Written By @AllStaples
“Better an ounce of luck than a pound of gold.” -Yiddish Proverb
Especially when that ounce of luck wins you a pot of gold
- The Beat: Boise State versus Oregon; UNDER 31.5 First Half
The Bad: Boise State 24, Oregon 14
The Takeaway: The Las Vegas Bowl was an opportunity for the people of Nevada to see a Bad Beat in person. This was an odd game featuring 7 turnovers and 3 defensive touchdowns … in the first half alone!
With 53 seconds to play in the first half, Boise State was leading comfortably 24-0 and seemed poised for another score at the Oregon 10-yard line. The under seemed likely to cash, especially if you got the hook at Betonline.Ag. Even with another Bronco touchdown, you’d still squeak out a victory. Then the infamous Boise Statue of Liberty play was pulled out and went awry after a fumble and return touchdown. Still in good shape, still under after the fumble-six. Besides, the Broncos would now take a knee and go into the locker room up 24-7, right? Nope. A Brett Rypien to Cedrick Wilson 65-yard pass set up the Broncos at the Oregon 7 with 7 seconds remaining. The under seemed unlikely. But the Broncos didn’t kick the field goal, good news for under bettors. And the better news, was the next Rypien pass was picked off in the end zone. Here’s what the final 60 seconds looked like in all of its bad beat glory:
Yes, the team winning 24-0 surrendered two defensive touchdowns in the final 37 seconds of the half. Thanks @Acnelson93 for finding this Bad Beat.
[ Tune into Today’s Bet The Board NFL Podcast! ]
- The Beat: Jets at Saints UNDER 48 through 46.5
The Bad: Saints 31, Jets 19
The Takeaway: The Jets were, as usual, more plucky than talented even with Bryce Petty at quarterback. The Saints were the Saints – flashes of brilliance on offense and solid on defense. While the Saints outgained the Jets by an average of 2 yards every offensive play, a Drew Brees interception deep in Saint’s territory and a pair of Brandon Coleman fumbles in Jets territory kept the game close and the score low.
In the fourth quarter, the Saints led 17-13 when a Michael Thomas touchdown reception gave the Saints breathing room at 24-13. The game felt destined for an under. With less than two minutes to play, a Jet touchdown followed by a failed 2-point conversion trimmed the Saints lead to 24-19. The Jets almost recovered the onside kick, did not, and New Orleans seemed happy to run out the clock. And then Mark Ingram won this week’s Derrick Henry Award for Ruining Gambling:
[ BetOnline.Ag Bonus Codes: 75BTB first time deposit (75% Bonus); 50BTB for reloads (50% Bonus) ]
3. The Beat: Raiders +3 vs. Dallas
The Bad: Cowboys 20, Raiders 17
The Takeaway: The winning quarterback, Dak Prescott, threw for only 204 yards with 2 interceptions and no touchdowns. Derek Carr, the losing quarterback, threw for a mere 171 yards but did have two touchdowns and a key pass interference penalty late in the game. The Cowboys, though, rushed the ball well and maintained a time of possession edge but this game was about the Raiders inability to stop being the Raiders. It must be exhausting.
Let’s review the Oakland effort: they missed a 39-yard field goal prior to the half. On the second half kickoff, a 100-yard Cordarrelle Patterson touchdown return was nullified due to a holding penalty. On the night, the Raiders committed 14 penalties for a total of 105 yards. Despite themselves, they trailed by only a field goal late in the fourth. Facing 4th down, Derek Carr’s desperation heave fell incomplete to Michael Crabtree. However, pass interference was rightly called and the penalty moved the ball deep in Cowboy territory. The Raiders seemed ready to tie the game and, maybe, just win it. And then this happened:
Sometimes, a push is a Bad Beat.
If you see a Bad Beat unfold, let me know. I’m @AllStaples on Twitter. See you next week!
