Cowboys-Giants over/under: How Brandon Aubrey's missed field goal allowed New York to cover spread

Bryan Murphy

Cowboys-Giants over/under: How Brandon Aubrey's missed field goal allowed New York to cover spread image

Week 4 in the NFL kicked off with an incredibly bad beat. 

In terms of the outcome of the game, Brandon Aubrey's miss from 51 yards in the final minute meant nothing for the Cowboys-Giants "Thursday Night Football" game. Instead of the final being 23-15, it ended 20-15, with Dallas picking up a win over its NFC East rival. 

However, in 2024, it's not all about the result on the field. It's also about how things shape up off it, whether that be in fantasy or in the gambling world. 

Aubrey's kick was a gut punch to a number of bettors on Thursday night. While it didn't impact whether Dallas won or lost the contest, it did affect plenty of gamblers who put their money on the Cowboys to cover the spread. 

Here is more on Aubrey's missed kick and how it impacted bettors. 

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Cowboys-Giants over/under

The Cowboys entered the game as 5-point favorites, according to Caesars Sportsbooks. A number of other books had Dallas either at 5.5 or 6-point favorites. 

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Those who took Dallas to cover the spread were forced to sweat out their wager. While the Cowboys seemingly were in control, Mike McCarthy's crew never truly pulled away, allowing the Giants to stick around. 

When Aubrey lined up for a field goal with 31 seconds left, it may not have meant much to the game itself. However, it provided a chance to add three points to the Cowboys' winning margin, allowing those who picked Dallas against the spread to win their wagers. 

It seemed like a sure-thing at the time. Aubrey had yet to miss a field goal in the NFL from over 50 yards. 

However, there is a first time for everything. Aubrey's attempt was pushed to the right, missing the uprights and keeping it a five-point game.

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As a result, it allowed the Giants, not the Cowboys, to cover the spread, screwing over those that backed Dallas.

Bad beat, indeed. 

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Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.