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November 2007
All five teams that had a winning straight up won/lost record also were successful against the spread last season, something college basketball betting followers will be eyeing this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses:
EAST DIVISION
KENT STATE (21-11 SU, 17-11 ATS, 11-17 O/U): Not only do the Flashes return four starters and several valuable reserves but a trio of transfers will help Kent State wrest the East title away from Akron this season.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 5-6
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 4-2
Away Underdog: 5-2
Neutral Site: 3-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Flashes were 9-4 ATS on the road last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Kent State was 9-4 ATS on three or more days rest last season.
AKRON (26-7 SU, 16-12 ATS, 13-14-1 O/U): MAC Player of the Year Romeo Travis is gone and, although the Zips will be formidable, will be hard-pressed to match last season's success.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-5
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 6-5
Away Underdog: 1-0
Neutral site: 3-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Zips were 9-3 ATS on two or more days rest.
Sports Betting Angle: Akron was 7-3 ATS in the game after a pointspread loss.
OHIO (19-13 SU, 16-15 ATS, 8-20 O/U): In Leon Williams (14.4 PPG, 8.8 RPG) and Jerome Tillman (14.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG) the Bobcats have the best forward duo in the conference. If they get a point guard, watch out.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-5
Home Underdog: 1-0
Away Favorite: 1-5
Away Underdog: 4-3
Neutral Site: 4-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Bobcats were 1-5 as an away favorite.
Sports Betting Angle: Ohio was 8-3 ATS after a SU defeat.
MIAMI (18-15 SU, 17-14 ATS, 13-16-2 O/U): Tim Pollitz (16.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG) is a strong player but it's hard to see how the RedHawks move much further up the conference ladder.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-5
Home Underdog: 1-1
Away Favorite: 2-2
Away Underdog: 4-5
Neutral Site: 6-1
Sportsbook Buster: The RedHawks were 13-5 ATS after a SU victory.
Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 11-4 when Miami was an underdog.
BOWLING GREEN (13-18 SU, 13-14 ATS, 16-11 O/U): Louis Orr takes over the coaching reigns, building around G Nate Miller (14.1 PPG, 7.7 RPG) and not much else.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 3-3
Home Underdog: 1-3
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 7-6
Neutral Site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Falcons were 5-12 ATS in conference play.
Sports Betting Angle: Bowling Green was 8-2 ATS versus non-conference opponents.
BUFFALO (12-19 SU, 14-15 ATS, 18-11 O/U): The Bulls have a deep backcourt but the absence of frontcourt muscle will have Buffalo snowed under.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-4
Home Underdog: 3-2
Away Favorite: 0-1
Away Underdog: 5-7
Neutral Site: 2-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Bulls were 6-11 ATS in MAC play.
Sports Betting Angle: Buffalo was 4-9 ATS after a pointspread win.
WEST DIVISION
WESTERN MICHIGAN (16-16 SU, 17-14 ATS, 22-9 O/U): Everyone returns, including the inside/outside duo of Joe Reitz (13.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG) and David Kool (11.4 PPG) so look for the Broncos to improve dramatically.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-4
Home Underdog: 2-0
Away Favorite: 1-2
Away Underdog: 6-3
Neutral Site: 1-5
Sportsbook Buster: The Broncos were 10-5 ATS on three or more days rest.
Sports Betting Angle: Western Michigan was 10-4 ATS following a SU loss.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (13-18 SU, 15-14-1 ATS, 16-12-2 O/U): Four starters return, including All-MAC guard Giordan Watson (18.8 PPG), making the Chippewas a decent bet to have a winning season.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 3-5
Home Underdog: 2-2
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 8-5-1
Neutral Site: 2-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Chippewas were 10-6-1 ATS following a SU loss.
Sports Betting Angle: Central Michigan was 8-4-1 ATS after a pointspread defeat
EASTERN MICHIGAN (13-19 SU, 16-11 ATS, 10-17 O/U): Everyone returns, including top gunner Carlos Medlock (13.2 PPG) who broke his foot in January. EMU appears ready to make a move.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-1
Home Underdog: 2-3
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 6-6
Neutral Site: 4-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Eagles were 15-7 ATS on two or more days rest.
Sports Betting Angle: EMU was 10-5 ATS after a SU loss.
TOLEDO (19-13 SU, 16-15 ATS, 14-17 O/U): The Rockets lost their top three scorers and rebounders from last year's team so Toledo is apt to struggle, especially early in the season.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 5-4
Home Underdog: 1-1
Away Favorite: 2-1
Away Underdog: 6-5
Neutral Site: 2-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Rockets were 10-6 ATS in conference play.
Sports Betting Angle: Toledo was 9-4 ATS on two or fewer days rest.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (7-23 SU, 11-15 ATS, 12-13-1 O/U): Former Colorado Coach Ricardo Patton inherits a team in DeKalb which should be better if only for the change at the top.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-4
Home Underdog: 2-2
Away Favorite: 0-1
Away Underdog: 5-4
Neutral Site: 2-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Huskies were 2-6 as favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 10-6-1 in MAC games involving Northern Illinois.
BALL STATE (9-22 SU, 9-19 ATS, 12-16 O/U): Billy Taylor takes over a program marred by racial incidents where there's some good talent but cohesiveness will be a question.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-6
Home Underdog: 1-1
Away Favorite: 0-1
Away Underdog: 5-6
Neutral Site: 1-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Cardinals were 6-11 ATS in conference play.
Sports Betting Angle: Ball State was 1-8 ATS after a pointspread win.
This is the 16th of 22 NCAA college basketball betting previews.
Next: Handicapping the Sun Belt Conference.
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