Rob Nelson of ESPN Stats & Information revisits the worst bad beats from the weekend's gambling action.
Closing lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, and pick percentages are via Wunderdog Sports.
Thursday
Minnesota Timberwolves at Toronto Raptors
Closing line: Raptors -9.5
The Timberwolves got off to a hot start in this one and led by 10 points after the first quarter. However, no lead is ever safe in the NBA. Entering the fourth quarter, Minnesota still led by one, and the 29 percent of bettors who took the +9.5 were seemingly in good shape. Unfortunately, it would be a final 12 minutes to forget if you were on the underdog.
A 17-4 run by the Raptors put them up 12 points midway through the quarter. A Zach LaVine basket with a minute to go cut the Toronto lead down to nine, but that would be the last score for Minnesota. The Raptors tallied the next five points and won by 14, outscoring the Timberwolves 36-21 in the fourth.
Final score: Raptors 124, Timberwolves 110 (Raptors cover)
Saturday
Wofford Terriers at Youngstown State Penguins
Closing line: Youngstown State -6
The best game of the FCS quarterfinals turned out to be a bad beat for those on Wofford +6. The Terriers jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never trailed by more than four points until double overtime. With the game tied at 23, Wofford's David Marvin had a chance to win it with a 53-yard field goal on the final play of regulation. Marvin would miss, and the game would continue.
On the first possession of overtime, Wofford drove down to the Youngstown State two-yard line but was stopped on fourth down. Those on the Terriers +6, would be able to cash their tickets with a game-winning Penguins field goal, but Youngstown State's Zak Kennedy missed a 37-yard attempt -- his third missed field goal of the game. In double overtime, Youngstown State scored a touchdown, while Wofford turned it over on downs, resulting in a seven point loss for the Terriers.
Final score: Youngstown State 30, Wofford 23 -- 2OT (Youngstown State covers)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Villanova Wildcats
Closing line: Villanova -6.5
In a matchup of unbeatens, Notre Dame was looking like it might upset the top-ranked Villanova Wildcats. At the very least, the 38 percent who took the Fighting Irish to cover the 6.5-point spread were in great shape. Notre Dame led for the first 31 minutes but fell behind for the first time when Villanova's Jalen Brunson put his Wildcats up 57-56 with nine minutes left.
The two teams went back and forth down the stretch, and Villanova led just 68-66 with less than a minute left. Much to the dismay of those on the underdog, the Fighting Irish went cold down the stretch, missing their final four shots. Villanova, on the other hand, went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final minute, going on to win by eight.
Final score: Villanova 74, Notre Dame 66 (Villanova covers)
Sunday
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
Closing line: Over/under 46
In a game where it snowed throughout, a flurry of late scoring is what ended up costing the 49 percent of bettors on the under. With less than 10 minutes left, the Steelers led 21-7, with the total well below the closing over/under of 46. A pair of field goals by Chris Boswell, with a Charles Clay touchdown in between, made the score 27-13 with less than two minutes left.
It would all come down to one last Buffalo drive, with those on the under desperately needing a stop. They wouldn't get it, as LeSean McCoy's three-yard touchdown with 1:25 left made the score 27-19. Dan Carpenter's PAT marked the 47th point of the game (and the 19th point in the final 9:57), pushing the total over.
Finals score: Steelers 27, Bills 20 (Game goes over)
