Indiana QB apologizes for ‘cooked spreads’ after safety to end game leads to bad beat
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The nationwide movement to legalize sports betting has created a new level of intrigue and excitement surrounding college football, one of humanity’s most unpredictable sports.
So when you combine people’s pocketbooks with a pastime that doesn’t care much about parlays or spreads, you get incredible moments like what occurred Saturday between Indiana and Iowa.
Clinging to a 20-13 lead with just three seconds left on the clock, Hoosiers’ quarterback Fernando Mendoza opted to take what he believed to be the safest course of action. The Cal transfer sprinted from his own 40-yard line to the end zone and slid down, awarding the Hawkeyes a safety as time expired.
The move ensured that IU would come out on top, but it also created plenty of problems for those that were financially invested.
After all, Indiana was favored by 6.5 points coming into this game, and Mendoza’s decision allowed Iowa to cover.
After the game, Mendoza was asked about the viral play and made sure to apologize to any frustrated bettors.
“I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but I know that I probably cooked some people’s spreads, and I really apologize for that,” Mendoza said. “But in the moment my goal was to win the game…and for us we’re always looking for the Indiana money-line, which is a win.”
If anything, the outcome serves as a worthy reminder that until the game clock hits triple zeroes, no wager is truly safe.
Parker is currently the sports editor with the Enterprise-Journal in McComb, Mississippi. He's a graduate from Mizzou who has experience covering the Tiger football and basketball beats for SB Nation, and he's worked for a variety of sports news outlets in the past.
