College Football Betting: Week 11 Bad Beats

  • In Ross Benjamin
  • Tue, Nov 13th, 2018 3:40:37 pm
  • By Ross Benjamin


Sports handicapping professional Ross Benjamin discusses four games on last Saturday’s college football card that were bad beats for the public.

Looking back at NCAA football week 11

SMU Mustangs vs. Connecticut Huskies
SMU closed as a 17.5-point road favorite in this contest, according to the college football betting odds at Bookmaker.

There was a lot to like about the Mustangs in this spot. SMU had lost their first 3 games of the season and then rebounded to win 4 of its next 6 contests. Conversely, Connecticut headed into this game with a dismal 1-8 record which included 0-8 versus FBS opponents. The Huskies only triumph came at home during a 56-49 win over Rhode Island.

SMU held a 62-44 lead with the less than a minute to play. Unfortunately for Mustangs backers, Connecticut connected on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 0:36 left to play to make it a 62-50 final score and thus enabling them to cover as an underdog. It was just the 2nd time in 10 games played that Connecticut had covered the spread. It’s also worth noting, that the Huskies hadn’t scored more than 30 points in a game against FBS opponents all season long up until now.

Tulsa Golden Hurricanes vs. Memphis Tigers
A bad beat came to those who wagered on this contest to go under the total. A consensus of major offshore sportsbooks calculated the closing total to be 65.5.

Memphis had an insurmountable 47-14 lead late in the 4th quarter. Unluckily for those under bettors, Tulsa scored on a meaningless touchdown with only 0:11 to play which made it 47-21, and in doing so put this game over the total.

Bad beats for NCAA week 11Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Florida Atlantic Owls
With regards to betting Western Kentucky as an underdog, you can certainly make a case for this being the most painful bad beat of the week.

The Hilltoppers were a sizable 17.5-point underdog and trailed late in the 4th quarter 27-15. FAU possessed the ball at their own 23-yard-line. The Owls should’ve been content to run out the clock and secure a win. However, they broke off a 77-yard touchdown run with just 2:19 left to play which made it 34-15. Western Kentucky supporters then watched helplessly as their team couldn’t muster a much needed 'oh-by-the-way' touchdown drive. It's finishes such as these are prerequisites for stomach ulcers.

Oregon Ducks vs Utah Utes
Utah closed as a 6.0-point favorite. The Utes led 29-25 and faced a 4th down on the Oregon 7-yard line with 0:19 seconds left in the game. It would seem logical to run the 4th down play, and if you fail to covert, then force Oregon to go more than 90 yards to score a touchdown in approximately 10 to 15 seconds. Why risk a field goal being blocked, and then the possibility of a long return for a touchdown right? As college football analyst Lee Corso would say, “not so fast my friend. To the chagrin of bettors that needed Oregon +6.0, Utes head coach Kyle Willingham inexplicably sent out his field goal kicker who proceeded to knock through the uprights with 0:15 left. Hence giving Utah a 32-25 lead which ultimately became the final score. That high-risk low-reward decision cost many a sizable chunk of change.

As opposed to the NFL, college football betting is more often affected by head scratching coaching decisions that seemingly affect point-spread or totals wagering on a weekly basis.

Check my weekly videos on YouTube for underdog college football winners!

Ross Benjamin Free Pick

Ross Benjamin is a top sports analyst and one of the sports industry's most respected handicappers. Follow him on Twitter: @RossBenjamin1 or visit his website at RBWins.com


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