Bad beats are part of gambling, but some losses hurt more than others. Whether it's a big blown lead in the final few minutes or a miraculous play to cover the spread, certain games live in our memory forever. Each week this football season, we'll be detailing the toughest losses suffered by college and pro football bettors.
For now, here are four of the most memorable bad beats in recent college football history. Our complete list of 10 is right here at The Linemakers on Sporting News.
Colorado 27, Michigan 26 – 1994
Line: Michigan -4
The play was called 'Rocket Left.' Colorado was down by five points with six seconds remaining in the game. The play originally called for Michael Westbrook to tip the ball to backup receiver Blake Anderson. However, when quarterback Kordell Stewart heaved the ball 73 yards in the air, it was Anderson who tipped it to Westbrook for a 64-yard game-winning touchdown in what will forever be known as "The Miracle at Michigan." A little known fact about that play: Colorado also ran it just before halftime and the pass was intercepted.
USC 23, Utah 14 – 2011
Line: USC -8.5
This game featured one of the craziest endings in gambling history. USC led 17-14 in the final seconds. Utah attempted a game-tying field goal with 11 seconds left, but the kick was blocked and returned 68 yards for a touchdown as time expired. USC had miraculously covered the spread. Hold on. The USC sideline was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, erasing the touchdown. So USC won 17-14, and Utah covered. Then, two hours after the game ended, the Pac-12 came out saying the referee's ruling to not allow the touchdown was incorrect since the penalty wasn't on any of the 11 field players, so the touchdown would count. USC covered 23-14. Some Vegas sports books had to pay double because they already cashed out Utah tickets. For gamblers and books, it's a game that won't be forgotten any time soon.
Cincinnati 48, Duke 34 – 2012 Belk Bowl
Line: Duke +9.5
If you bet Duke getting points in the 2012 Belk Bowl, you were feeling really good. That is, until 1:32 left in the game. In an entertaining 34-34 nail biter, Duke had the ball at the Cincinnati five-yard line but freshman running back Josh Snead fumbled. After gaining a first down, quarterback Brendon Kay hit tight end Travis Kelce for an 83-yard touchdown, giving the Bearcats a 41-34 lead with less than a minute to play. Duke got the ball back and drove to midfield, but then disaster struck for Blue Devil backers. Quarterback Sean Renfree was hit while trying throw, the ball was intercepted and returned 55 yards for a touchdown. A Duke team getting 9.5 points and was five yards away from a go-ahead score moments earlier just allowed two touchdowns in under a minute to blow the cover. Veteran Vegas bookmaker Jimmy Vaccaro told The Linemakers that night, "I can't remember seeing a sequence of events like that, maybe ever."
Auburn 43, Georgia 38 – 2013
Line: Georgia +3.5
As Auburn proved many times in 2013, it was never out of a game. The Bulldogs led 38-37 with just 25 seconds left. Auburn faced a fourth-and-18, when quarterback Nick Marshall aired a desperation pass down the middle of the field. The ball bounced off a Georgia defender and right into the waiting arms of Auburn receiver Ricardo Louis. Louis never broke stride and scored a game-winning 73-yard touchdown on one of the most improbable endings in college football history. Of course, as is often the case, the memorable play also impacted the spread. As Auburn backers celebrated, Georgia bettors were left heartbroken.
