Football Bad Beats: Moose Club Week 6
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 6…
10. Cowboys -2
The Cowboys, a team built to play from ahead, took a two-touchdown lead in the first half. The Packers came all the way back, and took the lead on a pick six in the fourth quarter. Dallas responded with a Dak Prescott touchdown run to take a three-point lead with one minute left. The Cowboys should have used more clock, because Aaaron Rodgers took the Pack down the field for the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds left to steal a 35-31 win in Jerry World.
9. Indiana -27.5
Those who bet the favorite felt extremely confident when Indiana took a 24-0 lead into the half; the Hoosiers simply dominated the first 30 minutes. Indiana had first and goal early in the second half but settled for a field goal, which pushed their lead to 27-0 with 7:30 left. No team would score again, as the game would grind to a halt. The Hoosiers did have a chance for the cover in the fourth quarter, but elected to punt from the Charleston Southern 32-yard line. If you bet the underdog, like I did, you somehow got to the window despite zero passing yards on 0-10 passing from the Bucs.
8. Florida State +3.5
The Seminoles led 3-0 at the half in a defensive slugfest. The game opened up a little more in the second half. Miami took a 10-3 lead after a 20-yard touchdown drive set up by a long punt return, and added another seven in the fourth quarter. However, Florida State responded with 17 fourth quarter points to take a 20-17 lead with under 1:30 to go. Underdog backers had to feel safe with the Seminoles' defense on their side, but Miami drove 75 yards down the field for the game-winning touchdown from 20 yards out with six seconds remaining. En route to the game-winning touchdown that gave Miami a 24-20 victory, the Hurricanes also converted on two separate third and longs.
7. Colts/49ers Under 44
Two field goals in the final minute of the first half put this game at 6-6, which is right where under backers wanted to be with these two horrible teams. Under backers felt even better with the game still tied at six halfway through the third quarter. Indy would score 10 points over the final seven minutes of the third to take a 16-6 lead into the fourth quarter. Under backers still had 21 points of cushion to get to the window, but the sweat started to pour at 23-16, knowing the under would die with overtime.
The 49ers started their final drive of regulation at their own 11-yard line, and went 89 yards to tie the game at 24 to force overtime, where they would ultimately lose 26-23. On that final drive, San Fran converted on two fourth downs, including a fourth and goal from the 5-yard line with 20 seconds remaining.
6. SMU/Houston Over 60
Houston took a 35-22 lead with 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Over backers simply needed one more field goal to at least push, but neither offense would score again. SMU drove into Houston territory on each of their final three possessions but came away with zero points (turnover on downs and two red zone interceptions). The Mustangs only scored 21 total points despite 550 yards of total offense.
5. Purdue/Minnesota Under 46
Even without overtime, the under 46 did not cash in a game that Purdue led 16-14 with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Here is how those final three minutes played out:
- Minnesota kicks a field goal to take a 17-16 lead with 2:30 remaining.
- Purdue returned the ensuing kickoff into Minnesota territory and eventually punched it into the end zone with 1:17 left.
- Purdue successfully converted on their two-point conversion attempt to take a 24-17 lead.
- Minnesota then drove into Purdue territory with under 30 seconds remaining, but would throw an interception on fourth down.
- Instead of going down to end the game, Purdue took the pick 77 yards to the house, sealing a 31-17 victory.
4. Syracuse -3.5
Syracuse had a late 11-point lead, but could only escape with a 27-24 victory. In the fourth quarter, Pitt connected on a field goal from 56 yards out and also successfully converted on a two-point conversion after their backup quarterback led them down the field. Orange -3.5 backers still found themselves in position for the cover in the final few minutes as Syracuse drove deep into Pitt territory. Faced with fourth and 1 from the Pittsburgh 5-yard line with under a minute to go, Cuse decided to call timeout.
As a Pitt +3.5 backer, I started screaming, "Go for it!"
Cuse obliged by going for it and decided to call a shovel pass, which fell incomplete. Pitt took over on downs and avoided a defensive score to escape with a cover.
3. Kansas State +5.5
Losing by six in double overtime with an underdog catching 5.5 points is never fun, but especially when you consider the three field goal misses that made this moose possible. The Texas kicker missed from 27 yards out early in the fourth quarter and from 45 yards out to win it at the end of regulation. After trading touchdowns in the first overtime, Kansas State missed a 56-yard field goal attempt after moving backwards on the first possession of the second overtime. Texas subsequently punched it in the end zone for a walkoff 40-34 win.
2. New Mexico State +12.5
The Aggies led 31-24 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Here is how the final eight minutes played out:
- App State touchdown (31-31 with 7 minutes left).
- NMSU interception in App State territory.
- Two plays later, App State touchdown (38-31 with six minutes left).
- NMSU turnover on downs inside App State 25.
- Attempting to run the clock out on a third and 6, App State broke a 56-yard touchdown run. A simple first down would have secured the +12.5 cover since NMSU had zero timeouts left.
- Trailing 45-31 with two minutes left, NMSU ended the game with their third consecutive turnover in App State territory, which slammed the back door shut.
1. Stanford -3.5
Bryce Love broke off a 70-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to give the Trees a 23-13 lead. Stanford failed to capitalize on two Troy Williams interceptions over the last 10 minutes of regulation, which left the backdoor wide open. After a Stanford punt, Utah took over at their own 5-yard line. Thanks to two separate 15-yard Stanford penalties, one of which kept the drive alive on fourth and 7, Utah punched it in with under a minute to cut the lead to 23-20 after this extra point somehow went through.
Utah +3 in this game. Second half was a pickem as well with Stanford up 3 at half…. pic.twitter.com/4ldz96SpFY
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) October 8, 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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