NFL Week 14 betting recap: The $3M Eagles bettor owes Xavier Legette a gift basket
The saying “any given Sunday” doesn’t just exist because of a movie. It’s a reminder that once the chinstraps are buttoned up, any team can get got. Which is exactly why it’s always risky to bet as much money as one bettor put on the Philadelphia Eagles to beat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
In case you hadn’t heard about this absurd bet, it was a $3.1 million wager on the Eagles moneyline at -700 odds. That’s right. They risked $3 million to win about $428,000.
In case you somehow missed it: @CircaSports took a $3.1 million Eagles moneyline -700 bet, vs Panthers.
— Patrick Everson (@PatrickE_Vegas) December 8, 2024
Potential profit: $442,857
Said Circa Sports director of operations @JeffreyBenson12:
"Hopefully Bryce Young can channel his Alabama days. Otherwise, we'll be off to a very…
First of all, congratulations. The Eagles did indeed win. And even to someone who has $3 million to risk, $400,000 is nothing to sneeze at. But boy, did they have to sweat this one out. Because as we started with, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY.
Not only did the Panthers cover a 13.5-point spread that made them the biggest underdogs of the day, they led 16-14 in the fourth quarter and seemingly scored the potential go-ahead touchdown inside the final minute. The only thing that saved the $3-million bettor from a world of hurt is Xavier Legette’s hands. Or lack thereof.
Oh my goodness…. incomplete.
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 8, 2024
: FOX pic.twitter.com/jiFzpyWSIE
Legette’s dropped touchdown was likely the difference between the biggest upset of the week and Philadelphia notching its ninth straight win. Talk about living on the edge. Now let’s get to the rest of our betting recap for Week 14, with odds from BetMGM.
Biggest upsets: Rams +155 (& Jaguars +155, I guess)
Though these upsets are technically the same on the moneyline, it’s hard to call a 2-10 Jaguars team beating a 3-9 Titans team from the same division an upset. Somebody had to win. On the other hand, the Rams knocked off the MVP leader in his final form and one of the NFL’s hottest teams, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. And they did it in a 86-point shootout after averaging just 21 over their previous four games where they went just 2-2. That is no doubt the bigger upset.
9⃣ to
— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024
: #BUFvsLAR on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/72r9gaVGKh
By the skin of their teeth: Dolphins -6
If you had Miami at the opening -6.5 spread, then I am so sorry. That bet was a loss by just a single point. That’s how close this game was played to the spread, with Jonnu Smith’s game-winning touchdown in overtime delivering the money-saving push for Dolphins -6 bettors. And you know what? They’ll take it after staring defeat in the face as the Jets led for nearly the entire second half.
Miami was the biggest public team Sunday with 84% of bets and 88% of money at BetMGM on a Dolphins cover. This touchdown to Jonnu Smith forced the sportsbook to give a lot of that money back.
TUA AND JONNU FOR THE WIN IN OT! pic.twitter.com/3TJFKzI55M
— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024
Not even close: Bears +3
I was prepared to roll with the Falcons here after their 21-point loss to the Vikings in Kirk Cousins’ return to Minnesota, but then the 49ers came to life in the late window. San Francisco blasted the Bears by 25 points, erasing any hope of a potential Bears cover in interim coach Thomas Brown’s debut. And Isaac Guerendo scored twice, though he might be the latest 49ers running back lost to injury.
On it goes: 49ers RB Isaac Guerendo is questionable to return today due to a foot injury.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 9, 2024
Worst bad beat: Giants ML
This one shouldn’t really count, because the Giants had no business even being in position to win this game. But after New York cut the Saints’ lead to three points in the fourth quarter and Derek Carr left with an injury the next possession, it not only seemed like the Giants had a chance to win, it seemed almost probable they would. Especially once Drew Lock drove them into range for the game-tying field goal with 11 seconds left in regulation.
Unfortunately, Graham Gano’s chip shot was somehow blocked, and that was all she wrote.
Graham Gano's field goal attempt is blocked and the Saints win
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) December 8, 2024
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/jhk0Pxa0qU