[h=1]Worst gambling 'bad beats' of the weekend[/h]Rob Nelson
Rob Nelson of ESPN Stats & Information revisits the worst of the bad beats from the weekend's gambling action.
Note: Closing lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook and pick percentages are via Wunderdog sports.
[h=2]Auburn Tigers at Arkansas Razorbacks[/h]Closing line: Arkansas -7
The 59 percent of bettors that took Auburn +7 probably still can't believe how they lost. With just over a minute to go in the fourth quarter, Arkansas led by 3 and Auburn backers just needed to avoid overtime. Quarterback Sean White had other plans, leading his Tigers on a drive that set up the game-tying field goal byDaniel Carlson.
In overtime (the first one), Auburn took three plays to score a touchdown and needed to stop Arkansas to win. With the game on the line, the Razorbacks scored on fourth-and-goal to tie it up. Both teams traded touchdowns once again in the second overtime. In college football, teams must go for two after touchdowns starting in the third overtime. Auburn did just that, scoring a touchdown and converting the two-pointer to go up eight. But once again, Arkansas scored on fourth down, this time adding a two-point conversion to tie it up. On the first play in overtime No. 4, Brandon Allen connected with Drew Morgan for a touchdown, and then Allen hit Kody Walker on the two-pointer to go up eight. Uh oh. The worst-case scenario was in play for those who bet Auburn. Four plays later, the Tigers turned it over on downs and lost by eight.
After covering its first six games as an underdog under Gus Malzahn, Auburn has now failed to cover four straight times as a 'dog.
Final score: Arkansas 54, Auburn 46 in 4OT (Arkansas covers)
[h=2]Toledo Rockets at Massachusetts Minutemen[/h]Closing line: Toledo -14.5
Only 14 percent of bettors took UMass to cover against the nationally-ranked and undefeated Toledo Rockets. For most of the game, it looked like the exclusive group of folks who bet the Minutemen would be rewarded.
At halftime, UMass led 28-10 and if you added in the 14.5-point spread, the Minutemen were covering by 32.5 points. But a big problem for UMass in 2015 has been the third quarter. The Minutemen have been outscored in every third quarter this season and that continued against Toledo, which scored all 21 points in the third. Even though UMass trailed by three entering the fourth, it was still in good shape to cover -- until Toledo scored the first 17 points of the final quarter and took a 48-28 lead. UMass would answer this time, ending Toledo's 38-0 scoring run when Blake Frohnapfel found Tamjae Sharpe for a 3-yard score. The Minutemen were covering once again and just needed to avoid another Toledo score in the final four minutes. Unfortunately for UMass, there was no stopping Toledo in the second half. Jameson Vest's 29-yard field goal with 1:41 put the Rockets up 16, which would stand as the final margin.
Toledo's 41 points in the second half were one shy of the most by an FBS team after halftime this season.
Final score: Toledo 51, Massachusetts 35 (Toledo covers)
[h=2]Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan State Spartans[/h]Closing line: Michigan State -14.5
It's not often that a team losing by 26 when the line was +14.5, is considered a bad beat, but this was definitely a tough one if you took Indiana. If we have learned anything from Michigan State in the past two weeks, it's that we should expect the unexpected from the Spartans late in the game.
The Hoosiers -- trying to end a three-game skid and pull a huge road upset -- trailed by just 2 points entering the fourth quarter, and that was despite Indiana's kicker Griffin Oakes missing two extra points and a field goal. There must be something about Michigan State's special teams that brings out the worst in opposing kickers/punters. The Spartans added a field goal and the Hoosiers trailed by five late in the fourth. But much to the dismay of those who bet Indiana, the Spartans scored three touchdowns in the final 4:57 to make what was a close game throughout look like an easy blowout for Michigan State. It was the first time the Spartans covered as a favorite this season (previously 0-6).
Final score: Michigan State 52, Indiana 26 (MSU covers)
[h=2]Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at LSU Tigers[/h]Closing line: Over/under 64
In rainy conditions at Tiger Stadium, this game was on pace to go under the total all night. Despite a late touchdown by LSU right before halftime, the teams combined to score 21 in the first half, 43 shy of the closing over/under.
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</article>A flurry of points in the third quarter made things interesting, as LSU entered the fourth with a 34-13 lead. After each team scored a touchdown in the final quarter to bring the total to 61, LSU had the ball with just over four minutes left. With Leonard Fournette done for the night and the Tigers just trying to run out the clock, it looked like under 64 would be the winning side -- until LSU's true freshman running back, Derrius Guice, broke free for a 47-yard touchdown with less than two minutes left that sent the total over. It was the longest run of his young Tigers career, while those on the under had a long night of wondering "what if?" after this one.
Final score: LSU 48, Western Kentucky 20 (game goes over)
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Rob Nelson of ESPN Stats & Information revisits the worst of the bad beats from the weekend's gambling action.
Note: Closing lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook and pick percentages are via Wunderdog sports.
[h=2]Auburn Tigers at Arkansas Razorbacks[/h]Closing line: Arkansas -7
The 59 percent of bettors that took Auburn +7 probably still can't believe how they lost. With just over a minute to go in the fourth quarter, Arkansas led by 3 and Auburn backers just needed to avoid overtime. Quarterback Sean White had other plans, leading his Tigers on a drive that set up the game-tying field goal byDaniel Carlson.
In overtime (the first one), Auburn took three plays to score a touchdown and needed to stop Arkansas to win. With the game on the line, the Razorbacks scored on fourth-and-goal to tie it up. Both teams traded touchdowns once again in the second overtime. In college football, teams must go for two after touchdowns starting in the third overtime. Auburn did just that, scoring a touchdown and converting the two-pointer to go up eight. But once again, Arkansas scored on fourth down, this time adding a two-point conversion to tie it up. On the first play in overtime No. 4, Brandon Allen connected with Drew Morgan for a touchdown, and then Allen hit Kody Walker on the two-pointer to go up eight. Uh oh. The worst-case scenario was in play for those who bet Auburn. Four plays later, the Tigers turned it over on downs and lost by eight.
After covering its first six games as an underdog under Gus Malzahn, Auburn has now failed to cover four straight times as a 'dog.
Final score: Arkansas 54, Auburn 46 in 4OT (Arkansas covers)
[h=2]Toledo Rockets at Massachusetts Minutemen[/h]Closing line: Toledo -14.5
Only 14 percent of bettors took UMass to cover against the nationally-ranked and undefeated Toledo Rockets. For most of the game, it looked like the exclusive group of folks who bet the Minutemen would be rewarded.
At halftime, UMass led 28-10 and if you added in the 14.5-point spread, the Minutemen were covering by 32.5 points. But a big problem for UMass in 2015 has been the third quarter. The Minutemen have been outscored in every third quarter this season and that continued against Toledo, which scored all 21 points in the third. Even though UMass trailed by three entering the fourth, it was still in good shape to cover -- until Toledo scored the first 17 points of the final quarter and took a 48-28 lead. UMass would answer this time, ending Toledo's 38-0 scoring run when Blake Frohnapfel found Tamjae Sharpe for a 3-yard score. The Minutemen were covering once again and just needed to avoid another Toledo score in the final four minutes. Unfortunately for UMass, there was no stopping Toledo in the second half. Jameson Vest's 29-yard field goal with 1:41 put the Rockets up 16, which would stand as the final margin.
Toledo's 41 points in the second half were one shy of the most by an FBS team after halftime this season.
Final score: Toledo 51, Massachusetts 35 (Toledo covers)
[h=2]Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan State Spartans[/h]Closing line: Michigan State -14.5
It's not often that a team losing by 26 when the line was +14.5, is considered a bad beat, but this was definitely a tough one if you took Indiana. If we have learned anything from Michigan State in the past two weeks, it's that we should expect the unexpected from the Spartans late in the game.
The Hoosiers -- trying to end a three-game skid and pull a huge road upset -- trailed by just 2 points entering the fourth quarter, and that was despite Indiana's kicker Griffin Oakes missing two extra points and a field goal. There must be something about Michigan State's special teams that brings out the worst in opposing kickers/punters. The Spartans added a field goal and the Hoosiers trailed by five late in the fourth. But much to the dismay of those who bet Indiana, the Spartans scored three touchdowns in the final 4:57 to make what was a close game throughout look like an easy blowout for Michigan State. It was the first time the Spartans covered as a favorite this season (previously 0-6).
Final score: Michigan State 52, Indiana 26 (MSU covers)
[h=2]Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at LSU Tigers[/h]Closing line: Over/under 64
In rainy conditions at Tiger Stadium, this game was on pace to go under the total all night. Despite a late touchdown by LSU right before halftime, the teams combined to score 21 in the first half, 43 shy of the closing over/under.
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</article>A flurry of points in the third quarter made things interesting, as LSU entered the fourth with a 34-13 lead. After each team scored a touchdown in the final quarter to bring the total to 61, LSU had the ball with just over four minutes left. With Leonard Fournette done for the night and the Tigers just trying to run out the clock, it looked like under 64 would be the winning side -- until LSU's true freshman running back, Derrius Guice, broke free for a 47-yard touchdown with less than two minutes left that sent the total over. It was the longest run of his young Tigers career, while those on the under had a long night of wondering "what if?" after this one.
Final score: LSU 48, Western Kentucky 20 (game goes over)
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