Arr, ye scurvy Rams be kickin' a field goal fer naught! Bettors and books be mighty confounded! 'Tis a blunder!
2023-09-19
Arrr, ye scurvy dogs! 'Twas a paltry field goal by the Los Angeles Rams, plundered in the waning moments of the battle 'gainst the San Francisco 49ers. Yet, this insignificant booty held great sway o'er the sportsbooks and the gamblers on the Sabbath.
The Los Angeles Rams' decision to kick a field goal in the final seconds of their game against the San Francisco 49ers had significant implications in the world of sports betting. Despite being down by 10 points with only four seconds remaining, head coach Sean McVay chose to attempt a field goal from the 49ers' 20-yard line. While the kick was good, it had no impact on the game's outcome. However, it did affect the spread.According to Jeffrey Benson, Director of Operations for Circa Sports, the field goal resulted in a "wretched result" for sportsbooks. They had to refund money for bets placed at -7/+7 and pay out all the +7.5 bets, which caused the number to drop to what they closed at. The 49ers were favored to win by 7 and 7.5 in some sportsbooks, so the Rams' field goal covered the spread.
Derek Wilkinson, SVP of Sports for DRF Sportsbook, expressed his confusion over McVay's decision, stating that it would have made sense if there was even a slight bit of time left on the clock. However, he acknowledged that they were pleased with the outcome as they had more money on the 49ers' spread.
Chuck Esposito, the sportsbook director for Red Rock Resort, revealed that they closed the spread at 7.5 and were hoping for a field goal or touchdown on the last drive. He mentioned that if the kick had not been successful, it could have resulted in a seven-figure swing for the industry.
McVay did not address the field goal in his post-game remarks. Despite the confusion and frustration it caused in the sports betting world, some bettors were able to profit from the late play. Overall, the decision to kick the field goal had a big impact on the spread and the betting outcomes.