Football bad beats: Moose Club Week 7
The term "Moose" has been used for years within the sports betting world to reference a bad beat. It originated within some of the old school gambling forums over 15 years ago and has stuck ever since.
Each Tuesday, I will highlight the 10 biggest mooses from the football weekend from my perspective (I can't see everything). If you had the misfortune of betting on four or more of the 10 I selected, you will be inducted into the "Sports Action Moose Club", get some gear and potentially win some cash (see the bottom of the article for details).
Let's dive into Week 7…
10. Colts +7
The Colts, who led 13-9 at the half, returned an interception for a touchdown to start the second half. Adam Vinatieri missed the extra point, but the Colts still led 19-9 a few minutes into the second half. After Ryan Succop kicked his fourth and fifth field goals of the night, the Titans cut the lead to 19-15 at the end of the third quarter.
It all went wrong for Colts +7 backers in the fourth quarter. It started with a Titans fourth down conversion in Colts' territory, which eventually led to a touchdown, giving Tennessee a 22-19 lead. The Colts actually answered back with a 52-yard Vinatieri field goal, which tied the game at 22 with 7:30 remaining.
Marcus Mariota then hit Taywan Taylor for a 53-yard touchdown, giving the Texans their largest lead of the game at 29-22. The Colts then drove down into the Titans' red zone but came up inches short on a fourth down attempt. Colts backers pushed because of a missed Vinatieri extra point, which is brutal. Oh wait…
The Colts had two timeouts left, which they used on the Titans' first and second down runs. On third and 5 with under a minute left, Derrick Henry broke a 72-yard touchdown run, giving the Texans a 36-22 win. Moooooose.
Ballgame.#ArmyBowl alum Derrick Henry ices it with a 72-yard tuddy.#TitanUppic.twitter.com/xL8rSylmgk
— #ArmyBowl (@ArmyAllAmerican) October 17, 2017
9. Memphis -3.5
Memphis kicked a field goal with 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to take a 30-19 lead (Navy had 19 points thanks to a safety).
On the next possession, Memphis forced a three and out and subsequently drove down the field into the red zone before losing a fumble. Navy then had a long 82-yard touchdown drive after converting numerous third and longs. The Mids also converted on the two-point conversion, cutting the lead to 31-28, which held up as the final score.
Memphis backers lost by a hook as a result of a safety, two-point conversion and late fumble in the red zone.
Check out the highlights below if you are a masochist and bet the Tigers.
8. Browns/Texans Under 46
This game appeared to be dead when the Texans led the Browns by a score of 33-3 in the fourth quarter. Cleveland simply could not move the ball all day long. However, Deshaun Watson threw a 55-yard pick six to Devin McCourty early in the fourth quarter to cut the Texans' lead down to 33-10. Under 46 backers started to get nervous, but then saw each team continue to trade punts until the final two minutes.
The Browns took over at midfield with under two minutes to go in regulation. Houston committed a 26-yard penalty, which placed the ball at the three yard line. Kevin Hogan threw his first touchdown pass of the day two plays later to put the game over in the final minute.
Now Jason McCourty gets on the board with an INT of his own, returning it 56 yards for a Cleveland Touchdown! #NFLKnights (@McCourtyTwins) pic.twitter.com/JJdjc0eYyl
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) October 15, 2017
7. Georgia Southern +7.5
Georgia Southern, who led 27-21 headed into the fourth quarter, stayed inside this number the entire game until the final few minutes.
New Mexico State took over possession up 28-27 with eight minutes remaining in regulation. They drove the ball 80 yards over eight minutes, converting on numerous third downs – including a third and 13 – to punch it in on third and goal from the 5 to take a 35-27 lead. Georgia Southern ended the game by turning it over on downs after they ran for 15 yards on fourth and 16.
? FB Highlights: @GeorgiaStateFB 47, @ULM_FB 37#FunBeltpic.twitter.com/9RBqyYJt9R
— #FunBelt (@SunBelt) October 15, 2017
6. Pitt +11.5
This game was actually tied at 14 at the half despite two 80-plus yard touchdowns from Nyheim Hines in the first half for NC State – via rush and punt return.
With under four minutes left in the fourth quarter, trailing 28-17, Pitt turned it over on downs in NC State territory. On the following NC State possession, Jaylen Samuels broke a 40-yard touchdown on third and 2 with two minutes remaining. Pitt exhausted all of their timeouts before this play; therefore, Pitt +11.5 bettors would have cashed with a stop or simple conversion that did not result in a touchdown.
NC State RB Nyheim Hines has 200+ all-purpose yards and 2 TDs. It’s the end of the first quarter #1Pack1Goalpic.twitter.com/ZOF3WEFRtq
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) October 14, 2017
5. Texas Tech +5.5
Texas Tech led by a score of 35-17 with five minutes left in the third quarter. That 18-point lead turned into an 11-point loss after West Virginia ended the game on a 29-0 run. The Mountaineers got outside of the number for the first time with three minutes left after scoring a touchdown to take a 46-35 lead. Texas Tech backers couldn't even get a meaningless touchdown to sneak in the back door, as they ended their last possession with an interception in West Virginia territory. The most shocking part of this moose was the fact that Texas Tech didn't score a single point over the last 24 game minutes after scoring at will over the first 36 minutes.
The ⛰ are alive with Country Roads! @WVUfootball ends on a 29-0 run and earns a 46-35 victory over No. 24 Texas Tech #Big12#WVUpic.twitter.com/bqgxMXCgBB
— Anjelica Trinone (@AnjelicaT_WVI) October 14, 2017
4. UTSA -2.5
Trailing 26-22, North Texas turned it over on downs in their own territory with 1:30 left in the fourth quarter.
UTSA took over on downs, leading by four, at the North Texas 45-yard line. North Texas used all three remaining timeouts after three UTSA runs, which only netted 7 total yards. Facing fourth and 3 at the North Texas 38-yard line with 1:15 remaining, UTSA decided to punt it away.
It was an outstanding punt that pinned North Texas inside of their own 5-yard line.
North Texas took over at their 2-yard line with 1:07 to go down four with no timeouts. They went 98 yards to win by three in the final seconds.
How? You can watch the debauchery yourself in the clip below.
3. Michigan/Indiana Under 46
Poor Indiana, who never seems to catch a break in these games.
Also, poor under backers, who seemed to have this under in the bag from the opening kick.
Michigan led 13-3 at the half and 13-10 at the end of the third quarter.
The Wolverines broke a long run with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, increasing their lead to 20-10. Game over with that defense, right?
Not so fast. With four minutes left in regulation, still trailing 20-10, Indiana returned a Michigan punt 50 yards down to the Michigan 20. After converting on a third and 10, the Hoosiers scored a touchdown on third and goal from the 8-yard line, cutting the lead to 20-17.
With three minutes remaining, Indiana attempted an onside kick, which they almost recovered. After a lengthy review, the refs determined that Michigan would take over at midfield.
The Indiana defense stood tall, forcing Harbaugh into a decision on fourth and 3 from the Indiana 45-yard line.
Michigan decided to punt, which only netted 15 yards, after a 10-yard penalty on the play.
With just over one minute remaining, Indiana took over at their own 30-yard line, trailing 20-17. They worked their way into field goal range, and Griffin Oakes nailed a 46-yard field goal as time expired to force overtime.
Under 46 backers still had an outside chance of cashing, but those hopes were short lived, as Michigan scored on the first play of overtime to take a 27-20 lead, which held up as the final score.
<blockquoteclass="twitter-video" data-lang="en">
What a run opening play of Overtime vsIndiana TOUCHDOWN MICHIGAN #MICHvsINDpic.twitter.com/dizKGykKBo
— ?Phenomenal One J? (@PhenomenalOneJ) October 14, 2017
2. Michigan State -4.5
Michigan State really dominated this game from the opening kick. Sparty led Minnesota 23-6 entering the fourth quarter, and it did not appear that the Gophers had any outside shot of a backdoor cover.
Minnesota did score early in the quarter to cut the lead to 23-13. However, Michigan State answered a minute later with a touchdown of their own, increasing their lead back to 17 points.
Trailing 30-13 with five and a half minutes left, Minnesota faced a fourth and 6 at the Michigan State 17-yard line. Fleck opted to go for it, despite needing three scores. Not only did Minnesota convert, but they scored a touchdown on the play to cut the lead to 30-20.
Minnesota then attempted an onside kick that Sparty ended up recovering, which seemed to end the chances of any backdoor.
On the first play of the Michigan State drive, LJ Scott rushed for 22 yards, setting up Sparty with a first and 10 at the Minnesota 24-yard line with under five minutes to go. A field goal ensures a Michigan State cover.
After a 2-yard loss and a penalty, Michigan State was forced into a 45-yard field goal attempt, which they missed.
Minnesota took over at their own 27-yard line, trailing by 10, with under three minutes left. After converting on a fourth down and a third and 16, the Gophers had the ball inside the Michigan State 10. You know what happens next.
Backdoor Betty.
1. Wyoming/Utah State Under 50
Wyoming, leading 26-23 with three minutes left, had first and 10 at midfield. Utah State had only one timeout remaining. Here is what happened from that point on.
- First and 10: 5-yard gain
- Utah State uses their last timeout
- Second and 5: 4-yard gain
- Third and 1: 0-yard gain
- Fourth and 1: Punt with 1:10 left
- Punt downed at the Utah State 7-yard line
- First and 10: Incomplete
- Second and 10: Sacked for a safety (28-23)
A safety with under a minute to go put the game over by a single point. Moose city.
A safety to seal a @wyo_football win sound familiar? Cowboys move to 2-0 in the Mountain West with this play! #OneWyoming#GoWyopic.twitter.com/u991sj3dCk
— Wyoming Cowboys (@wyoathletics) October 14, 2017
If you are a pro subscriber as of the previous weekend and bet on at least four of the designated "mooses," you could potentially win $50 if you are the first to show proof of your membership and tickets ($25 minimum bets).
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