Football Bad Beats: Moose Club Week 4

Football Bad Beats: Moose Club Week 4 article feature image
I can't believe pucks and hoops are right around the corner. We are just weeks away from losing unders on empty net goals with 1.9 seconds left and cursing +8 underdogs who foul down 7 with 0.6 seconds left.

We all should cherish this time of the year when we only have to deal with football bad beats because the winter "mooses" are on their way to the party.


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 4…


10. Air Force +3.5

Yes, I had Air Force. Yes, I'm still bitter.

Air Force jumped out to a 9-0 lead against a flat San Diego State team and maintained control of the game until a lightning delay midway through the second quarter.

At the time of the delay, Air Force still led 9-0, and had outgained the Aztecs 113-46 in total yards. After the delay, San Diego State immediately seized momentum and scored 14 straight points. Since the refs decided to cancel halftime as a result of the extended delay, Air Force didn't have an opportunity to stop the aforementioned momentum switch.

However, Air Force eventually recovered, and actually took two separate leads in the fourth quarter. San Diego State answered both times, and held on for a 27-23 win after Air Force threw an interception inside the Aztecs' 30-yard line in the final minute. Hooked.

San Diego State was penalized 0 times for 0 yards.

This was the first lightning delay at Air Force since 1993, also a loss to San Diego State.

There is something ironic about losing an Air Force bet as a result of a force in the air, especially considering they have lightning on their helmets.

LR


9. Arkansas +3

Arkansas does it again. Death, taxes, and Sumlin over Bielema. Arkansas blew five separate leads and never trailed at the end of any quarter in regulation. Texas A&M used a kick return for a touchdown and a game-tying field goal with eight seconds left to force overtime, where they would score a touchdown first, and then pick off Austin Allen to seal a 50-43 OT victory.

If only Arkansas could have failed on their 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter or started with the ball in OT.

This loss was even more painful if you played the GOY line, which got as high as Arkansas +7.

Like all Arkansas +3 tickets, Bret Bielema is toast.

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8. Western Michigan -37

Tough one to swallow if you played the favorite in this game, as the Broncos, who amassed over 525 yards of total offense, completely dominated from start to finish.

Wagner only accumulated 113 total yards, but managed to score 14 points off of two Western Michigan turnovers.

At the end of the first half, leading 21-0, Western Michigan lost a fumble at their own 30. Wagner capitalized with a touchdown in the final 30 seconds of the half, after benefiting from Western Michigan personal fouls on fourth and 18 and third and 8 to keep the drive alive.

Western Michigan still got outside the number in the second half, and took a 49-7 lead into the fourth quarter. On the first drive of the final quarter, Wagner recovered another Western Michigan fumble inside of the Broncos' 15-yard line, and capitalized with another touchdown to cut the lead to 49-14. Neither team scored again.

Western Michigan ended the game with knees inside of the Wagner 30 for a 49-14 final.

moose


7. Detroit Lions +3

I don't have to repeat what happened at the end of the game here, as you all have seen the controversial finish by now. The Lions were absolutely robbed of one last play from inside the 1-yard line to win the game, but the final eight seconds were run off by rule, ultimately because the refs incorrectly called the play a touchdown. The Falcons somehow escaped with a 30-26 victory due to a rule that will most likely be changed again in the offseason. This Lions response to Dean Blandino sums it up perfectly…

Clock would have run out? ?

Our offense covered 27 yards to get a snap off in 7 seconds at Minnesota last year. https://t.co/GbGlprZt9U

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 24, 2017


6. Hawaii +6.5

I have a feeling this won't be the last time Hawaii ends up on this list, especially once we start doing a similar exercise for college basketball bad beats. Losing a +6.5 dog in OT by the hook is just not a fun way to end the night.

Hawaii lost despite outgaining Wyoming by 181 yards (450-269) and having 13 more first downs (25-12). Wyoming tied the game at 14 late in the third quarter on a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The game was tied at 21 halfway through the fourth quarter after both teams traded touchdowns. The teams eventually headed to overtime after Wyoming missed a field goal with a few minutes remaining.

It would only take three plays in overtime, as Wyoming scored on their first play and then intercepted Hawaii on a tipped ball on the second play of the Bows drive. The Cowboys escaped with a 28-21 win.

If only Hawaii would have started with the ball first in overtime…

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5. Cardinals/Cowboys Over 46

The twists and turns of this total! At first, I felt bad for under backers since this game really got out of hand after a very slow start. However, it turned into a torturous end for those who bet the over 46. The Cardinals inexplicably refused to kick a field goal down by 11 points in the final minute. I just assumed the field goal kicking unit was coming onto the field on fourth down, but the Cardinals' staff, who made a number of questionable decisions in the fourth quarter, had other ideas.

….or they bet the under and executed flawlessly

Ladies and gentlemen, Bruce Arians….

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4. Ohio State -39.5

Absolutely brutal ride if you backed the Buckeyes.

Ohio State led 37-0 just six minutes into the second quarter, and appeared to be on their way to an easy cover.

The Buckeyes extended their lead to 40 points (54-14) with three minutes left in the third quarter. Ohio State ticket holders simply needed the Buckeyes to maintain this lead in order to get to the window.

Ohio State did everything possible to not cover in the fourth quarter. They threw a pick six in UNLV territory, then lost a fumble at the UNLV 1-yard line and eventually took knees inside the UNLV 15 with two minutes remaining. 54-21 final.

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3. South Alabama -5

Two weather delays. Two overtimes. Seven hours.

This game must have caused severe pain for anyone holding a South Alabama -5 ticket, especially since the line closed at -7.

Idaho had the ball trailing 20-13 with a little over a minute left in regulation, and drove 61 yards down the field for the game-tying touchdown with 13 seconds left.

Idaho received the ball first in overtime, and threw what looked to be a pick six, which would have given South Alabama the cover, but the play was blown dead.

Idaho eventually won in double OT by a final score of 29-23.

nearly the dumbest play ever just now by Idaho QB Matt Linehan in OT. the play was blown dead for a sack before he threw this ball pic.twitter.com/1T0twJA3g3

— Dr. Saturday (@YahooDrSaturday) September 24, 2017


2. Eagles/Giants Under 42

Under backers spent the majority of this game whistling without a worry in the world. The Eagles led 7-0 at the end of the first half and maintained a 14-0 at the end of the third quarter after the Giants turned it over on downs inside the Philly 20.

Under backers had 28 points to work with in the final quarter, which is an especially promising proposition since the Giants had only scored 13 total points over their first 11 quarters.

Then, Odell Beckham decided to piss all over the under, which died nine minutes into the fourth quarter. The Giants, who had only scored 13 points over the first 165 minutes, scored 21 points during a six-minute stretch in the fourth quarter. The Eagles would eventually win by a final score of 27-24 in a thriller.

Browns


1. CMU/Miami Ohio Over 50

The second time in four weeks these two teams have appeared on the list, which really shouldn't surprise anyone since they both play in the MAC. Miami Ohio led 28-14 at the half despite a blocked field goal and a missed chip shot field goal attempt in the first 30 minutes.

Over backers still only needed nine points in the second half, but they would only get three. Central Michigan turned it over inside the Miami Ohio 5-yard line twice in the final two quarters. The Chips also turned it over on another drive inside the Miami Ohio 40-yard line, and time expired as they were driving in Miami Ohio territory. 31-14 final.

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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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