Stefon Diggs' miracle last-second touchdown Sunday in the NFC divisional playoffs made the Vikings winners and the Saints losers. A similar dynamic applied to lots of people in Las Vegas. Let's count the ways.
Saints money line
Underdog New Orleans was one desperation play away from an outright victory. It was plus-180 (i.e., 9:5 odds) on the closing money line, per the Vegas Insider consensus. Diggs' 61-yard catch and run aided by a Saints defensive mistake shredded that ticket.
GAME CENTER: Saints-Vikings stats
Vikings point spread
The touchdown put the Vikes ahead by five, 29-24, with zeroes on the clock. Minnesota closed as a 5.5-point favorite. Ouch. But wait! The NFL insists that PATs be attempted in such situations (i.e., TDs with no time remaining). Suspicious minds think "Vegas" when this happens.
Hopeful (or maybe delusional) fans could dream of a 33-yard kick by Kai Forbath and a backdoor cover.
Yeah, no.
The Vikes lined up for two, against eight reluctant Saints defenders, and then took a knee in a show of sportsmanship.
LIVE BLOG: How the Vikings' miracle unfolded
One sportsbook had the expected response.
When they kneel for the deciding point lol pic.twitter.com/UXD9sMevmJ
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) January 15, 2018
Over/under
Diggs' score put the combined point total at 53. The final betting total was . . . 47. Had the Saints tackled Diggs inbounds, time likely would have expired, which would have produced a push (i.e., tie) for bettors who played that number.
So, to review: Three horrendous beats on one play: Saints money line, Vikings minus-5.5, Under 47.
That won't elicit much response from the sports betting world, right?
