Army-Navy Under Bettors Suffer Brutal Bad Beat on Unexpected Final Play

That’s over 27.5 total points, for those counting at home. Never in doubt, right?

The college football world was set ablaze Saturday night in the latest edition of the annual matchup between the two service academies.

For college football bettors, the final game of the 2023 regular season couldn’t have been more thrilling. In several sportsbooks, the final total closed at 27.5, but how the bet was won by over bettors (or lost by under bettors like me), was one for the ages.

With Army leading 17–9 in the game’s closing seconds, Navy faced a fourth-and-goal from the Army 2-yard line. Needing a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie, Navy attempted the notorious “Tush Push” play, and quarterback Tai Lavatai was stuffed at the goal line, ending Navy’s hopes of winning the game.

The most Army-Navy ending of all time
pic.twitter.com/y8kKSpB8ZN
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 9, 2023

However, since the play resulted in a turnover on downs, Army had one snap remaining in regulation from its own 1-yard line. The Black Knights had to avoid a catastrophic mistake to win the game.

The safest option? How about quarterback Bryson Daily taking a snap, running all the time off the clock, and stepping out of the back of the end zone for an inconsequential safety?

Sure, it may have been inconsequential to Army, who escaped with a narrow rivalry win, but it was extremely consequential to the game total, which hit the over as soon as he stepped out of the back of the end zone.

I am disgusted. Long live college football.

Here are some of the best social media reactions to the horrendous betting beat to end the regular season in college football.

Army-Navy over the total. We used to be a country
— Jason Kirk (buy my novel) (@JasonKirk_fyi) December 9, 2023

I sincerely pray for anyone who late-bet the Army/Navy under at 27.5…you don’t recover from something like this
— Josh Pate (@LateKickJosh) December 9, 2023

Army spends the final 0:03 backing out of their own endzone, clinching a 17-11 win over Navy in the 124th Army-Navy game. The Safety busts the under lol.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 9, 2023

OVER 27.5 BETTORS UNITE
pic.twitter.com/DHRDgE9dLZ
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 9, 2023

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