of the action was on UCLA, who closed at +3 after the line reached as high as 3.5.
UCLA led from the 18-second mark in the first quarter until less than 30 seconds were left, when Stanford's Ryan Burns hooked up with JJ Arcega-Whiteside for a go-ahead 8-yard touchdown. It marked the first touchdown of the game for the Cardinal. At this point, with 24 seconds left, UCLA backers who had +3 were looking at a push, and those who had +3.5 were in great shape. But on the final snap of the game -- one play after Kenneth Walker III almost hauled in a deep pass that would have put the Bruins in field goal range -- Josh Rosen was strip-sacked by Joey Alfieri. The ball seemingly bounced right into the gut of Stanford's Solomon Thomas, who returned the fumble 42 yards for a touchdown.
This was the eighth time the Cardinal covered during their current run of nine straight outright wins over the Bruins.
Final score: Stanford 22, UCLA 13 (Stanford covers)
Kent State Golden Flashes at Alabama Crimson Tide
Closing over/under: 49
Of all the totals to bet on Saturday, the over in this game had the second-highest percentage of action (83 percent). Those bettors appeared to have an easy winner, as Alabama led 41-0 at halftime.
The Crimson Tide added another touchdown in the third quarter, making the score 48-0 with 21:17 left in the game. It looked like another score was coming on Alabama's next possession when it drove down to the Kent State 24-yard line. But instead of kicking a field goal on fourth down, Nick Saban elected to go for it, and B.J. Emmons was stuffed for a 2-yard loss. On the following Kent State drive, it drove down inside the Alabama 10-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, quarterback George Bollas ran it in from 7 yards out, and those on the over rejoiced. But in a questionable call, the officials overturned the touchdown, marking the ball at the 1-yard line and giving it back to Alabama.
That marked the last scoring opportunity for either team and the total finished under by a single point.
Final score: Alabama 48, Kent State 0 (game goes under)
California Golden Bears at Arizona State Sun Devils
Closing line: Arizona State -3.5, over/under 85
If you took the under or California plus the points, you're wishing you laid off that late-night action on Saturday.
At halftime, Cal led 24-10 as 3.5-point underdogs, while the total was 51 points below the closing over/under of 85. With less than 10 minutes left, the Golden Bears led 27-20, but then the fireworks began. Arizona State scored 31 points in the final 9:44, the most fourth-quarter points by an FBS team in the last two seasons. The play that those who took Cal (and/or the under) won't soon forget came with less than a minute left after the Golden Bears scored to cut the Sun Devils' lead to 44-41 . Arizona State's DJ Calhoun scooped and scored on Cal's onside kick attempt to push the total over and seal the cover for ASU.
Final score: Arizona State 51, California 41 (Arizona State covers/game goes over)
Washington Huskies at Arizona Wildcats
Closing over/under: 58.5
It was quite the Saturday night in the Pac-12, with this game providing yet another improbable result for bettors. Even with Arizona's starting quarterback and running back out, just 22 percent of the action was on the under, which looked great late in the fourth quarter.
Washington led 21-14 with less than five minutes left, 23.5 points below the closing over/under. At this point, overtime was the only way those on the under would lose. The teams traded touchdowns to make it 28-21 Washington, and Arizona got one last chance. Wildcats quarterback Brandon Dawkinsconnected with Josh Kern for a 3-yard score with 17 seconds left. With the score 28-27, Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez elected to kick the extra point instead of going for the win as 16.5-point underdogs. In overtime, Washington scored a touchdown to push the total over, and stopped Arizona to win the game.
Rich Rod's decision ended up costing both his team and those on the under.
Final score: Washington 35, Arizona 28 in OT (game goes over)
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]
Stanford Cardinal at UCLA Bruins
Closing line: Stanford -3
Whether or not you had action on this game, it will certainly be remembered as one of the worst bad beats anyone has seen. Less than 20 percent of the action was on UCLA, who closed at +3 after the line reached as high as 3.5.
UCLA led from the 18-second mark in the first quarter until less than 30 seconds were left, when Stanford's Ryan Burns hooked up with JJ Arcega-Whiteside for a go-ahead 8-yard touchdown. It marked the first touchdown of the game for the Cardinal. At this point, with 24 seconds left, UCLA backers who had +3 were looking at a push, and those who had +3.5 were in great shape. But on the final snap of the game -- one play after Kenneth Walker III almost hauled in a deep pass that would have put the Bruins in field goal range -- Josh Rosen was strip-sacked by Joey Alfieri. The ball seemingly bounced right into the gut of Stanford's Solomon Thomas, who returned the fumble 42 yards for a touchdown.
This was the eighth time the Cardinal covered during their current run of nine straight outright wins over the Bruins.
Final score: Stanford 22, UCLA 13 (Stanford covers)
Kent State Golden Flashes at Alabama Crimson Tide
Closing over/under: 49
Of all the totals to bet on Saturday, the over in this game had the second-highest percentage of action (83 percent). Those bettors appeared to have an easy winner, as Alabama led 41-0 at halftime.
The Crimson Tide added another touchdown in the third quarter, making the score 48-0 with 21:17 left in the game. It looked like another score was coming on Alabama's next possession when it drove down to the Kent State 24-yard line. But instead of kicking a field goal on fourth down, Nick Saban elected to go for it, and B.J. Emmons was stuffed for a 2-yard loss. On the following Kent State drive, it drove down inside the Alabama 10-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, quarterback George Bollas ran it in from 7 yards out, and those on the over rejoiced. But in a questionable call, the officials overturned the touchdown, marking the ball at the 1-yard line and giving it back to Alabama.
That marked the last scoring opportunity for either team and the total finished under by a single point.
Final score: Alabama 48, Kent State 0 (game goes under)
California Golden Bears at Arizona State Sun Devils
Closing line: Arizona State -3.5, over/under 85
If you took the under or California plus the points, you're wishing you laid off that late-night action on Saturday.
At halftime, Cal led 24-10 as 3.5-point underdogs, while the total was 51 points below the closing over/under of 85. With less than 10 minutes left, the Golden Bears led 27-20, but then the fireworks began. Arizona State scored 31 points in the final 9:44, the most fourth-quarter points by an FBS team in the last two seasons. The play that those who took Cal (and/or the under) won't soon forget came with less than a minute left after the Golden Bears scored to cut the Sun Devils' lead to 44-41 . Arizona State's DJ Calhoun scooped and scored on Cal's onside kick attempt to push the total over and seal the cover for ASU.
Final score: Arizona State 51, California 41 (Arizona State covers/game goes over)
Washington Huskies at Arizona Wildcats
Closing over/under: 58.5
It was quite the Saturday night in the Pac-12, with this game providing yet another improbable result for bettors. Even with Arizona's starting quarterback and running back out, just 22 percent of the action was on the under, which looked great late in the fourth quarter.
Washington led 21-14 with less than five minutes left, 23.5 points below the closing over/under. At this point, overtime was the only way those on the under would lose. The teams traded touchdowns to make it 28-21 Washington, and Arizona got one last chance. Wildcats quarterback Brandon Dawkinsconnected with Josh Kern for a 3-yard score with 17 seconds left. With the score 28-27, Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez elected to kick the extra point instead of going for the win as 16.5-point underdogs. In overtime, Washington scored a touchdown to push the total over, and stopped Arizona to win the game.
Rich Rod's decision ended up costing both his team and those on the under.
Final score: Washington 35, Arizona 28 in OT (game goes over)
