The Big 12 Conference has the best pointspread record over the past seven seasons, a trend that college basketball betting fans will be watching this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses:
KANSAS (27-8 SU, 20-9-1 ATS, 13-17 O/U): All the pieces are there for a second NCAA crown in the last three years.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite: 10-2-1
Home Underdog:0-0
Away Favorite:3-2
Away Underdog:3-2
Neutral site:3-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Jayhawks are 21-7-2 ATS at home the past two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Kansas was 5-0 ATS after a SU loss last year.
TEXAS (23-12 SU, 13-18-1 ATS, 15-16-1 O/U): A strong recruiting class and talented holdovers provide the talented needed for a title run.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:5-7
Home Underdog:0-0
Away Favorite:1-4
Away Underdog:1-3
Neutral Site:5-4-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Longhorns were 5-13-1 ATS in conference play.
Sports Betting Angle: Texas was 6-14-1 ATS in games after a SU win.
OKLAHOMA (30-6 SU, 17-14 ATS, 18-13 O/U): Player of the Year Blake Griffin (22.7 PPG, 14.4 RPG) is gone so the Sooners will look to frosh Keith “Tiny” Gallon (6-9, 300).
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:5-7
Home Underdog:0-0
Away Favorite:5-2
Away Underdog:1-2
Neutral Site:6-3
Sportsbook Buster: The “over” was 11-1 when the Sooners were home favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: Oklahoma was 5-2 as a road favorite.
TEXAS A&M (24-10 SU, 15-11-1 ATS, 15-12 O/U): Highly regarded recruit Naji Hibbert needs to step up if Aggies are to go dancing this season.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:2-4-1
Home Underdog:3-1
Away Favorite:2-1
Away Underdog:5-2
Neutral Site:3-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Aggies are 10-3 ATS on neutral courts the last two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Texas A&M was 6-2-1 ATS after a SU loss.
OKLAHOMASTATE (23-12 SU, 16-12-1 ATS, 14-15 O/U): James Anderson (18.2 PPG), the conference's best pure shooter, will keep the Cowboys in post-season contention.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:7-3
Home Underdog:0-1
Away Favorite:2-0
Away Underdog:2-5
Neutral Site:5-3-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Cowboys are 17-6-1 as a favorite the past two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: OSU was 11-7-1 ATS after a SU victory.
KANSASSTATE (22-12 SU, 9-15-2 ATS, 12-14 O/U): Four starters return but the key to a tournament bid could be McDonald's All-America Wally Judge.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:3-6
Home Underdog:1-0
Away Favorite:1-1
Away Underdog:3-5
Neutral Site:1-1-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Wildcats were 6-10-1 ATS in Big 12 play.
Sports Betting Angle: KSU was 1-0 ATS in games after a SU loss.
MISSOURI (31-7 SU, 20-11 ATS, 16-15 O/U): The Tigers lose three starters who accounted for over 40 points and 15 rebounds a game so some decline is anticipated.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:8-3
Home Underdog:0-0
Away Favorite:2-4
Away Underdog:2-1
Neutral Site:8-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Tigers were 13-6 ATS in conference play.
Sports Betting Angle: Missouri was 16-8 as a favorite.
BAYLOR (24-15 SU, 13-18 ATS, 12-19 O/U): The Bears were underachievers last season and a loss of talent figures to make things even worse this year.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:3-7
Home Underdog:0-1
Away Favorite:0-3
Away Underdog: 4-4
Neutral Site:6-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Bears are 3-13 as home favorites the past two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Baylor was 6-14 ATS in conference games.
IOWASTATE (15-17 SU, 9-17-1 ATS, 14-13 O/U): Even Craig Brackins (20.2 PPG, 9.5 RPG) can't be expected to do it alone for the Cyclones.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:4-4
Home Underdog:2-4
Away Favorite:0-1
Away Underdog:3-6-1
Neutral Site:0-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Cyclones were 4-12-1 ATS in conference play.
Sports Betting Angle: The “over” was 11-6 when IowaState was an underdog.
NEBRASKA (18-13 SU, 11-13 ATS, 8-16 O/U): The Cornhuskers' inability to score (they ranked 11th in the conference last year) could lead to a losing record.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:3-4
Home Underdog: 2-1
Away Favorite: 1-3
Away Underdog: 3-4
Neutral Site:0-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Cornhuskers were 5-10 ATS on three or more days rest.
Sports Betting Angle: The “under” was 12-5 in Nebraska conference games.
COLORADO (9-22 SU, 14-12-1 ATS, 10-17 O/U): Cory Higgins (17.4 PPG) is a top guard but the Buffaloes lack size and presence in the paint.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:2-3
Home Underdog:4-3
Away Favorite:0-0
Away Underdog:5-4-1
Neutral Site:2-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Buffaloes were 11-6 ATS in conference play.
Sports Betting Angle: The “under” is 35-20 over the past two years.
TEXAS TECH (14-19 SU, 10-15-1 ATS, 17-9 O/U): The Red Raiders have experience but those players haven't proven they can win consistently in the rugged Big 12.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:1-4
Home Underdog:2-4
Away Favorite:0-0
Away Underdog:5-4-1
Neutral Site:2-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Red Raiders were 3-9 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: The “over” was 11-7 in Texas Tech conference games.
This is the first of 11 NCAA basketball betting previews.
