In regards to Hawaii...

[Kawshon]

I was at the game last night and just to let you all know (since you're all wondering), the shot was uncontested, as the players did not want to allow Nebraska a chance to get a 4 point play off and tie the game (remember that teams are more concerned about winning than covering the spread)...

Everyone's upset about this...and understandably so, but we have all seen funny things happen in sports. I can think of three offhand...

Tampa Bay vs. NY Giants Monday night football...Giants take an intentional safety which results in a tie (instead of a loss) for all of us betting on Tampa.

Also....NE Patriots vs. Denver Broncos Monday night football...Patriots take an intentional safety which means they are no longer covering the spread...then proceed to stuff the Broncos and march down the field for a game winning touchdown...

And finally...(the one that hurts the most) O/U is 48 for the Broncos/Colts game in a Sunday night matchup...the two teams combine for 45 in the first half...then somehow the high powered offense STOPS and they score 3 in the second half, leading to a grand total of 48 points!

I know it hurts to lose a bet, but sometimes teams blow big leads...and sometimes players choke at the end of a game. There was nothing fixed about the game -- Nebraska came out red hot in the second half and hit just about every 3 pointer. In addition, Hawaii's leading scorer, Jason Carter, went out midway through the second half with four fouls and never returned. Remember that Hawaii shot over 70% from the field in the first half (and Nebraska shot well...at 52%) -- no team can stay hot like that forever -- they were bound to cool off, and they did (leading to a 20-4 run to start the second half)

I'll be interested to see the lines for Wednesday's game against Michigan -- from what I understand, the team boarded a plane soon after completion of the game, so they will most likely be jetlagged and sluggish early.

On a happier note...

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL THIS WEEK...LET'S ALL RECOVER FROM THIS GAME AND WIN THE REST OF THEM!!!

[frankb03]

Agreed!

I didn't see the game. I did check the box score. I've said it before and I'll say it again. These game are not fixed. It seems whenever the betting public takes a tough loss everyone is screaming fix. Nebraska hit three 3-pt shots in 1:04 to cut a 14 point Hawaii lead to 5. The Hawaii players starting feeling the pressure.

[bgh2003]

How does a 2.5 point favorite fix a game to win by, oh, 2 or 1 points? Very difficult to do without losing the game outright. You are absolutely correct, this game was not fixed.

BTW, the football examples you cite were mere freak occurrences, not examples of fishy conduct. You see that quite often in football, where scoring comes at a premium and you need every possible point you can get to cover a spread. I remember a 1999 MNF game between the Steelers and Falcons where Pittsburgh, a 4.5 point favorite up by six, got pinned deep in its own territory late in the game and decided to take an intentional safety rather than risk a punt block. Safety, two points, Pittsburgh wins by 4 but doesn't cover, and I had to restrain myself from punting the TV out the window.