The Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Texas upsets Saturday in College Football had three different liabilities for the sportsbooks. None of the three, however, hurt the books.
The money and tickets written were solidly on Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Texas. The biggest interest for William Hill was not Oklahoma, but Texas. The Longhorns were playing TCU, and the sportsbook reported that 90 percent of the tickets were on Texas, along with 88 percent of the money. Texas was a 1-point favorite. They lost, 37-27.
What made the defeat even worse was that they were beaten by freshman quarterback Max Duggan. Texas coach Tom Herman credited the signal caller for his game.
“Hats off,†Herman said of Duggan’s performance. “Made some unbelievable throws. He played a great game.â€
Losses Frustrate Bettors
In addition to Texas costing bettors, Oklahoma and Notre Dame also gave backers headaches with their upsets. Oklahoma was the biggest shock, but the smallest percentage of the three.
Only 66 percent of tickets at William Hill were put on the Sooners over Kansas State, but 80 percent of the money was wagered on them.
Oklahoma was a 23.5-point favorite, while Kansas State was the big moneyline favorite in Week 9 at +890. One site at them at +1200. There were several people on Twitter that claimed they bet Kansas State on the moneyline, but no casinos confirmed those boasts.
William Hill reported that the Notre Dame-Michigan game got 77 percent of the tickets, and 71 percent of the money.
One bettor put $117,000 on Notre Dame in two bets for the first half. The Wolverines led at halftime, 17-0.
Minnesota Making Money
Minnesota has been one of the surprises in college football this year. The Golden Gophers are 8-0 for the first time since FDR was president.
The team is also on a nice streak against the spread. After going 0-2-1 to start the season, Minnesota covered their last five games, including on Saturday where they were 15-point-favorites against Maryland, and won 52-10.
Dumb Bet of the Week
What is it with Alabama backers and the moneyline? For the second straight week, a bettor risked a significant amount of money for a measly return. Last week, some guy bet $100 to win 60 cents. This week, a bettor at Caesars plunked down $1,000 on Alabama on the moneyline at -10,000 vs. Arkansas. He collected a whopping $10.
Stat of the Week
Ohio State is the second team in the AP Poll era to score at least 30 points and allow 10 or fewer points in each of their first five conference games in a season, joining 1987 Nebraska in the Big 8.
Bad Beat of the Week
Charlotte was a four-point underdog at home to North Texas. They were trailing by five with 30 seconds remaining when quarterback Chris Reynolds scrambled around the Mean Green 34-yard line and was nearly sacked. He threw off his back foot in desperation, and found wide receiver Victor Tucker in the end zone for the score to win, 39-38.