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November 2007
The four MAAC teams that won 18 or more games straight up also had winning records against the spread last season, a trend college basketball betting enthusiasts will be monitoring this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses:
SIENA (20-12 SU, 15-13 ATS, 19-9 O/U): With a top notch backcourt of Kenny Hasbrouck (16.0 PPG) and Ronald Moore (4.9 APG), as well as emerging star forward Edwin Ubiles (11.8 PPG as a freshman), the Saints have a good shot at the MAAC title.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-6
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 3-1
Away Underdog: 4-4
Neutral site: 1-2
Sportsbook Buster: The "over" was 6-1 when the Saints played outside the MAAC.
Sports Betting Angle: Siena was 8-2 ATS after a pointspread loss.
LOYOLA (18-13 SU, 15-10-1 ATS, 14-12 O/U): MAAC leading scorer Gerald Brown (22.2 PPG) joins three other returning starters in what should be a serious run for the conference champion.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-8
Home Underdog: 1-0
Away Favorite: 3-0
Away Underdog: 7-0-1
Neutral Site: 1-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Greyhounds were 11-0-1 ATS on the road last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Loyola was 9-1-1 ATS in the game following a SU defeat.
MARIST (25-9 SU, 17-14-1 ATS, 18-15 O/U): The conference champion Red Foxes lose MAAC Player of the Year Jared Jordan (17.2 PPG, 8.7 APG) and backcourt mate Will Whittington (17.6 PPG), meaning Marist will have to rely on its frontcourt. That probably won't be enough to repeat.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-6-1
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 6-5
Away Underdog: 2-1-1
Neutral Site: 3-2
Sportsbook Buster: The "over" was 13-7 when the Red Foxes played MAAC opponents.
Sports Betting Angle: Marist was 10-5-2 ATS after a pointspread win.
RIDER (16-15 SU, 11-14-1 ATS, 17-9 O/U): The return of Jason Thompson (20.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG), arguably the best player in the conference, and three other starters, makes the Broncs a legitimate MAAC contender.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-4
Home Underdog: 3-0
Away Favorite: 0-1-1
Away Underdog: 3-7
Neutral Site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Broncs were 3-8-1 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: Rider was 5-9-1 ATS after a SU victory.
NIAGARA (23-12 SU, 17-15-1 ATS, 23-10 O/U): Charron Fisher (20.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG) is a gem but he's the only returning starter on a Purple Eagles team that will suffer some growing pains.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 5-5
Home Underdog: 0-3
Away Favorite: 0-2-1
Away Underdog: 7-3
Neutral Site: 4-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Purple Eagles were 13-7-1 ATS in conference play.
Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 16-5 when Niagara played MAAC teams.
MANHATTAN (13-17 SU, 13-13 ATS, 15-11 O/U): Giving significant playing time to four freshmen last season should reap dividends this year... but not as much as next year when the Jaspers really will be tough.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-6
Home Underdog: 2-0
Away Favorite: 2-0
Away Underdog: 6-6
Neutral Site: 1-0
Sportsbook Buster: The "over" was 7-4 when the Jaspers played at home.
Sports Betting Angle: Manhattan was 2-6 as a home favorite.
FAIRFIELD (13-19 SU, 14-13-2 ATS, 12-17 O/U): The Stags return four starters but the one defection, G Michael Van Schaick (15.4 PPG, 88 3-points) leaves Fairfield without a proven outside scoring threat.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-4-1
Home Underdog: 2-2
Away Favorite: 1-0-1
Away Underdog: 7-5
Neutral Site: 0-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Stags were 8-5-1 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: Fairfield was 8-4-1 ATS following a SU victory.
ST. PETER'S (5-25 SU, 9-12-2 ATS, 9-14 O/U): Raul Orta 13.3 PPG) and Todd Sowell (13.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG) give the Peacocks two solid starters (along two others) around which to build.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 1-1
Home Underdog: 1-4-2
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 7-6
Neutral Site: 0-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Peacocks were 2-5-2 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 12-7 in Saint Peter's conference play.
CANISIUS (12-19 SU, 9-16-2 ATS, 15-12 O/U): The loss of their top two scorers means that the Golden Griffins will give on the job training to a host of newcomers. It won't always be pretty.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 0-8
Home Underdog: 2-1-1
Away Favorite: 1-0
Away Underdog: 5-6-1
Neutral Site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Griffins were 0-8 as home favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: Canisius was 6-12-2 ATS in conference play.
IONA GAELS (2-28 SU, 9-12-2 ATS, 9-14 O/U): The Gaels lost 22 consecutive games last season, so new first year Head Coach Kevin Willard is going to need some time to fix things.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 0-2
Home Underdog: 1-7
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 7-8
Neutral Site: 0-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Gaels were 1-9 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: Iona was 1-13 ATS on three or more days rest.
This is the 21st of 22 NCAA college basketball betting previews.
Next: Handicapping the Ohio Valley Conference.
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