Bad Beats #12
Close only counts in horseshoes. If you’re betting on sports, being close is just a bad beat. Maybe you missed the over by a point. Maybe your team doesn’t cover the spread. Maybe the underdog actually won the game. Each week produces new sports betting upsets.
Here’s a look at this week’s bad beats:
1. NFL – Washington Football Team at Philadelphia Eagles Moneyline (1/3/21)
Washington clinched the NFC East for the first time since 2015 on Sunday night. And with that win, the New York Giants’ 23-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys meant absolutely nothing. If the Giants wanted to make it to the playoffs, the Philadelphia Eagles would have needed to defeat Washington.
The Eagles were out of playoff contention, but it almost seemed like Eagles head coach Doug Pederson wanted Washington to win just to spite the Giants. In the fourth quarter, Pederson benched starting quarterback Jalen Hurts, and instead put in the third string quarterback, Nate Sudfeld.
Washington led 17-14 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. There was plenty of time for the Eagles to make a move. However, with 7:42 left in the game, Washington’s Dustin Hopkins made a 42-yard field goal. Washington won the game 20-14. Bad beat for those who bet on the Eagles moneyline at +240. Also, tough luck for Giants fans (myself included), as the Giants did not advance to the playoffs due to this Eagles loss.
2. NFL – Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos Moneyline (1/3/21)
What an unfortunate ending for the Denver Broncos. With 6:29 left in the game, Broncos quarterback Drew Lock connected with Jerry Jeudy for a 92-yard touchdown. The Broncos took a 31-24 lead, and it seemed like they had control of the game. Or so you thought. With 24 seconds left in the game, Josh Jacobs ran it in for a Raiders touchdown. If the Raiders had gone for an extra point, the game would have been tied at 31. So naturally, the Raiders decided to go for a two-point conversion…and it was successful.
The Broncos did almost win, and well that would have been a great thing for those who bet on the Broncos moneyline at +120. But unfortunately, that did not happen. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 32-31. One. Point. Bad. Beat.
3. College Football Rose Bowl – Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Alabama Crimson Tide (1/1/21)
Roll Tide. I mean I honestly thought that Alabama would easily cover the 19-point spread against Notre Dame. So, try not to be too hard on yourself with this one. I know, it’s easier said than done. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Alabama was up 31-7, leading by 24 points. If the game ended there, they would have covered. But of course, the team that wasn’t going to win had to go ahead and make things difficult for those who put money on Bama to cover.
With 56 seconds left, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book ran it in for a 1-yard touchdown. After the successful extra point, Alabama was up 31-14, and that was the final score. Unfortunately, the Crimson Tide only led by 17 points and did not cover the 19-point spread. Sad day for Bama spread bettors, but shoutout to those Notre Dame +19 bettors.
4. College Football Peach Bowl – Georgia Bulldogs at Cincinnati Bearcats (1/1/21)
Yikes. I know. I know what I said. I said I liked Cincinnati on the moneyline in this one, as I am sure many other people did as well. Cincy was off to a hot start. I was really hopeful that they would upset the Bulldogs and take home the W. Hope just wasn’t enough.
At the end of the third quarter, the Bearcats were up 21-10. But the fourth quarter was all Georgia. At the beginning of the fourth, Zamir White ran it in for a 9-yard touchdown, which left the Bulldogs trailing by only five points. With 6:43 left in the game, Georgia’s Jake Podlesny kicked a 32-yard field goal, and just like that the Bulldogs were only down two.
The end of the game was hectic. The Bulldogs got possession again, and they decided that Podlesny would go for a 53-yard field goal. He made the field goal with three seconds left, and Georgia took the lead 22-21. Prior to this field goal, Podlesny’s longest field goal distance was 51 yards. Cincinnati got the ball back with only three seconds remaining, and to top it all off, Georgia scored a safety after sacking Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder in the end zone. Georgia defeated Cincinnati 24-21, and the Cincinnati +280 moneyline bettors were let down terribly.
