MVCfans.com

LAS VEGAS -- Sports bettors in Nevada are complaining to state gambling regulators over a scoring change in last weekend's USC-Utah football game that didn't affect the outcome, but swung the betting result in many sports books from the Utes to the Trojans.

Enforcement chief Jerry Markling of the Nevada Gaming Control Board said yesterday that regulators have been taking calls from gamblers and casinos and are trying to resolve disputes after Pac-12 officials changed the score of Saturday night's game two hours after it ended.

"In most cases, the house rules probably are sufficient," he said. "In some cases, they may not be and in those cases then we'll take it and conduct an investigation and make a determination."

USC ultimately won 23-14, scoring a touchdown on a blocked field goal return on the final play of the game. But the touchdown wasn't counted at first because of an excessive celebration penalty on USC, and the score was given as 17-14.

USC was favored by roughly 8½ points in most sports books in Sin City.

MSUDuo wrote:I didn't know Utah State got invited and accepted into the PAC-12...My, they have come a long way!

JayJ79 wrote:if the in-game call was actually incorrect, then I commend the PAC-12 on it's correction of the score. They shouldn't make any efforts to make things more convenient for gamblers, as the NCAA has made mission statements against gambling.


But I have to question the situation regarding that final play.
Was the excessive celebration penalized PRIOR to the guy crossing the goal line for the touchdown, or after the TD? If it was prior, didn't they amend the rules that such penalties (like high-stepping, etc.) can negate scores?

If the celebration that drew the penalty happened AFTER the TD, then the touchdown should stand.

JayJ79 wrote:upon further review (well, viewing it for the first time, actually), the flag was thrown b/c USC's "bench" (players and coaches on the sideline) ran onto the field while the guy was in the act of running back the blocked kick.

so the penalty did happen prior to the TD being scored, but as it was a "bench penalty", I'm not sure if that falls under the jurisdiction of the recent rule change.

unipanther99 wrote:

JayJ79 wrote:upon further review (well, viewing it for the first time, actually), the flag was thrown b/c USC's "bench" (players and coaches on the sideline) ran onto the field while the guy was in the act of running back the blocked kick.

so the penalty did happen prior to the TD being scored, but as it was a "bench penalty", I'm not sure if that falls under the jurisdiction of the recent rule change.

Non-player fouls (like bench/sideline penalties) are always enforced after the play.