4th Quarter Covers - Oct. 23-24
By: Nelly's Sportsline
Here is a look back at the spread result changing plays and sequences from last weekend's college games and the week 7 NFL results. There were several close and controversial finishes last week that left backers on both sides tuned in through the closing seconds.
NCAA:
Wisconsin led Iowa 24-20 entering the fourth quarter but Iowa scored with just over ten minutes to go in the game to go up 27-24. An interception set up the Hawkeyes for another score, settling for a field goal to lead 30-24, covering some early numbers but still short of most closing spreads, with a missed extra-point and a botched field goal attempt early in the game. Wisconsin would put together a remarkable final drive including two fourth down conversions, one on a fake punt and the Badgers would score with just over a minute left to lead by one, then held off Iowa’s final efforts to get into field goal range.
Northwestern backers suffered a brutal loss last week as the Wildcats were up 17-0 early and 24-14 entering the fourth quarter as home underdogs. Michigan State chipped away with a touchdown early in the final frame but Northwestern answered with a field goal to hold a six-point lead. Michigan State took the lead on a tipped pass completion to lead 28-27 with just two minutes remaining, seemingly leaving the cover still in the hands of the underdog. Northwestern could not get anything going on offense and Michigan State got the ball back in good field position and Edwin Baker broke a few tackles for a 25-yard touchdown run, putting the Spartans up eight. A more savvy veteran might have gone down before scoring as that would have iced the win while the score gave Northwestern a chance to tie still but the touchdown did give Michigan State an undeserved cover.
After being tied at halftime Pittsburgh took the lead against Rutgers 24-14 entering the fourth quarter, still short of the spread. The Panthers would pour it on in the final frame to eventually win 41-21 with the final score coming from Rutgers with just a minute and a half left to make the final look more respectable in an uneven statistical game.
South Carolina scored late in the third quarter to break a 7-7 tie and led just 14-7 fairly deep into the fourth quarter but the Gamecocks touchdown on a 72-yard pass play with less than seven minutes to give South Carolina a narrow cover. Vanderbilt got into South Carolina territory on its final drive but could not get on the board.
Arkansas struggled to pull away from Mississippi in a game that featured weather delays in the second half. Arkansas led 24-10 entering the fourth quarter but Ole Miss quickly cut the lead to just seven to start a fourth quarter scoring flurry as both teams had two touchdowns within a span of just over four minutes. The final score put Arkansas back up by 14 for a narrow cover as the Rebels fumbled near the goal line on the next drive and ran out of time inside the Arkansas 30 to end the game.
BYU led by just six entering the fourth quarter against Wyoming but added a touchdown early in the final frame to go up twelve, just past the closing spread. Wyoming would score last getting a touchdown with less than seven minutes to go for the cover and BYU was able to hold on for the win as Wyoming went 60-yards to get into score range before turning the game over on downs.
Baylor led by twelve entering the fourth quarter and pushed the score to 47-28 early in the fourth quarter. Kansas State immediately got back in the game with a 67-yard pass play to cut the margin back to twelve. Both teams would stall over most of the final 14 minutes but on the final Kansas State drive the Wildcats eventually found the end zone with seven seconds on the clock to steal the cover.
Oklahoma had the ball up one to start the fourth quarter but the tide quickly turned as Missouri took over the game with a few big plays, scoring 17-striaght points in just over six minutes to pull away for the victory.
While Auburn ended up a with a huge yardage edge against LSU the Tigers tied the game at 17-17 early in the fourth quarter on a trick play. Auburn moved the ball well on the next drive but came up empty but on the following possession Auburn delivered the game winning and spread covering touchdown.
Idaho led 34-7 entering the fourth quarter to stand just past a big spread against New Mexico State. The Vandals added a little more breathing room with a field goal with less than three minutes to go but with the game out of hand New Mexico State scored a touchdown with just 19 seconds on the clock to climb back within the spread.
As heavy favorites Virginia led Eastern Michigan by just ten entering the fourth quarter before scoring twice within a minute to push the lead to 24-points, right on the closing spread. A late field goal would give Cavaliers backers the margin they needed.
Ball State led Toledo 17-0 after the first quarter but the teams would be tied by halftime. Toledo would pull away with a 31-17 lead in the fourth quarter but Ball State scored with just 12 seconds left to earn the spread win.
As a 3-point underdog Colorado led Texas Tech 24-14 entering the fourth quarter. The Red Raiders comeback was led by great defense in the fourth quarter as Texas Tech tied the game on its next two possessions and then got the win with a field goal with just over two minutes to play. Colorado missed a field goal in the fourth quarter that certainly could have been game changing and the game closed right on the spread for a push.
Fresno State led 27-3 entering the fourth quarter against San Jose State but the Spartans connected on two long pass plays in the final frame to close with a 15-point margin and a narrow underdog cover.
The fourth quarter was a great departure from the rest of the game between Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State. The Owls led by four entering the fourth quarter and then added a field goal to go up by seven as a seven-point underdog. Arkansas State tied the game on the next possession and then returned an interception for a touchdown to get the lead. Turnovers continued in the meltdown for Florida Atlantic as Arkansas State would end up scoring three touchdowns in less just over two minutes to create a misleading final.
NFL:
The replay system has been heavily scrutinized after the bizarre ending to this game. Pittsburgh led Miami most of the way but the Dolphins kept clinging close, staying within the three-point spread. With just over five minutes to go Miami took the lead with a field goal, leading 22-20. On the final drive Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger appeared to go into the end zone for a spread covering touchdown but the ball came out and Miami came out of the pile with the ball. Upon review Roethlisberger certainly fumbled before hitting the goal line but the officials awarded Pittsburgh the ball as there was not clear evidence that Miami recovered the fumble. The Steelers kicked a field goal for the win, but Dolphins backers still got the cover.
Atlanta appeared on its way to a rout up 24-3 at halftime but the Bengals came out energized after the break, scoring 22-unanswered points in the third quarter to lead 25-24 entering the final frame. The Falcons got back on track with consecutive touchdown scores and the final Cincinnati touchdown was not enough to get back within the underdog spread.
The Chiefs led 28-20 entering the fourth quarter against Jacksonville with the spread around nine and most of the final quarter it appeared that score would hold up. Kansas City would put together a clock eating drive and cash in for a touchdown with just under four minutes to go and an interception set up another late score to create a somewhat misleading final outcome.
Philadelphia seemed to be in control most of the way against Tennessee and underdog backers of the Eagles had to feel good about a 16-10 lead entering the fourth quarter that was quickly extended to 19-10. Kenny Britt and Kerry Collins quickly connected for an 80-yard scoring strike however and the Eagles offense was forced to punt three consecutive times as the Titans continued to add on points. A late interception return touchdown made the final misleading but the Titans scored the final 27 points in the game including ten points in the final 22 seconds.
Carolina led 13-10 entering the fourth quarter but San Francisco seemed to take control of the game with a field goal to tie and then an interception return touchdown on the next series to lead by seven. The Carolina eventually answered with a touchdown with less than two minutes to go and an interception from back-up QB David Carr set-up the chance for the winning field goal that went through.
While no points were scored in the fourth quarter and the 28-24 Green Bay lead over Minnesota held up, the final quarter was not without drama. Green Bay went for a key fourth down early in the frame only to be stopped by Minnesota's next drive wound up with a familiar interception. The Vikings forced a punt and in the closing seconds Minnesota appeared to get the game winning score but review would cancel out the initially ruling and Minnesota’s final toss came up high.