Bad Beats #9
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. This week’s bad beats were so outstandingly rough that instead of the usual four, there are only three.
Here’s a look at this week’s bad beats:
1. NFL – Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns Spread (12/14/20)
If you were up late on Monday night, you got to witness arguably one of the craziest endings of an NFL game. The Baltimore Ravens were up 45-42 with two seconds left in the game after a 55-yard field goal from Justin Tucker. The Browns were a 3-point underdog prior to kickoff. So, for Browns spread bettors, this score would have been just fine, resulting in a “push.” With two seconds left on the clock, the Browns were able to run a final play. However, they would have been better off not running it. The Browns tried running a few laterals, but it did not end well for them. After throwing a dizzying number of laterals, Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry was tackled in his own end zone, resulting in a safety.
Two more points for the Ravens on the scoreboard, and a very bad beat for Browns +3 bettors. A potential “push” to a loss. Ravens spread bettors got the win and the Ravens defeated the Browns 47-42.
2. College Football – Western Michigan Broncos at Ball State Cardinals ML and Spread (12/12/20)
The weekend was full of laterals. The Western Michigan Broncos were down 30-27 with six seconds left in the game. What happened next? Western Michigan threw lateral passes for quite a long time. After a while of that, the ball hit the deck and Ball State thought they recovered the Ball. Players rushed the field, but they did not realize that the ball was still live. Western Michigan fought hard until the end, weaving their way through players who rushed the field and into the end zone.
Although this appeared to be a Western Michigan touchdown, it was unfortunately overturned due to an illegal forward pass. Western Michigan was -130 on the moneyline and 2.5-point favorites. Prior to this incredible play, Ball State kicked a field goal with 29 seconds left. Ball State covered and won the game 30-27. What a bad beat for the Western Michigan spread and moneyline bettors. However, the Broncos and Broncos bettors will be rewatching and reliving this amazing play for a long while.
3. College Football – USC Trojans at UCLA Bruins Spread (12/12/20)
The UCLA Bruins almost upset No. 16 USC. The Trojans were a 3.5-point favorite prior to Saturday’s kickoff. With 52 seconds left in the game, the Bruins went up 38-36 after UCLA’s Nicholas Barr-Mira made a 43-yard field goal. Like I always say, it’s not over until it’s over. In the final 16 seconds, USC quarterback Kedon Slovis passed it to Amon-Ra St. Brown for an 8-yard touchdown.
USC went up 43-38, ruining UCLA’s chance of winning and covering. The Trojans bounced back from an 18-point deficit in the third quarter to an outstanding win. Shoutout to those USC spread bettors and USC’s very own Kedon Slovis, who threw five touchdowns. USC stays undefeated at 5-0 this season.
