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Doug Pederson’s decision to go for two leads Eagles to unlikely back-door cover vs. Seattle

The Eagles were 6.5-point underdogs to Seattle and covered with a remarkable touchdown and conversion in the final 12 seconds.

Eagles running back Miles Sanders had a quiet night except for a rather meaningful two-point conversion that helped the Eagles improbably cover a 6.5-point spread.
Eagles running back Miles Sanders had a quiet night except for a rather meaningful two-point conversion that helped the Eagles improbably cover a 6.5-point spread.Read moreMONICA HERNDON / Staff Photographer
    by Ed Barkowitz
    Updated 
    Published 

Doug Pederson is 3-7-1 and under more heat than any Super Bowl-winning coach in recent memory. But he’s the man of the hour in Vegas, Jersey, and everywhere else outside Philadelphia where sports betting is red-hot.

The Eagles lost to Seattle 23-17, but covered a 6.5-point spread with an unlikely 33-yard touchdown heave and a curious decision to go for — and convert — a two-point conversion with 12 seconds left.

At William Hill’s sportsbooks nationwide, 85 percent of the point-spread money wagered on this game was on the Seahawks. Same with houses all over the nation.

The ending was “extremely significant to every sportsbook in the country,” said Pat Eichner of Pointsbet. “[We had] 91 percent of spread tickets on the Seahawks and we were certainly not alone in that very lopsided boat.”

Another bookie said, “That ended on the good side” for us. The result likely was disastrous for local bookies who generally see plenty of Eagles plays from those who foolishly bet with their hearts.

Richard Rodgers scored what non-bettors considered a meaningless touchdown off a deflection to make it a 23-16 Seattle lead with 12 seconds left. Conventional wisdom called for Pederson to kick the extra point, make it a seven-point game and hope for a miracle with just 12 seconds left.

But Pederson went for two and got it when Miles Sanders slipped in for the conversion. The Eagles lose by 6, but cover the 6.5.

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It should be noted that the line opened at Eagles +5, but went to +6.5 on Tuesday or so. The Eagles are 8-point underdogs next week at Green Bay.

Covers.com reported on Monday that BetMGM had one bet of $500,000 and another of $189,000 on Seattle at -6.5. Further proof that the best way to double your money betting on sports is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

“People still had faith in the Eagles throughout the season for whatever reason, but they never really deserved it,” said Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill’s U.S. operations, before the game. “That’s not the case tonight, we’ll definitely need Philly here.”

    Ed Barkowitz
    General assignment sports writer who always hits on 16 when the dealer has a 10.
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