The head-scratching end to Packers-Cardinals had huge betting implications

The dramatic finish to the Packers-Cardinals game left over bettors devastated.

You know that Jack Nicholson meme from the movie “Anger Management,” the one where he’s approvingly nodding his head as if anticipating an inevitable outcome?

I imagine that’s what a slew of Thursday Night Football bettors were doing as the Arizona Cardinals drove the field on the Green Bay Packers for what increasingly seemed to be a game-winning drive, game-tying at the very least.

The Packers led the 6.5-point favored Cardinals 24-21. Hope was all but gone for those who bet the spread on the Cardinals, but the over on 49.5 total points at -115 odds on Tipico Sportsbook was still very much in play, not to mention the Cardinals moneyline.

Awful clock management and questionable play-calling by the Packers on their own goal line allowed the Cardinals to take over on downs with under four minutes left to play. Twelve plays and 94 yards later, destiny appeared to be on the side of those over bettors.

That is until Kyler Murray’s fateful fade — that A.J. Green was somehow unprepared for — resulted in an interception in the final seconds of the game.

RASUL DOUGLAS INTERCEPTS MURRAY. #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/ZIDly9m0Bc

— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2021

Those head nods likely turned into something more similar to the Cardinals fan cameras found in the stands hanging his head in disbelief. Or Aaron Rodgers’ face after taking a late hit in the third quarter.

In dramatic fashion, over bettors lost. Also teased without cashouts were those who bet on Murray to go over the 276.5 line on his passing yards. He finished with 274. And those who bet for him, or Green (+225), to have at least one touchdown. Or really anyone who needed more production on a player prop and was hoping for overtime.

Condolences to Arizona fans as the Cardinals unbeaten season has come to an end. #RedSea pic.twitter.com/GCGJXdNd6h

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 29, 2021

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