Raiders-Packers bets stand despite field being shortened

Thursday’s preseason game between the Ravens and Eagles was halted with 11:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, prompting all game, total and second-half bets to be refunded.

It wasn’t even the craziest development of the night at the sportsbooks involving the NFL preseason.

NFL officials announced just minutes before kickoff between the Raiders and Packers in Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada, the game would be played on an 80-yard field.

The decision was made after a lengthy discussion between representatives of both teams about field conditions in the end zone in the spot where the CFL goal posts would normally be positioned.

Several sports book directors told the Review-Journal they had no specific rules posted for an adjusted length of the field, meaning all bets made before the announcement stood as wagered.

It’s possible one could be added in the future, though sources indicated it’s such an obscure situation that would never happen in a regular season game that there may be no appetite to add such a rule.

There is a standard rule in place about the length of games that must be completed for action to stand, generally 55 minutes for NFL games. The Eagles and Ravens only completed 48 minutes.

Baltimore was leading 26-15 in the game and was on the verge of its 16th consecutive preseason win, a trend that drew significant action at the windows and pushed the Ravens as high as a 3.5-point favorite on the road.

All game, total and second-half bets from the game were refunded, though first-half bets stood as action.

There was more drama for bettors in the wild game between the Packers and Raiders.

The Westgate sports book moved the total from 37.5 to 40.5 when the decision to play on a short field was announced, but there was very little time for bettors to play the adjusted number.

Daniel Carlson’s game-winning field goal with eight seconds remaining pushed the combined points to 43.

The Westgate did make the second-half number slightly higher than it normally would have been after 31 points were scored in the first half. Bettors immediately hit the over 20.5 to move it to 21.5.

Only 12 points were scored in the second half.

Money around town came in on the under throughout the day before there was any indication there could be issues with the field.

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter.