[h=1]Virginia Tech's late charge versus Clemson among '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]
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Closing line: Western Kentucky -12
These teams continue to light up the scoreboard when they meet. Back in October, Louisiana Tech held off Western Kentucky, winning 55-52. The rematch featured 102 combined points and a bad beat for bettors who took the Bulldogs.
Things were looking good for those who took the underdog, as Louisiana Tech took a 41-38 lead on a Kam McKnight one-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Unfortunately for the 42 percent who bet the Bulldogs, they wouldn't find the end zone again. With a minute to go in the fourth, Louisiana Tech trailed 51-44 and needed to stop Western Kentucky on a third-and-four from the Bulldogs 13-yard line. They couldn't get the stop, as Anthony Wales's 13-yard touchdown run covered the spread for the Hilltoppers.
Final score: Western Kentucky 58, Louisiana Tech 44 (Western Kentucky covers)
New Mexico State Aggies at South Alabama Jaguars
Closing line: Over/under 59
Of the 14 FBS games played on Saturday, five were Sun Belt matchups. The 48 percent of bettors who took the under in this game ended up not too thrilled about their lack of betting options.
The game was tied at 14 entering the fourth quarter, with the total 31 points short of the closing over/under. The teams would combine for five touchdowns in the final 15 minutes, capped off by a 35-yard touchdown catch by New Mexico State's Johnathan Boone with 25 seconds left. That score not only cost those on the under, but gave the Aggies a backdoor cover (closed as 11.5-point underdogs).
Final score: South Alabama 35, New Mexico State 28 (Game goes over)
Clemson Tigers vs Virginia Tech Hokies
Closing line: Clemson -11
The 59 percent of bettors who took Clemson had to feel good about their chances near the end of the third quarter.
The Tigers led 35-14 and their offense seemingly couldn't be stopped. But Virginia Tech wouldn't go down easily, scoring touchdowns on each of its next three possessions. After the Hokies cut the Clemson lead down to 42-35, the Tigers got the ball back with 5:43 left and a chance to cover the spread. But Deshaun Watson and company went backwards, and ended up punting on fourth-and-17. There would be no more scores, as those on Clemson are still wondering how Virginia Tech scored 21 of the last 28 points.
Final score: Clemson 42, Virginia Tech 35 (Virginia Tech covers)
San Diego Toreros at North Dakota State Bison
Closing line: Over/under 47
With a small slate of FBS games this past weekend, some looked to the FCS playoffs for some college football betting. Those who took the under in this game are wishing they had avoided the action.
The five-time defending FCS champions led from start to finish and ended up covering the 25.5-point spread. But it was the last score by North Dakota State that cost bettors on the under. Leading 38-7 (with the total two points under the closing O/U), the Bison had the ball and were just trying to run out the clock. But with less than 30 seconds left, North Dakota State's Bruce Anderson broke free for a 61-yard touchdown that pushed the total over.
Final score: North Dakota State 45, San Diego 7 (Game goes over)
[h=2]Sunday[/h]
Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals
Closing line: Cardinals -2.5, Over/under 48.5
Entering this game, the Redskins had covered in nine of their last 11 games when listed as an underdog. On the other hand, the total had gone under in 10 straight Arizona home games.
Both trends looked to be right again, as bettors on the Redskins and/or the under were in good shape. The Cardinals were a couple of first downs away from being able to run out the clock, as they faced a second-and-10 at the Washington 42-yard line with 2:03 left. Knowing the clock would stop at the two-minute warning, Carson Palmer heaved a passed into double coverage that was somehow caught by J.J. Nelson for a touchdown. Just like that, the Cardinals -2.5 and the over 48.5 were winning bets.
Final score: Cardinals 31, Redskins 23 (Cardinals cover and 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]
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Closing line: Western Kentucky -12
These teams continue to light up the scoreboard when they meet. Back in October, Louisiana Tech held off Western Kentucky, winning 55-52. The rematch featured 102 combined points and a bad beat for bettors who took the Bulldogs.
Things were looking good for those who took the underdog, as Louisiana Tech took a 41-38 lead on a Kam McKnight one-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Unfortunately for the 42 percent who bet the Bulldogs, they wouldn't find the end zone again. With a minute to go in the fourth, Louisiana Tech trailed 51-44 and needed to stop Western Kentucky on a third-and-four from the Bulldogs 13-yard line. They couldn't get the stop, as Anthony Wales's 13-yard touchdown run covered the spread for the Hilltoppers.
Final score: Western Kentucky 58, Louisiana Tech 44 (Western Kentucky covers)
New Mexico State Aggies at South Alabama Jaguars
Closing line: Over/under 59
Of the 14 FBS games played on Saturday, five were Sun Belt matchups. The 48 percent of bettors who took the under in this game ended up not too thrilled about their lack of betting options.
The game was tied at 14 entering the fourth quarter, with the total 31 points short of the closing over/under. The teams would combine for five touchdowns in the final 15 minutes, capped off by a 35-yard touchdown catch by New Mexico State's Johnathan Boone with 25 seconds left. That score not only cost those on the under, but gave the Aggies a backdoor cover (closed as 11.5-point underdogs).
Final score: South Alabama 35, New Mexico State 28 (Game goes over)
Clemson Tigers vs Virginia Tech Hokies
Closing line: Clemson -11
The 59 percent of bettors who took Clemson had to feel good about their chances near the end of the third quarter.
The Tigers led 35-14 and their offense seemingly couldn't be stopped. But Virginia Tech wouldn't go down easily, scoring touchdowns on each of its next three possessions. After the Hokies cut the Clemson lead down to 42-35, the Tigers got the ball back with 5:43 left and a chance to cover the spread. But Deshaun Watson and company went backwards, and ended up punting on fourth-and-17. There would be no more scores, as those on Clemson are still wondering how Virginia Tech scored 21 of the last 28 points.
Final score: Clemson 42, Virginia Tech 35 (Virginia Tech covers)
San Diego Toreros at North Dakota State Bison
Closing line: Over/under 47
With a small slate of FBS games this past weekend, some looked to the FCS playoffs for some college football betting. Those who took the under in this game are wishing they had avoided the action.
The five-time defending FCS champions led from start to finish and ended up covering the 25.5-point spread. But it was the last score by North Dakota State that cost bettors on the under. Leading 38-7 (with the total two points under the closing O/U), the Bison had the ball and were just trying to run out the clock. But with less than 30 seconds left, North Dakota State's Bruce Anderson broke free for a 61-yard touchdown that pushed the total over.
Final score: North Dakota State 45, San Diego 7 (Game goes over)
[h=2]Sunday[/h]
Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals
Closing line: Cardinals -2.5, Over/under 48.5
Entering this game, the Redskins had covered in nine of their last 11 games when listed as an underdog. On the other hand, the total had gone under in 10 straight Arizona home games.
Both trends looked to be right again, as bettors on the Redskins and/or the under were in good shape. The Cardinals were a couple of first downs away from being able to run out the clock, as they faced a second-and-10 at the Washington 42-yard line with 2:03 left. Knowing the clock would stop at the two-minute warning, Carson Palmer heaved a passed into double coverage that was somehow caught by J.J. Nelson for a touchdown. Just like that, the Cardinals -2.5 and the over 48.5 were winning bets.
Final score: Cardinals 31, Redskins 23 (Cardinals cover and game goes over)
