Sports betting roundup: Close games in all sports make for betting excitement

Exciting baseball playoff games, lots of upsets in college football and NFL games that came down to the final seconds all made for a thrilling weekend for sports bettors.

In one of the best NFL games on Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens came away with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals 41-38 in overtime. The back-and-forth swings, including a Baltimore fumble and a Cincinnati missed field goal, in overtime were big for bettors with 73% of the bets and 67% of the money on the Ravens covering as 2.5-point favorites at the BetMGM sportsbook.

The three most bet teams in terms of number of bets against the spread all covered on Sunday — the Minnesota Vikings (-2.5), Washington Commanders (-3) and Ravens (-2.5).

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty now has the best odds to win the Heisman Trophy at +225. On Saturday against Utah State, he ran for 186 yards and three touchdowns in the 62-30 victory. He also hit the first touchdown scorer, which was +140, and anytime touchdown of -2000.

The biggest upset of the weekend was No. 1 Alabama falling to unranked Vanderbilt 40-35 on the road. The Crimson Tide were a 23.5-point favorite and took in 62% of the bets and 63% of the money in against-the-spread betting. Vanderbilt was +1100 on the moneyline, and only 32% of the money was on them.

Like the Ravens-Bengals game, the Sunday night game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers also had many swings. Dallas’ touchdown with 20 seconds remaining gave the Cowboys a 20-17 victory in a game in which they were 2.5-point underdogs. Pittsburgh took in 64% of the bets and 70% of the money.

The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets are knotted at 1-1 in the NLDS after two exciting games on Saturday and Sunday. Trailing 1-0 in the eighth inning of Game 1, New York scored five runs to blow the game open and come away with a 5-1 victory. The Mets were +155 to win and only took in 35% of the money. In Game 2, the Phillies were -150 and took in 71% of the money. Philadelphia won the game 7-6.

In the college football odds to win the national championship, Ohio State still has the best odds at +300. They are also the most popular team among bettors, taking in the most bets (15.4%) and the second-most money (17.3%).

Georgia, which is +500, is taking in the most money (17.6%) on the third-most bets (11.5%).

Texas has the second-best odds at +450 and is generating the second-most money (11.9%) and the third-most bets (11.6%).

This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper, left, and Nick Castellanos celebrate after scoringon a two-run triple hit by Bryson Stott during the eighth inning of Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) and holder Bryan Anger (5) chase the ball after Aubrey's field goal attempt was blocked by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs for a long gain against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Minnesota Vikings' Stephon Gilmore (2), center, celebrates after an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs in front of Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams (32) and running back Owen Wright (36) for a long touchdown after making a catch during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) scrambles as Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) applies pressure during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

The Southeastern Conference has fined Vanderbilt and Arkansas after their fans stormed the field following upset wins on Saturday.

Arkansas was fined $250,000 after its 19-14 win over then-No. 4 Tennessee because it is a second offense. Future offenses will cost the school $500,000. It was Arkansas’ first home win over a top-five opponent since beating No. 3 Tennessee in 1999.

Vanderbilt, a first-time offender, was fined $100,000 after its 40-35 win over then-No. 1 Alabama. It was the school's first-ever win over a No. 1 team. Fans tore down a goalpost and dumped it in the Cumberland River, 2 1/2 miles from the stadium. Members of the metro Nashville fire department retrieved it from the river to keep it from being a hazard, and Vanderbilt took advantage by setting up an auction to sell pieces of it.

Both instances violated the league’s access to competition area policy, which states that “institutions shall limit access to competition areas to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed or authorized individuals at all times.”

Fines are paid to the opposing school.

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Vanderbilt fans tear down the goal post the after team's 40-35 win over No. 1 Alabama in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)