As any sports bettor can tell you, a meaningless play to the masses is still significant to some. Sunday’s NFL showdown between longtime rivals the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams is a great example of that.
The San Francisco 49ers came into SoFi Stadium as 7.5-point favorites.
Leading 27-20, 49ers kicker Jake Moody kicked a 26-yard field goal with just under three minutes left to expand the margin to 10 points. Thousands of people were excited, but it would not last long.
The Rams had the ball with about 94 seconds to go in a game that was already decided. Matthew Stafford completed a 17-yard pass to the 49ers’ 20, then spiked the ball with four seconds left.
Bettors started to sweat.
Instead of throwing to the end zone, Rams coach Sean McVay elected to attempt a 38-yard field goal. They knocked it down and it turned into a brutal bad beat.
The following day, head coach Sean McVay was having a press conference and Action Network gambling reporter Darren Rovell tried to sign in on the Zoom call to get his reaction to the final play.
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However, the Rams refused to let him in.
According to Action Network’s public betting data, 71% of betting tickets were on the Niners to cover and 57% of the money was on the 49ers, too.
The Westgate SuperBook and South Point Sportsbook each took hits on the field goal, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Brock Purdy passed for 206 yards and ran for an early touchdown. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 116 yards and a score. Matt Stafford passed for 307 yards and threw a TD pass to Kyren Williams for Los Angeles.
