Big Football Winners for Bettors
They say the “house always wins” when it comes to sports betting. Overall, that’s generally true but there are always game results where the sportsbook takes a bit of a beating.
Below are three such NCAA and NFL football games from the past weekend where that was the case for most sportsbooks.
“When it comes to betting on either College Football or the NFL, it’s extremely important to do your homework and know the sport, the teams, and the players.” Says Strauss. “However, if football bettors do put in the time and effort, they can objectively, and effectively, make the best football picks.”
Okay, let’s review the football winners!
Iowa State at Texas Tech
In this Big 12 matchup from Saturday, the Cyclones closed as 6-point underdogs in Lubbock. But this isn’t a usual Iowa State team – i.e. it’s pretty good under Coach Matt Campbell.
Remember, ISU shocked Oklahoma in Norman earlier this season.
On Saturday, ISU didn’t just cover the 6-point spread at Texas Tech but won outright 31-13 and would jump into the Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday for the first time since 2005.
Iowa State is 5-2 overall and tied for second in the Big 12 with a 3-1 conference record. Iowa State’s defense has been stellar through four games of Big 12 play. They’re holding teams 10 or more points under their scoring average.
Iowa State’s 31 points also marked the sixth time in the last seven games the Cyclones scored 30 or more.
They have won four straight road games for the first time since the 1960-61 season.
QB Kyle Kempt, making his third-career start, was 22-for-32 for 192 yards and three touchdowns, tying his career high. His 27-yard scramble also was the longest rush by an ISU quarterback this season.
ISU has yet to lose a fumble this season. It has has held four consecutive foes under their respective season scoring averages. ISU has outscored opponents 130-55 in the third and fourth quarters.
Things get tougher this week as ISU is a touchdown underdog to No. 4 TCU.
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders
This AFC West showdown last Thursday was the wildest game of the week by far. Bettors cashed in big on Oakland as a 3-point underdog when the Raiders scored on the final play of the game to upset the Chiefs 31-30 following the PAT.
It looked twice before the final touchdown as if Oakland had won 31-30, but then twice it looked as if Kansas won and covered 30-24.
The Raiders had an apparent go-ahead touchdown pass to Jared Cook with 18 seconds left overturned when replay ruled he was down at the 1.
An offensive pass interference on Michael Crabtree wiped another touchdown on the next play.
The Raiders were stopped on the next two plays and the game would have been over. Except for the holding calls on Kansas City’s Ron Parker and Eric Murray set the stage for the final play. Derek Carr then threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree.
You likely won’t see an ending like that again this year. The Chiefs were the beneficiaries of a lucky cover earlier this year with a defensive touchdown on the final play of a Monday night game vs. the Redskins.
Oakland is +3 this week at Buffalo, while Kansas City is -7 vs. Denver.
Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears
The Bears were 3-point home dogs but surprised the Panthers – who took a huge lean as they were on extra rest after having played on Thursday the week before – 17-3.
How often will you see a team win without scoring an offensive touchdown?
Doesn’t happen often.
It did here, with Chicago’s two touchdowns coming on an Eddie Jackson 75-yard interception return for a score and Jackson’s 75-yard fumble return for a score.
Perhaps smart bettors saw this coming as Carolina played without its best defensive player in linebacker Luke Kuechly and top receiver Kelvin Benjamin was hobbled.
The return of Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil, who hadn’t played since the opener, was supposed to help up front. Kalil left on the second drive after aggravating the neck injury that kept him out the past five games.
Then Pro Bowl right guard Trai Turner left in the second half with a left knee injury.
Cam Newton really struggled against the Chicago pass rush. He went 4-for-11 for 11 yards and two interceptions against the Chicago blitz.
In Carolina’s three losses Newton has a 41 percent completion percentage against the blitz. He’s also thrown one touchdown to four interceptions.
In four wins he has completed 81 percent against the blitz, completing three touchdowns to no interceptions.
Carolina had been 3-0 on the road this season. The Bears have been the best ATS home team this season at 4-0 ATS.
They have been underdogs in all four, to Atlanta (lost but covered), Pittsburgh, Minnesota (lost but covered) and Carolina.
Chicago is +9 this week at New Orleans, while Carolina is +2.5 in Tampa.
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