Second Thoughts

Vikes' miracle gets bettors scrambling

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum knelt down on the extra point after the Vikings’ winning touchdown in their 29-24 victory over the Saints on Sunday, sending a lot of bettors scrambling depending on what side of the point spread they chose.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum knelt down on the extra point after the Vikings’ winning touchdown in their 29-24 victory over the Saints on Sunday, sending a lot of bettors scrambling depending on what side of the point spread they chose.

Stefon Diggs' 61-yard touchdown catch from Case Keenum in the NFC divisional round wasn't the most stunning thing for bettors Sunday.

The touchdown gave the Minnesota Vikings a 29-24 lead over the New Orleans Saints as time expired. Minnesota was a 5½-point favorite, so bettors were waiting on the result of the extra point try or two-point conversion attempt that is required by rule when a touchdown is scored on the final play of regulation.

After the touchdown, photographers, several media members and others were cleared off the field at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, and eight Saints players -- including the punter Thomas Morstead -- emerged from the locker room to line up to defend the extra point.

Keenum took the snap and kneeled to end the game with a final score of 29-24, leaving the final margin at five points.

Jay Kornegay, VP of race and sports operations at the Westgate Las Vegas, was standing in the middle of his sportsbook when Diggs made his touchdown catch and run.

"The place erupted. It was crazy. It was one of the biggest cheers I ever heard in the sports book," he told The New York Post shortly after the game ended. "Everyone rushed to the window, but they were patient because they were cashing. As the delay went on, you could hear the discussion building, with people talking about whether they were going to have to kick the extra point. But I knew they were going to kneel."

Kornegay said the Saints-Vikings game was the most heavily bet game of the weekend and that the line fluctuated throughout the week, with bettors getting in on either side at 4½, 5 and 5½.

"Some Vikings bettors won, the ones who laid 4½," he said. "People who laid 5 got their money back. Obviously those who laid 5½ lost."

Those in that final group would have had to get out of the winners' line if they didn't have other tickets to cash on the over, the money line, a parlay or propositions.

Of the 15 sports books listed at vegasinsider.com, six had the final line at 5½. Those included some big books such as Caesars/Harrah's, Mirage/MGM and the Golden Nugget. Eight others, including Treasure Island, Wynn and Atlantis, closed at Vikings -5. In sports book football wagering, the gambler receives the point spread at the time of the bet, unlike horse racing, where the final odds determine all payouts.

No Pats for Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman David DeCastro was not pleased with some of his teammates saying they were looking forward to playing and beating the New England Patriots.

The Steelers' season ended Sunday with a 45-42 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC divisional round. New England, which defeated Pittsburgh 27-24 on Dec. 17, will host Jacksonville in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.

"They were ready to go, they were mad, they were angry, they had something to prove and they did it," said DeCastro, who put the finger on teammates he did not name for riling up the Jaguars, to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Yeah, it's embarrassing. It really is, man. It just blows my mind. They beat us 30-9 [Oct. 9], we played like crap and we want to talk about New England!

"I don't know what to say about that. It's just stupid. It's just not what you do. You don't need to give a team like that more bulletin board material."

Said Ed Bouchette of the Post-Gazette: "Some Steelers talked a good game beforehand. They then wound up not playing one."

SPORTS QUIZ

How many Super Bowls have the Minnesota Vikings played in?

ANSWER

Four (1969, 1973, 1974, 1976). The Vikings are 0-4 in the Super Bowl.

Sports on 01/16/2018

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