The oddsmakers for the NFL Playoffs and College Football Playoff National Championship certainly did their job between Saturday and Monday.
Bettors and fans alike were treated, or tormented, by outcomes that were settled by the slightest of margins. From overtime thrillers in the NFL Divisional Round to a championship game where the spread and total danced around the closing lines, these contests showed us why the world of sports betting leaves us with short fingernails.
Take the NFL’s Divisional Round, as two of the four games extended into overtime, leaving sportsbooks buzzing with near-misses. The Denver Broncos edged the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in OT, a game that saw the Broncos as 1.5-point favorites. Similarly, the Los Angeles Rams survived the Chicago Bears 20-17 in overtime, winning by just three points against a 3.5-point spread.
Even the blowouts had their betting twists. The Seattle Seahawks demolished the San Francisco 49ers 41-6, but the combined score of 47 just cleared the 44.5-point total.
On the college side, the CFP National Championship between Indiana and Miami was a fitting end to a season that thrived on surprises. With Indiana favored by 7.5 points, the 27-21 victory meant underdogs covered, while the total of 48 points pushed over the 47.5 total by the hook.
This is what we live for as football bettors, so let’s take a trip down memory lane and see how it all unfolded.
Heartbreaks & Triumphs in the NFL Divisional Round
The Bills-Broncos clash epitomized the “could have gone either way” narrative. Denver, as a slim 1.5-point home favorite, needed Will Lutz’s 23-yard field goal in overtime, and a questionable interception call, to advance. Josh Allen and the Bills mounted furious drives, including a late fourth-quarter touchdown to force overtime, but five turnovers and missed opportunities sealed their fate.
Later, on that Saturday night, the Seahawks absolutely dominated the 49ers in a 41-6 rout. Seattle was never in doubt of covering the spread, but the under on 44.5 points (I bought up to 45.5) was a sharp bet, given the odd oblique injury that Seahawks QB Sam Darnold suffered during the week. Well, the opening kickoff got returned to the house by Seahawks WR Rashid Shaheed, and while Darnold showed no signs of being hurt, that bet certainly did.
Meanwhile, the Rams-Bears game was a defensive grind that exploded into chaos at the end. The Rams led 17-10 late, but Caleb Williams’ miraculous 14-yard touchdown pass on fourth down (with the ball traveling over 50 yards in the air) tied it at 17 and forced overtime. Harrison Mevis’ 42-yard kick in OT gave LA the win, but the three-point margin meant Chicago covered the +3.5 spread by the hook.
CFP National Championship’s Spread and Total Tease
Indiana’s 27-21 triumph over Miami was a betting rollercoaster. As 7.5-point favorites, the Hoosiers won by six, allowing the Hurricanes to cover and reward the underdog backers. Fernando Mendoza’s efficient performance, including key drives to build a 20-7 lead, looked dominant early, but Miami would battle back with touchdowns of its own to keep the score close all night.
The total added another layer of intrigue. Closing at 47.5, the 48 points scored pushed it over by the hook, meaning unders just missed, despite the 10-0 halftime score.
Late in the fourth quarter, Indiana had a 2nd-and-1 deep inside Miami territory, with a first down needed to clinch the game via kneel-downs. Of course, the Hoosiers get a false start call, pushing it back to 2nd-and-6, which led them to kick the field goal that pushed the total over the mark.
Looking Ahead to the Last Three NFL Games
We’ve got three football games left on the season, with the AFC/NFC Championship Games on Sunday, as well as the Super Bowl on Feb. 8
This weekend, we’ll see the New England Patriots (-5.5, total: 41.5) at Denver Broncos in the AFC, and the Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks (-2.5, total: 47.5) in the NFC. Conference Championship Weekend is always filled with surprises, as we rarely get the Super Bowl matchup the public majority is looking for.
It’s going to be another great weekend of football, and even though your research and in-depth analysis may go by the wayside, we’re all here to have some fun!
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