This past weekend witnessed a surprising turn of events in both the NFL and college football, as underdog teams made headlines with their impressive performances. After a period dominated by favorites, the landscape shifted dramatically, especially on Saturday and Sunday. In college football, several leading teams experienced unexpected losses, while in the NFL, underdogs posted an impressive 10-3 record against the spread, with numerous outright victories being reported, according to BetMGM Sportsbook statistics.
In an exhilarating finish, the matchup between Missouri and Oklahoma culminated in a frenzy of scoring. With just 3 minutes and 18 seconds remaining, 28 points were put on the board, swinging the game’s momentum. Initially tied at 16-16, Missouri triumphed with a final score of 30-23. This late-game action had bettors anxious, particularly concerning the spread, which favored Oklahoma by three points, as well as the total points, set at 42.5. Surprisingly, with just 19 points scored entering the fourth quarter, the game surged past the over when 34 points were tallied in the final moments.
Among the top-bet college teams, three failed to meet expectations against the spread. These included Georgia, who lost to Mississippi as a 2-point favorite; LSU, who suffered a defeat to Alabama while getting 3 points; and Indiana, who won against Michigan but did not cover the -14.5 spread. In the NFL, two of the three most wagered teams based on financial stakes also let bettors down against the spread. The Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and the Buffalo Bills all won their respective games, but only Buffalo was able to cover the spread. Notably, a significant 89% of the betting money was placed on the 49ers, while 86% favored the Lions.
Several noteworthy upsets occurred during the weekend in the NFL. The New England Patriots, entering the game as six-point underdogs, triumphed over the Chicago Bears with a score of 19-3. The Arizona Cardinals secured a surprise win against the New York Jets, while the Pittsburgh Steelers also pulled off an unexpected victory against the Washington Commanders, both as 2.5-point underdogs. Astonishingly, 71% of the betting money had been placed on the Bears to cover the spread, making this loss even more shocking.
In the realm of college football, that was not without its own surprises either. The formerly fourth-ranked Miami team succumbed to Georgia Tech with a score of 28-23, falling short as 10.5-point favorites, despite attracting 56% of the bets and 47% of the associated monetary wagers. Similarly, the third-ranked Georgia team lost 28-10 to Ole Miss while being a 2-point favorite and acquiring 80% of the betting action and 79% of the money against the spread.
Looking ahead, the odds for the college football national championship have shifted slightly following the recent games. Ohio State, now occupying the second spot, has improved its odds to +300 from +350 at the start of the weekend. They are closely trailing the first-ranked Oregon, which holds odds of +350. Texas has secured the third spot with odds at +450. Notably, Ole Miss made the most significant leap in odds, jumping from +3500 to +1000 after their victory over Georgia.