The weekend was a thrilling showcase of college football upsets on Saturday, followed by nail-biting finishes in the NFL on Sunday. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the action using insights from the BetMGM Sportsbook:
Trends of the Week
While the college football landscape was shaken by numerous upsets, the NFL saw a different trend emerge as favored teams not only won but also covered the spread. The Detroit Lions comfortably defeated the Indianapolis Colts by a margin of at least 7.5 points, while the Green Bay Packers triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers, managing to beat the spread of 5.5 points. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers also covered their 6-point spread against the New York Giants. All three teams were the most heavily wagered on and matched their expectations.
The most exhilarating game in the NFL took place when the Dallas Cowboys rallied to beat the Washington Commanders 34-26. The final quarter was a scoring frenzy, amassing a staggering 41 points, which was a boon for bettors favoring the over. Remarkably, at the start of the fourth quarter, the projected total of 45 looked unlikely to be reached, yet 64% of the betting money anticipated otherwise.
The match between Ohio State and Indiana dominated the betting landscape on Saturday. Remarkably, the moneyline bets on Indiana (+325) outnumbered those on any other team by a factor of four. Ultimately, the Buckeyes secured a definitive victory, triumphing with a score of 38-15, and successful in covering the 10.5-point spread. Betting activity was relatively balanced for this matchup; however, the Buckeyes garnered 51% of the bets while capturing 58% of the total wagered money.
Upsets of the Week
The most significant upset in the college football realm occurred when No. 7 Alabama suffered a shocking defeat to Oklahoma, finishing 24-3. Despite being 13.5-point favorites, Alabama attracted an impressive 84% of the bets and 81% of the wagered money, indicating widespread confidence in their victory. Additionally, the Crimson Tide saw a staggering 78% of the moneyline bets placed on them at -600.
Another unexpected outcome unfolded when Colorado lost to Kansas 37-21. The Buffaloes were favored by 2.5 points and ranked as the second-most heavily wagered team of the day, attracting 66% of the total bets and 67% of the money wagered.
Sunday’s NFL action startled many as not one, but two major upsets unfolded. The Cowboys, sporting a 10.5-point underdog status, emerged victorious against the Commanders, contrary to expectations as Washington attracted 70% of both the bets and the total money wagered. Similarly, the Tennessee Titans pulled off a stunning win over the Houston Texans, with a final score of 32-27, defying the odds as 7.5-point underdogs. The Texans, however, still attracted 67% of the bets but only garnered 46% of the money.
Coming up
As the dust settles from an unpredictable weekend in college football, Ohio State emerges with the best odds to capture the national championship, sitting at +275.
Following closely are Georgia and Oregon, both of whom have been given +400, while Texas is right behind at +450.
Notable longshots include Notre Dame at +1400 and Penn State at +1800, standing as the only other contenders with odds shorter than +2000.
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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.
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What were the key factors that led to Alabama’s surprising loss to Oklahoma in college football?
**Interview with Sports Analyst Jamie Smith on Recent College Football and NFL Action**
**Host:** Welcome, Jamie! The weekend was filled with exciting college football upsets and thrilling NFL games. Let’s dive into the highlights. What did you make of the college football chaos, particularly Alabama’s surprising loss to Oklahoma?
**Jamie Smith:** Thanks for having me! The college football landscape really shook up this weekend, especially with Alabama, ranked No. 7, losing 24-3 to unranked Oklahoma. This was a major upset, considering Alabama was a 13.5-point favourite and had 84% of the betting action on them. A lot of fans are talking about this, and it may have serious implications for Alabama’s playoff hopes after their third loss this season [[1](https://sports.yahoo.com/live/college-football-scores-results-chaos-rules-in-week-13-as-several-ranked-teams-suffer-upset-losses-154550501.html)].
**Host:** Absolutely. It’s fascinating how betting trends reflect the confidence people had in Alabama. Speaking of confidence in favorites, the NFL had a different vibe, with favored teams not only winning but covering the spread. What stood out to you in the NFL?
**Jamie Smith:** The NFL was definitely more predictable this week, with teams like the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers securing comfortable wins while covering their respective spreads. The Cowboys vs. Commanders game was particularly thrilling – a wild 34-26 finish that featured a scoring explosion in the fourth quarter. Bettors who favored the over must have been ecstatic, especially since the total points seemed uncertain earlier in the game [[1](https://sports.yahoo.com/live/college-football-scores-results-chaos-rules-in-week-13-as-several-ranked-teams-suffer-upset-losses-154550501.html)].
**Host:** That fourth quarter scoring flurry was indeed one for the books! Switching back to college football, do you think Ohio State’s victory over Indiana was significant in terms of betting patterns?
**Jamie Smith:** Definitely. Ohio State’s decisive victory at 38-15 not only showcased their strength but also reflected how bettors were heavily backing Indiana at +325. However, Ohio State, despite being the favourite, managed to cover the 10.5-point spread – showing that even in a week of upsets, a strong team like Ohio State can still deliver when it counts [[1](https://sports.yahoo.com/live/college-football-scores-results-chaos-rules-in-week-13-as-several-ranked-teams-suffer-upset-losses-154550501.html)].
**Host:** It’s interesting how betting and game outcomes intersect like that. Looking ahead, how do you think these results will affect the upcoming games in both college football and the NFL?
**Jamie Smith:** The college playoffs are going to be even more competitive with teams on the bubble after surprising outcomes like Alabama’s. In the NFL, consistent performances from favored teams could set the tone for the playoff race. It’s critical for teams to maintain momentum as we hit the final stretch of the season. We’ll have to see how teams adjust and respond to these pressures.
**Host:** Great insights, Jamie! Thanks for breaking down the week’s action with us.
**Jamie Smith:** Thank you! Excited to see what unfolds next in both leagues.
