Pac-12 changes USC/Utah final score, sportsbooks forced to choose which score to use
Sep 11, 2011, 1:29 PM EDT
Yesterday, a rather bizarre ending occurred in the USC/Utah college football game as the final score of the game was changed from 17-14 to 23-14 due to a referee error costing the Trojans a late touchdown. To most, the decision didn’t matter but for the sports gamblers out there, it was the difference between winning and losing.
Here’s what happened, USC was favored by about eight points on most betting lines going into the game. Nearing the final seconds of play, USC appeared it wasn’t going to cover until USC offensive lineman Matt Kalil blocked Utah’s field goal attempt and Torin Harris ran it back for what appeared to be a touchdown covering the spread of the game. However, the officiating crew calling the game had ruled due to an excessive celebration penalty that the touchdown didn’t count and the game was over. Then the Pac-12 stepped in two hours after the game and ruled that officials made a mistake and the score counted.
For most casinos in Las Vegas, some went with the updated score and some didn’t:
According to Todd Furman, senior race and sportsbook analyst for Caesars Entertainment, his sportsbook won’t recognize the change made by the Pac-12 office.
“We graded the bet at 17-14,” Fuhrman said. “We dont recognize overturned results. Every book can operate how they choose. However, they should have it addressed in their house rules.”
The Las Vegas Hilton is one of a few books that are going by the updated score of 23-14, meaning they will be paying out USC tickets in addition to the Utah tickets that were already previously cashed. It’s a double loss — and a nightmare situation, really — for these books, who must adhere to their posted rules.
A supervisor at the MGM Mirage sports book told the LA Times that his book needed USC to cover the 8.5 points, and said the disallowed touchdown “killed us,” as most of the action was on Utah.
I guess the old Yogi Berra saying is right, it’s never over until it’s ruled to be over.
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Pac-12 office changes Utah-USC Score final score [Beyond the Bets]
USC-Utah game isn’t one for (Vegas) Books [Los Angeles Times]
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- marshallnbrown - Sep 11, 2011 at 2:09 PM
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So the gamblers lost? Who cares?
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- tk1966 - Sep 11, 2011 at 2:27 PM
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USC guilty of excessive celebration? Wow, big surprise
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- florida727 - Sep 12, 2011 at 9:13 AM
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The true gambler, and I’m not one of them, should boycott Caesars Entertainment for the remainder of the college football season. The final score IS 23-14. Todd Furman, you should be fired, immediately. You ‘recognize’ the FINAL SCORE, not the one that happens to be in YOUR best interest. Usually I’m not a fan of litigation, especially for what some might call ‘needless’ lawsuits, but in this case, I’d love to see someone sue Caesars Entertainment. The Nevada Gaming Commission needs to be looking into this too.
