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(All odds via PointsBet Sportsbook)
The NCAA Football season ended when Georgia took down Alabama in the National Championship, and what a season it was. It’s not likely to be forgotten soon, with some of the most intense and dramatic games ever in a college football season. Ranked teams dropped like flies, there were upsets galore and close calls every single week. It definitely didn’t lack for entertainment, or some wild betting action.
Here’s a look back at some of the craziest games of the year.
Best of: Upset Alerts
Week 6: #1 Alabama loses to Texas A&M as 18-point favorites, 41-38
Honestly, if the National Championship game goes the same as the SEC Championship, this will be the most memorable game of the 2021 season. We got to see Alabama bleed, and we all thought for a beautiful second “if it bleeds, we can kill it.” Turns out that really wasn’t the case, as they haven’t lost again and they are exactly where everyone thought they would be, in the National Championship. Oh well. Alabama haters will always have this game, and of all teams to beat Bama this was one of the most unlikely.
The Aggies had lost their last two games in embarrassing fashion, and QB Zach Calzada had been booed literally the game before. Calzada, who isn’t even on the team anymore, played the best game of his career and led a Texas A&M victory on one leg after being hobbled on the game-tying touchdown. It was unbelievable, and a result no one could have predicted. Over 90% of all tickets and money poured into the Crimson Tide despite the big number, and the public took a hosing. This was the fourth highest bet game of the year, and overall it was the third best result for bookies, as they absolutely raked in the money for this game. That was despite an even bigger percentage of money and bets taking the over which did it. That just speaks to the sheer volume of bets that assumed, like everyone else, that this would be an easy Alabama win.
Week 13: #2 Ohio State loses to #5 Michigan as seven-point favorites, 42-27
In terms of spread this wasn’t that huge of an upset, not close to Bama-A&M for sure, but it was in the betting world. Ohio State was fresh off a brutal beat down of Michigan State, who Michigan had lost to earlier. The prevailing theory was that Ohio State would take care of business as they had 12 straight years. Instead, the Wolverines ran the ball down the throats of a questionable Buckeye defense and the Wolverines pulled off the win. This game is often considered the biggest rivalry in sports, and it gets the appropriate betting action a title like that deserves. As it often is, the OSU-Michigan game was the most bet game of the year, pulling down the most total money. Unfortunately for the public, most of that money was placed on the Buckeyes, to the tune of 93% of the handle. Putting two and two together, this was the biggest loss of the year for the betting public, and the type of game that allows the sports books to keep operating.
Week 10: #3 Michigan State loses to Purdue as three-point favorites, 40-29
This was a big upset precisely because the spread was so restrained. Michigan State was undefeated up till this point, and had just taken down rivals Michigan in dramatic fashion. Purdue on the other hand, was blown out by Wisconsin two games before. With the Spartans being just three point favorites, bettors jumped at the chance to win some free money. There was no way the Boilermakers would do it again right?
Well, they did, as David Bell and Aidan O’Connell went off for the second time this season. Michigan State was the obvious pick with the pedigree and the small line, and the fact that they had covered four straight times led bettors to take them 86% of the time, and 89% of the money went to them as well. Even though this wasn’t that highly bet of a game, because most of the money went to the Spartans it still ended up as the second best result of the year for oddsmakers.
Honorable Mention: I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the biggest upset of the year. Kansas was +2000 ML underdogs against Texas, they were +31 for the spread and somehow managed to win outright in OT. If that wasn’t Texas hitting rock bottom, nothing else is.
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Best of: Protectors of Your Cash
Week 5: Iowa covers as three-point favorites against Maryland, 51-14
As “fake” as Iowa was for much of the year, they were playing some inspired defense in the early parts of the season, and they delivered one of the biggest losses to the book in this one. Iowa was taken with the spread 80% of the time, and 87% of the money also went their way. Despite 79% of the handle taking the under, this was still the books third worst loss as Iowa absolutely beat the brakes off of Maryland. Tualia Tagovailoa, who had a nice season this year, threw five interceptions (nearly half his season total) and this was Iowa’s highest points scored all year. Ah, what most that have felt like for Iowa fans, when they still had hope and Samir Petras wasn’t public enemy No. 1. Fast forward to eight weeks later, and they are on the other side of this situation.
Week 14: Michigan covers as 12-point favorites against Iowa, 42-3.
In what was oddsmakers’ fourth worst loss, Iowa was essentially put out of their misery in a brutal defeat (although they still had one more game to lose, I think the hope was fully gone after this one). They scored a short field goal in the first quarter and then never really came close again as Michigan did whatever they felt like all game. With the line moving from Michigan -10.5 to -12 by kickoff, the spread bets weren’t massively Michigan favored overall, with the Wolverines pulling in just 54% of bets and 69% of the money. Where a lot of money was gained by the people was the moneyline and the over. Over 80% of tickets and handle went to the Michigan moneyline despite being -490 there. The over needed Michigan to score a very unnecessary fourth quarter with 2:09 left, and 83% of the total money needed that last second rubbing of dirt in the face. Considering this was the third most wagered on game, the moneyline and over was enough for books to take a big loss.
Honorable Mention: Someone dropped $200,000 on OSU’s moneyline over Indiana at -1250, winning $16,000 for their troubles. That person might’ve been sweating a bit when Indiana scored fairly easily on their first drive, but OSU quickly put things to rest and they ended up winning 54-7 to that bettor’s relief. That’s how you protect the cash.
Best of: The Pat Beverly “He Trick Ya’ll” Awards
Week 14: #1 Georgia loses to Alabama as 6.5-point favorites, 41-24
At least this game was close for a half? Alabama beat up on their little brother Georgia for what feels like the millionth time. Georgia’s vaunted defense, that really was quite special this year, fell apart when faced with the eventual Heisman Trophy Winner Bryce Young, who scored four total touchdowns. He made Georgia, who had only been allowing less than seven points per game up to that point, look quite fraudulent. Looking at their schedule, they didn’t face many top offenses until Alabama, with most of their opponents ranking outside the top 50 in offense in the NCAA. The Bulldogs redeemed themselves a little bit in the CFP semifinal, but the ultimate test really does come tomorrow against Alabama. Put up a decent fight and they’ll be remembered as a tough team that just couldn’t make it past the juggernaut that is Alabama like many great squads before them. Get blown out again, and they go down in history as fakers.
This game saw the second most money thrown on it of the year. It also ended up being the fifth best result in the eyes of the oddsmakers. With no lopsided action unlike some of the other big public losses, this one was more death by a thousand cuts. The majority lost in basically every way. A decent majority took Georgia against the spread and straight up, at 66% and 76% respectively. Then, 74% of the handle also lost out on the O/U as Georgia let up basically as many points they had all year in just this one game.
Week 5: #8 Arkansas loses to #2 Georgia 37-0.
Week 7: #11 Kentucky loses to #1 Georgia 30-13.
Both of these games featured ranked, undefeated SEC teams that ran up against Georgia and were totally stomped. Arkansas was 4-0, fresh off a big win against Texas A&M that THEY dominated. The Aggies could not handle the three-man rush, which let Arkansas drop everyone else back in coverage and Calzada couldn’t get anything going. That same strategy did not work against the Bulldogs, who scored three first quarter touchdowns on the way to a rout. Arkansas’ offense didn’t even look great against A&M, and they looked even worse getting shutout. The Georgia loss would kick off a three-game loss streak that really took them out of any sort of contention for postseason action.
It was a similar story with Kentucky. They were flying high, rocking a fantastic 7-0 record and many people thought they should be ranked even higher. Georgia proved that false. The final score, as lopsided as it is already, still flatters the Wildcats as they scored a last second touchdown to get to 13. This seemed to send Kentucky down a spiral, as they were blown out by Mississippi State the next game, and lost a close shootout to Tennessee after that in a three game skid. Kentucky still finished 10-3 and got a New Year’s Six bowl win so it was a pretty great season anyways, but at the point when they were 7-0 I wonder if they were dreaming bigger.
Best of: Close Calls
Week 10: North Carolina covers as 2.5-point favorites over #9 Wake Forest, 58-55.
In a predictably high-scoring affair, North Carolina needed a massive fourth quarter to pull off the cover. They were down 48-34 going into the final frame, but then Ty Chandler took matters into his own hands. He scored three touchdowns for the Tar Heels in that quarter alone, giving them a 58-48 lead. Wake Forest then pulled one back themselves to cut the score to three, but were unable to recover the ensuing onside kick, and UNC held on to cover.
Week 6: #6 Oklahoma covers as 3.5-point favorites against #21 Texas, 55-48
The Red River Showdown turned into the Red River Shootout, with unstoppable offenses on both sides. Texas opened up a 38-20 lead at halftime, and bettors must have thought it was all over for Oklahoma. Preseason Heisman favorite Spencer Rattler had to be benched, and then it was Oklahoma’s turn to score at will. They cut the lead to 41-30 going into the fourth quarter and then scored 18 straight points to take the lead. Texas would fight back and tie the game at 48 with 1:35 left in the game. That’s when OU’s Kennedy Brooks called game, scoring what was basically a walk-off, going for 33 yards and a touchdown with 10 seconds left. This let the Sooners cover in the game, and honestly set the two schools on very different trajectories. Texas, who was 4-1 going into the game, would go on to lose six straight including a loss to Kansas of all teams. Oklahoma on the other hand, would go 11-2 with an Alamo Bowl win. Interestingly, neither of the QBs that started this game are still with the schools, and Caleb Williams, Oklahoma’s savior, is also in the transfer portal.
Week 3: #1 Alabama beats #11 Florida 31-29
Back when Florida was still seen as a threat, they really gave Alabama everything they could handle. Alabama jumped out to a big 21-3 lead that made this game feel like a forgone conclusion. Not to Florida, who battled all the way back and had a chance to tie the game up in the fourth quarter following a Dameon Pierce touchdown. They failed to convert the two point conversion, which left the score as it ended, 31-29. Why did they have to go for two though? All the way back in the second quarter, Florida managed to score a touchdown and their kicker missed the extra point. Without that, this game is even closer than it already was. Crucially, that missed kick also made the over miss on the 60 O/U, which over 70% of bets and handles took. It’s amazing how much one extra point can mean, isn’t it?
This was just a drop in the bucket in the dozens of amazing games this year. The Big 12 Championship that saw Oklahoma State fall just short at the Baylor 1 is another example. Or how about the nine OT game, the longest game in NCAA history, between Illinois and Penn State? As many games as they already have on here, Alabama had their own four OT thriller against Auburn, and without a gutsy fourth quarter drive by the Crimson Tide things would look very, very different right now. You really can’t ask for more out of a regular season, and while the playoffs are going fairly predictably that doesn’t take away from the supreme chaos that reigned for 90% of the year. It’s hard to see how 2022 can live up, but here’s hoping.
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