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November 2007
The conference's only 20-game winner also was the only reliable pointspread play, an emerging trend that college basketball betting aficionados will be watching this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses:
MONTANA (17-15 SU, 10-15 ATS, 14-10-1 O/U): The return of a pair of first-team all Big Sky players, Andrew Strait (15.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG) and Jordan Hasquet (13.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG), as well as last season's Freshman of the Year, Cameron Rundles (8.3 PPG) could result in a Big Sky title.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 3-8
Home Underdog: 0-1
Away Favorite: 0-2
Away Underdog: 5-1
Neutral Site: 1-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Grizzlies were 3-10 as a favorite during the 2006/07 season.
Sports Betting Angle: Montana was 4-8 ATS playing on three or more days rest last season.
WEBER STATE (20-12 SU, 17-8 ATS, 16-9 O/U): The loss of Big Sky Player of the Year David Patten is a blow but the return of three starters, including the backcourt duo of Juan Pablo Silveira (11.1 PPG) and Dezmon Harris (10.8 PPG), should keep the Wildcats in title contention.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 9-1
Home Underdog: 1-0
Away Favorite: 0-2
Away Underdog: 6-3
Neutral site: 1-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Wildcats were a best 12-4 ATS in Big Sky games.
Sports Betting Angle: Weber State was 10-1 ATS at home.
PORTLAND STATE (19-13 SU, 13-12 ATS, 15-10 O/U): Led by guard Dupree Lucas (13.2 PPG) and two other starters who averaged better than 10 points per game, the Vikings look like title contenders.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-3
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 0-2
Away Underdog: 6-6
Neutral Site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The "over" was 9-5 in Vikings away games.
Sports Betting Angle: Portland State was 6-2 ATS after a pointspread defeat.
NORTHERN ARIZONA (18-12 SU, 13-12 ATS, 14-11 O/U): The loss of a trio of conference all-stars who each averaged over 15 points per game will severely test the Lumberjacks ability to compete a Big Sky championship.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-3
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 1-0
Away Underdog: 5-8
Neutral Site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Lumberjacks were 8-3 as favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: Northern Arizona was 3-7 ATS on one or no days rest.
IDAHO STATE (13-17 SU, 14-11 ATS, 10-15 O/U): The Bengals lose their top three scorers, putting pressure on a reliable backcourt that will have to do it alone unless the frontcourt is fixed.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-4
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 0-1
Away Underdog: 9-6
Neutral Site: 1-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Bengals were 7-3 ATS versus non-conference foes.
Sports Betting Angle: Idaho State was 7-4 ATS after a pointspread win.
SACRAMENTO STATE (10-19 SU, 9-15 ATS, 13-11 O/U): Loren Leath (12.8 PPG) is a quality guard but there's precious else to inspire confidence that the Hornets will be any better this season than last.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 1-2
Home Underdog: 4-2
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 4-11
Neutral Site: 0-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Hornets were 4-11 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: Sacramento State was 2-5 ATS after a SU victory.
EASTERN WASHINGTON (15-14 SU, 9-15 ATS, 16-8 O/U): After firings and defections only one starter returns, making first year Head Coach Kirk Earlywine's initial season here a difficult one.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 3-6
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 2-1
Away Underdog: 4-8
Neutral Site: 0-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Eagles were 3-11 ATS in conference play.
Sports Betting Angle: Eastern Washington was 2-9 ATS after a SU win.
MONTANA STATE (11-19 SU, 11-11-1 ATS, 15-8 O/U): The Bobcats simply do not have the quality personnel to pose a threat to the league's premier teams.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 1-0
Home Underdog: 5-3-1
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 5-7
Neutral Site: 0-0
Sportsbook Buster: The "over" was 14-7 when the Bobcats were underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: Montana State was 6-2 ATS after a pointspread victory.
NORTHERN COLORADO (4-24 SU, 0-0 ATS, 0-0 O/U): The Bears transition from Division II to Division I has been difficult but Northern Colorado should win a few more games than last season.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 0-0
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 0-0
Neutral Site: 0-0
Sportsbook Buster: Second year in Division I play; no pointspread data.
Sports Betting Angle: Second year in Division I play; no pointspread data.
This is the 19th of 22 NCAA college basketball betting previews.
Next: Handicapping the Ivy League.
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