The Biggest Sports Comebacks and Their Potential Impact on Live Betting
Amazing comebacks, in which teams stage remarkable rallies to transform almost certain defeat into an unbelievable triumph, abound throughout sports history. With live betting, bets can be made in real-time on the best sports betting apps as the momentum changes, and it is becoming more and more popular. We retell some of the most well-known comeback stories in sports and investigate the potential swings in in-game betting odds that may have resulted from them.
Patriots Erase 25-Point Super Bowl Deficit
In Super Bowl LI, the New England Patriots overcame a 28-3 third-quarter deficit against the Atlanta Falcons in what is probably the greatest Super Bowl comeback in history. The Patriots were a 250-1 long shot in the third quarter, down by 25 points after reaching the Falcons’ 25-yard line on four straight possessions without scoring any scores. However, New England stunned Atlanta 34-28 with 31 unanswered points, including the first-ever overtime touchdown in Super Bowl history. With every late touchdown drive, this historic rally most certainly massively changed the live lines.
Cleveland Defeats NY Yankees in Baseball Playoffs
When Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS entered its eighth inning, New York had taken a 3-1 lead against Cleveland, who had fallen behind the legendary Yankees 1-0 in the series. With the series potentially ending with a 0-2 deficit going into Yankee Stadium, the Indians shocked New York and tied the series with six runs in the eighth inning, which set the stage for an eventual series win. Live betting odds were probably greatly influenced by the Indians’ late resurgence amid the inning-long barrage.
LA Kings Reverse 0-3 Series Deficit
The eighth-seeded Los Angeles Kings started a historic run in the 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinals against Vancouver after falling behind 0-3. After winning four straight games, LA became just the fourth club in NHL history to come back from a 0–3 series deficit. Only a few days before, the Kings were on the verge of elimination, thus the betting odds had to shift in their favor as they forced a Game 6. In the same postseason, LA went on to win the first Stanley Cup triumph as a franchise.
UNLV Tops Duke Despite 30-Point Halftime Hole
In 1990, the UNLV Rebels pulled off one of the craziest comebacks in college basketball history, defeating #1 Duke by a score of 79-77 after trailing by 30 points at the half. Despite the huge early deficit, UNLV managed to outscore the well-favored Blue Devils by 22 points after the half. This allowed them to pull off an unlikely road victory. Given that no Division I men’s basketball team has ever overturned a lead of more than thirty points at halftime, live lines probably couldn’t have imagined a comeback of that magnitude.
Red Sox Rally Versus Yankees in ALCS
With a 4-3 deficit in the ninth inning and facing elimination in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, Boston’s chances of winning the series were only 3%, but they pulled off an incredible comeback. After tying the game against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, the Red Sox overcame a 3-0 series deficit thanks to an extraordinary comeback led by David Ortiz, who went on to win 6-4 in 12 innings. In the end, Boston emerged as the first—and now the only—team in MLB postseason history to pull off that accomplishment.
LSU Defeats Auburn With Hail Mary
Potential catastrophe befell LSU during their perfect 2019 season as they trailed Auburn 23–20 with eight seconds remaining. However, Heisman winner Joe Burrow stunned Auburn 26–23 with a 61-yard touchdown throw to Ja’Marr Chase, preserving LSU’s title prospects. Auburn most certainly witnessed a significant betting line change in their favor going into those last, heartbreaking seconds, as LSU closed as a 10.5 point away favorite.
Illini Rebound From Record Deficit
In February 2021, Illinois staged a historic comeback against 15th-ranked Northwestern after falling down by 28 points in the second half. The Illinois defeated Northwestern 81-78 by closing on a scorching 29-4 run that erased a 75-49 deficit. That was equal to the biggest deficit overcame at the D-1 level. Those who dared to place a live gamble on Illinois appeared to have enormous reward potential as their comeback gained momentum in the last stages.
Epic Comebacks Span Sports History
Epic comebacks in sports history have been a source of great joy for many sports fans, from Brady’s Super Bowl wizardry to the Red Sox’s stunning victory over the Yankees. These rallies, along with countless others, demonstrate why live betting is becoming more and more popular. With the odds changing drastically every minute you can find the best sports betting apps here and take advantage of a well-timed pivotal play has the potential to cause a massive shift in the od. We can better understand the appeal of live wagering by looking at the biggest sporting comebacks in history.
