Biggest Sports Betting Upsets of 2020
- With all sports playing under unprecedented COVID-19 restrictions and precautions, we saw our fair share of upsets during the past year
- The Nuggets 3-1 series come back against the Clippers, LSU’s win in the Swamp against Florida and the Marlins overcoming a massive COVID-outbreak to reach the postseason are some of our favorites
- Take a trip down memory lane of the biggest upsets of the year within the following story
2020 was an unprecedented year for sports – and sports bettors – as we had 2.5 months of normalcy before the COVID-19 pandemic set in.
When sports returned, we were met with empty (or limited capacity) stadiums, masked up players and COVID outbreaks making rosters a game of musical chairs.
Take a walk back down upset lane with us, as the chart below features some of the biggest upsets across the sports betting world in the last year.
Biggest Sports Betting Upsets of 2020
| Event/Game/Series | Result/Winner | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| MLB: Miami Marlins Make Playoffs | NL Wild Card Berth | +1700 on Opening Day |
| NBA: LAC-DEN Western Conference Semifinals | Nuggets def. Clippers 4-3 | DEN +800 to Win Series |
| NFL: Rams vs Jets | Jets 23-20 | NYJ +17, +1000 ML |
| Soccer: Cadiz vs Barcelona | Cadiz 2-1 | +1100 ML |
| Tennis: Women’s French Open | Iga Swiatek | +4000 |
| Golf: PGA Tour Wyndham Championship | Jim Herman | +50000 |
| NCAAF: LSU vs Florida | LSU 37-34 | LSU +23, +850 ML |
| NCAAB: San Francisco vs Virginia | USF 61-60 | USF +15.5, +900 ML |
| NHL: MTL vs PEN Qualifying Series | Canadiens def. Penguins 3-1 | MTL +172 to Win Series |
Jets Upset Rams…and Their Fans
The New York Jets tank for the top pick in the 2021 draft was going perfectly this season. Adam Gase made a fool of himself multiple times, Gregg Williams was fired as DC after embarrassing performances and Frank Gore was still getting NFL snaps.
Then came Week 15 at SoFi Stadium.
Sean McVay’s Rams came out flat as can be, and the Jets led wire-to-wire for their first victory of the season in a 23-20 win.
Gore ran for 59 yards (on a whopping 2.6 YPC) and a score, while Sam Darnold dinked-and-dunked his way around the field for 207 yards and a score. The defense did most of the heavy lifting for the 17-point underdogs, stifling the Rams run game and keeping Jared Goff from getting the ball downfield in the passing game.
With Trevor Lawrence now likely off to Jacksonville and the fan base irate, even when the Jets win – they still find a way to lose.
Clippers Collapse Inside the Bubble vs Denver
Holding a 3-1 lead over the Nuggets in the Western Conference semis, it seemed like a foregon conclusion we’d be getting the battle of LA inside the bubble.
The Denver Nuggets had other plans.
Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the rest of Michael Malone’s squad came back from a 3-1 deficit to send Kawhi Leonard and Paul George home early.
3-1 mentality 😎 pic.twitter.com/DgrSrsFuBK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 16, 2020
As long as +800 to begin the series and +2200 when they were down 3-1, Denver rallied back behind monstrous performances from their young stars and the Clippers lack of chemistry and cohesion in crunch time on offense.
Denver was even a seven-point dog in Game 7, and ended up cruising into the WCF with a 104-89 dispatching of Doc Rivers’ now former team. It also ignited a spree of memes online we haven’t seen since the Cavs comeback against the Warriors in the 2016 Finals.
Paul George how many times did you hit the backboard this series? pic.twitter.com/tDv2oA1TFE
— Slaydro (@TheTrackMamba) September 16, 2020
LSU a Shoe-In for Craziest Upset of the Year
It’s been a hell of a year for the reigning national champions down in Baton Rouge. After losing a record number of starters to graduation and the NFL, as well as both coordinators to promotions, LSU was behind the 8-ball from Day 1 of Fall Camp
Throw in a pandemic affected season, suspensions, injuries and transfers – and the Tigers limped into the Swamp at 3-5 a week after being slapped around by Alabama in a 55-17 loss.
Florida needed a win to keep pace in the CFP rankings and set up a potential win and you’re in scenario vs Alabama in the SEC Championship game.
Tigers fans started to feel like it might be their night early on, when Heisman contender Kyle Trask threw two interceptions .
This Interception by LSU vs Florida was the craziest play I’ve ever seen.. #LSUvsUF #Florida pic.twitter.com/HdLt3Y344b
— one vibin bro (@tschlep2) December 13, 2020
Third string QB Max Johnson was effective for LSU as well keeping pace with the Gators dynamic offense, to the tune of 239 yards passing and three touchdowns.
A thick fog enveloped the field with the score tied at 34 late in the fourth, and with the Tigers driving to get in position for a winning FG, they were thrown the greatest gift of the 2020 season.
In his media availability today, Florida head coach Dan Mullen called this shoe throw a "football move."pic.twitter.com/R88dHeyhRs
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) December 13, 2020
Marco Wilson’s absolute nuke of Kole Taylor’s shoe led to a fifteen yard unsportsmanlike call, continuing the drive that resulted in Cade York’s game winner from 57 yards out.
The shoe throw was easily the craziest on-field moment we saw this year, and had LSU cash in as +850 dogs.
Mitch graduated from Ryerson University's Sport Media program in June of 2018, and has been with SBD since 2019. He's worked in broadcast and digital for the Score, Sportsnet, TSN & CBC and has done play-by-play work for basketball at all levels including NCAA, Pan Am Games & U Sports.
