If you’ve ever watched an NFL game at a sportsbook, you’ve seen the reaction – half the room cheers and the other half screams in exasperation after a certain play.
Welcome to the world of crazy wins and bad beats in sports betting.
Each week we’ll recap the games that had some people cashing in and others tearing up their tickets in frustration. To paraphrase famed broadcaster Al Michaels, “these plays are important to some.”
Let’s dive into this week’s craziness!
Underdog Colts overtake Chiefs
The Chiefs led the Colts (+4.5 at FOX Bet) 17-13 midway through the fourth quarter. Indianapolis had third-and-6 from its own 39 when Matt Ryan was sacked for an 8-yard loss, but Kansas City was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving the Colts a first down at their 46.
Seven plays later, Jelani Woods caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Ryan with 24 seconds left to give the Colts a three-point lead.
The Chiefs, aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, reached the Colts’ 46 with 8 seconds left, but Patrick Mahomes threw an interception on the final play.
The Colts pulled away and won as +175 moneyline underdogs.
Buffalo came into this game undefeated and as 4.5-point favorites at FOX Bet. The play went back and forth until the very last snap and became an instant classic.
Things got lopsided at the end for Miami. With the Dolphins leading 21-17 with less than two minutes remaining, the Fins suffered a “butt punt”.
The Bills then got the ball back trailing 21-19, but the clock ran out on Josh Allen & Co. before they could even attempt a game-winning field goal — also causing a meltdown of epic proportions by Buffalo offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey.
Miami won outright +175 moneyline underdogs and gave Buffalo its first L of the season.
Scoreless fourth quarter sinks players
The Bengals led the Jets 27-12 late in the third quarter with an over/under (O/U) of 45.5, but the teams were scoreless in the final period.
The Jets got to the Bengals’ 14 early in the final period but didn’t score. Cincinnati missed a 41-yard field-goal attempt (NFL kickers make that kick more than 80% of the time) with 2:15 left. The Jets drove to the Bengals’ 17 with a minute left, but threw an interception near the goal line, breaking the hearts of players holding over tickets.
Wild betting finish in the Steelers-Browns game
– O/O for total points started at 40.5 in some sportsbooks. Trailing 22-17 (39 total), Pittsburgh took over at its own 4-yard line on a punt with 9 seconds left. Then it happened. A short end, a lateral, a fumble and recovery in the end zone after time expired made the final score 29-17.
– The pregame over/under (O/U) total for Steelers quarterback Mitchell Trubisky on Thursday against the Browns was 207.5 yards. Trubisky completed 20-for-32 passes (62.5%) for … 207 yards.
– Caesars Sports had Trubisky’s O/U for interceptions thrown during the game at 0.5. Max Meyer of Caesars Sports tweeted that 100% of bets at Caesars were over. Trubisky did not throw an interception. That means Trubisky will likely be considered as an unofficial player by Caesars Sports.
– Trubisky’s prop bet for completions was 19.5. That short finish on the last play mentioned above made winners not only for those who bet on the passing yards, but also for the players who backed up against his completions.
– O/U for Steelers receiver Chase Claypool’s receiving yards was 35.5. Claypool had 41 receiving yards before the final play, but was credited with a 6-yard loss to finish with 35 yards.
– The last touchdown also had a huge impact on DFS contests:
The Ducks backers, who put up the seven points, suffered a bad beat at the end of the game.
No. 15 Oregon trailed Washington State 34-22 midway through the fourth quarter before rallying for a 44-41 victory. Oregon scored 22 unanswered points in a 2:47 span late in the fourth quarter to take a 44-34 lead with 1:01 left. But the Cougars kept fighting and marched 75 yards in seven plays, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run with one second left as the WSU Rams cashed in with the seven points.
Stay tuned for more of the crazy!
And if you want to join in on the fun (or madness), head over to FOX Bet for all your bets.
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