TCU touchdown in final seconds exhilarates — or crushes — bettors
Bettors who wagered on TCU football against Colorado on Saturday were winning for only 19 seconds out of the game’s 60 minutes — but they were the right 19 seconds.
Senior wide receiver Eric McAlister got one foot in the back of the end zone to complete a 21-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds remaining, and the Horned Frogs, favored by 13.5 points, secured a 35-21 victory over the Buffaloes on Saturday night at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
TCU never led by more than seven points before that, and even trailed 14-0 in the second quarter.
The Horned Frogs fought back to take a 28-21 lead with 5:44 remaining in the fourth quarter, then got the ball back after forcing a Colorado punt.
TCU ran most of the remaining time off, but faced a fourth-and-6 at the Colorado 21 with 26 seconds remaining. A 38-yard field goal from that spot would have given the Horned Frogs an insurmountable 10-point lead, but backup kicker Nate McCashland had missed a 30-yarder in the first quarter.
Instead, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes opted to go for it on fourth down, and quarterback Josh Hoover lofted a pass to McAlister in the back of the end zone. He leaped and got one foot down inbounds to exhilarate — or crush — bettors.
The Horned Frogs (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) improved to 3-2 against the spread this season.
