College Football Bad Beats Roundup, Week 7: When the Backdoor Slams Shut

It's OK, folks. We all had Vanderbilt, too.

There's nothing quite like getting a backdoor cover, only to have it snatched away. That's what happened to most Commodores backers in the early slate on Saturday.

Here are some of the worst betting beats from college football Week 7. If we missed any, let us know on Twitter @ActionNetworkHQ.

Vanderbilt Spread vs. Florida

• The Line: Vanderbilt +7 to +9.5
• The Score: Florida 34, Vanderbilt 27
• Time Left: 37 seconds
• The Final Score: Florida 37, Vanderbilt 27

Vanderbilt bettors were dealt a big break with four minutes left, when Commodores coach Derek Mason elected to kick a 53-yard field goal while down 10 instead of going for it on fourth down. That made the score 34-27.

The Gators got the ball back, killed a bunch of clock, and found themselves at fourth-and-2 from the Vandy 26-yard line with less than a minute to play thanks to a few big running plays. Evan McPherson kicked a 43-yard field goal to get inside the number.

This line had been moving all Saturday morning, ranging from Florida -7 to -10. But it closed at -9.5. Vandy led 21-13 at halftime, too.

Missouri Spread vs. Alabama

• The Line: Missouri +28.5
• The Score: Alabama 39, Missouri 10
• Time Left: 6 minutes
• The Final Score: Alabama 39, Missouri 10

When you're playing the 2018 Alabama Crimson Tide, you can only hope to cover. You cannot win. So why not take the moral victory and send your backers home happy? (Kidding.)

Missouri had other ideas. After taking a safety and then surrendering a touchdown that got Alabama outside the number, the Tigers got all the way down to the Tide 7-yard line in the fourth quarter. But they elected to go for it on fourth-and-4 from the 8 instead of attempting a field goal, and Alabama intercepted the pass in the end zone.

Eastern Michigan Team Total vs. Toledo

• The Line: 30.5
• The Score: Eastern Michigan 28, Toledo 3
• Time Left: Entire second half
• The Final Score: Eastern Michigan 28, Toledo 26

Thankfully for EMU backers, the Eagles covered -1.5. But for those select few who had the team total: Heartbreak.

Eastern Michigan didn't score a point in a second half "highlighted" by a missed 32-yard field-goal attempt and four drives that consumed a collective 10 minutes and ended in punts.

In the fourth quarter, EMU had 22 yards on five possessions.

Virginia Second Half vs. Miami

• The Line: Virginia +4
• The Score: Virginia 16, Miami 13
• Time Left: 30 seconds
• The Final Score: Virginia 16, Miami 13

OK, stick with me. Virginia kicked a short field goal to go up 19-13 with about 30 seconds left. Doesn't matter, right? UVA was an underdog.

That kick would have made the second half score 7-6 in favor of Miami, giving anyone who bet UVA +4 on the second line a cover.

Instead, the Hurricanes roughed the kicker on the made field goal, resulting in a first down inside the 10-yard line. The score remained 16-13 and the Wahoos took a knee to run out the clock, pushing the second half spread since Miami won the half 7-3.