Fourth Quarter Covers
By Joe Nelson
Here is a look back at the spread result changing plays and sequences from last weekend's college games from the third weekend of November and Week 11 NFL results. There were everal close and controversial finishes last week, particularly in the NFL that left backers on both sides watching intently through the closing seconds.
NCAA:
Penn State led Indiana just 31-24 entering the fourth quarter after a blocked punt return broke the tie late in the third quarter. Penn State added a field goal early in the fourth and then punched in a cover sealing touchdown with just over three minutes to go after Indiana was stopped in Penn State territory on their possession.
Tennessee led Vanderbilt just 14-3 entering the fourth quarter to narrowly get by the closing spreads. An early field goal provided a cushion in the final frame but Vanderbilt put together a 74 yard drive to cut the gap to just seven points with just over two minutes to go. Tennessee seemingly could have ran out the clock but a run broke for 28 yards and the Volunteers got by the spread with just over a minute to go.
Most closing lines landed right on ten, which was the margin as Georgia Tech took the lead late in the third quarter against Duke. Duke struck immediately in the final quarter to get within three points but halfway through the quarter Georgia Tech connected for a 79-yard pass play. Duke missed a field goal in the final minutes which would have taken the spread back.
Iowa and Ohio State were tied 10-10 entering the fourth quarter but Iowa took a 17-10 lead as a slight underdog early in the fourth quarter. A 48-yard field goal from the Buckeyes followed which would prove to be a big three points as Ohio State took the lead with a key scoring drive late in the game, finding the end zone with just under two minutes to go to clinch the win and give Buckeye backers at least a push.
Missouri led Iowa State just 7-0 entering the fourth quarter before quickly pushing the lead to 14-0 shortly into the final frame. Iowa State moved the ball well in the fourth quarter but could never get points on the board, ending bowl hopes and giving the Tigers a narrow cover as a double-digit favorite in the shutout.
It took until the fourth quarter for Oklahoma State to eclipse a lofty spread after allowing two early Kansas touchdowns. Oklahoma State scored twice in the fourth quarter to put the game away despite the cover looking in doubt most of the way.
Arkansas led Mississippi State by just three entering the fourth quarter but the lead was pushed to ten early in the final frame. Mississippi State fought back however getting back within three with four minutes to go and then kicking the tying field goal as time expired. In the first overtime the Bulldogs went right down the field but a fumble narrowly flew out of the end zone for a touchback. Arkansas infuriated backers by playing conservatively for the field goal but the try missed. In the second OT Arkansas found the end zone to go up seven and cover the spread and Mississippi State could not convert.
Virginia Tech and Miami were tied at 17-17 entering the fourth quarter but the Hokies broke an 84 yard run early in the final frame. Miami’s final three drives ended in interceptions and Virginia Tech added another score to push the final to a 14 point margin.
Those laying big points with Nevada had to sweat a bit as the Wolf Pack led by just 32 entering the final quarter. A 57 yard touchdown run got past the spread and for good measure a 90 yard interception return with five minutes to go padded the final margin.
Florida State led by four entering the fourth quarter against Maryland as a four point favorite. The Seminoles added a field goal to go up seven but Maryland appeared poised to tie the game. Florida State turned the tables however with a 96 yard interception in the final minute that sealed the game.
BYU led by just 20 laying over 30 against New Mexico last week. New Mexico had two long drives in the fourth quarter that both ended in interceptions and BYU pulled away with two late scores.
South Florida and Pittsburgh were tied 10-10 entering the fourth quarter but Pittsburgh scored very early in the final quarter to grab a seven point lead. Both teams had opportunities to add points in the final quarter but the 17-10 margin held up.
Texas led Florida Atlantic just 30-17 entering the fourth quarter but a 57 yard interception return opened the final quarter and Texas poured on two more scores to make for a somewhat misleading final.
The final score for Navy with less than three minutes to go gave the Midshipmen a narrow cover against Arkansas State. Navy led by 18 early but Arkansas State cut the lead to just eight points entering the fourth quarter before Navy pulled away.
Florida International led Louisiana just 24-17 entering the fourth quarter but in the final six minutes the Panthers added two touchdown runs to create a somewhat misleading final in a game where Louisiana had more yardage.
San Diego State led Utah 34-24 as slight underdogs entering the fourth quarter but Utah scored two touchdowns in less than three minutes early in the final quarter to get just past the spread. The final two drives for the Aztecs both ended with interceptions in Utah territory.
NFL:
The Jets led Houston 23-7 after a field goal early in the fourth quarter but the Texans would put together a great rally, scoring 20 straight points including a touchdown with just over two minutes to go to take a one point lead. Lost in the praise for Mark Sanchez this week is the interception he immediately threw when the Jets were down one and only needed a field goal to win the game. Houston got the ball on the ten yard line but had to settle for a field goal to go up by four. The lead wouldn’t hold as the Jets put together a great closing drive in the final minute for the win but the Texans did hold on to the cover.
Baltimore was heavily bet last week given the QB situation for the Panthers but Ravens backers got away with a fairly fortunate win. With the line closing as high as -14 the Ravens took a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter but the Panthers connected on a 88-yard pass play to cut the lead to just one score. Baltimore’s offense did nothing on its first possession of the fourth quarter but on its second possession a long field goal built the lead to ten points with less than six minutes to go. In a span of just eleven seconds on the game clock two Carolina passes were intercepted for touchdowns, getting the Ravens past the steep number.
Dallas led Detroit just 21-19 entering the fourth quarter in a game where the Lions held the Cowboys to just 265 yards. Most of that yardage came in the fourth quarter as Dallas had two scoring drives to put the game out of each and Lions failed to get points despite moving into Cowboys territory twice.
While Buffalo technically already had got back within the spread against Cincinnati prior the fourth quarter this game featured a wild comeback. Cincinnati took control in the second quarter with three touchdowns in the span of three minutes of game clock, eventually leading 31-14 at the half. The Bills struck twice in the third including a fumble return touchdown and then poured on points in he fourth to create a lopsided final and invoke memories of Frank Reich.
In a closely lined game the Browns took a 17-10 lead against Jacksonville late in the third quarter. Turnovers haunted the Jaguars the entire game but eventually with just over three minutes to go Jacksonville tied the game. The Browns took the lead back moments late with a field goal but scored too quickly as Jacksonville had time to go all the way down the field with the help of a big play and scored to win by four.
At first glance it looks like the Falcons crushed the Rams but St. Louis lead 17-16 until late in the third quarter. Atlanta was able to get ahead with as they benefited from field position edges throughout the second half, eventually kicking a field goal halfway through the fourth quarter to push the lead to nine. St. Louis immediately went down the field and got the ball to the two yard line but a busted shovel pass play resulted in an interception and while the Falcons were running out the clock Michael Turner broke a long run to pass the final.
The Patriots led the Colts 28-14 entering the fourth quarter and added a field goal in the fourth quarter to go up by 17. The intensity picked up for the Colts on both sides of the ball however and Indianapolis got back-to-back touchdown drives to get within the spread and just down a field goal. With another stop the Colts appeared in position to win or tie but an interception ended the game.
While Philadelphia led New York 16-10 entering the fourth quarter the Giants took the lead early in the fourth as underdogs. On a critical fourth and short play with just over four minutes to go in the game the Eagles broke a 50-yard run to go up by seven with the two-point conversion and turnovers ended any late hopes for the Giants.