The SEC may be the strongest conference but its teams were just 25-22 ATS versus non-league foes last year, something college football betting fans will watch this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:
EAST DIVISION
FLORIDA (13-1 SU, 12-1 ATS, 18 RS, 53 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:87-29
ATS: 63-47-2
HF:32-20-1
HD:0-1
AF:12-15
AD:8-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Gators not only won the National Championship, they won the National Pointspread Championship with a 12-1 ATS record last year.
Sports Betting Angle: Florida has covered seven straight versus Arkansas.
GEORGIA (10-3 SU, 4-7-1 ATS, 15 RS, 49 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:90-26
ATS: 56-51-3
HF:22-25-1
HD:0-3
AF:14-12-1
AD:7-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Bulldogs are 8-2 ATS the week after playing Auburn.
Sports Betting Angle: Georgia has covered five straight at state rival Georgia Tech.
SOUTH CAROLINA (7-6 SU, 5-6-1 ATS, 11 RS, 40 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:61-48
ATS: 52-50-3
HF:18-15-1
HD:8-13-1
AF:8-6
AD:15-13-1
Sportsbook Buster: Since Coach Spurrier arrived in Columbia four years ago, the Gamecocks are 18-12-2 ATS in SEC play.
Sports Betting Angle: The road team in the Tennessee rivalry is 10-1-1 ATS the last 12 games.
TENNESSEE (5-7 SU, 6-6 ATS, 13 RS, 45 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:76-38
ATS: 54-58-2
HF: 21-30-1
HD:4-5
AF:13-9
AD:11-9
Sportsbook Buster: The Volunteers are just 21-30-1 as a home favorite the past nine years.
Sports Betting Angle: The road team has covered five of the last six in the Kentucky series.
VANDERBILT (7-6 SU, 8-5 ATS, 17 RS, 46 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:32-73
ATS: 47-48-3
HF:6-13
HD:15-14-3
AF:2-4
AD:24-16
Sportsbook Buster: The Commodores are 8-17 as a favorite the last nine years.
Sports Betting Angle: Vanderbilt has covered nine straight the week after Florida.
KENTUCKY (7-6 SU, 6-6 ATS, 12 RS, 50 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:43-64
ATS: 51-49-1
HF:12-12-1
HD:15-14
AF:4-2
AD:18-20
Sportsbook Buster: The Wildcats are 24-15 ATS following a straight up victory.
Sports Betting Angle: Kentucky is 2-11 ATS the week after playing Vanderbilt.
WEST DIVISION
ALABAMA (12-2 SU, 9-5 ATS, 13 RS, 55 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:65-48
ATS: 47-60-4
HF:19-31
HD:4-6-2
AF:9-9-1
AD:12-8-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Crimson Tide is 23-37-2 ATS at home the last nine years.
Sports Betting Angle: The visitor in the Tennessee series is 15-2 ATS.
MISSISSIPPI (9-4, 9-3 ATS, 16 RS, 51 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:54-54
ATS: 51-49-3
HF:16-20-2
HD:12-5
AF:3-8-1
AD:17-15
Sportsbook Buster: The Rebels are 19-28-3 as favorites the last nine years.
Sports Betting Angle: Ole Miss has beaten the spread in seven of its last eight against LSU.
LSU (8-5 SU, 3-9 ATS, 14 RS, 47 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:90-27
ATS: 55-53-4
HF:24-29
HD:2-3
AF:13-10-2
AD:7-7-1
Sportsbook Buster: Since Coach Miles arrived in Baton Rouge four seasons ago, the Tigers are just 8-23-1 ATS in SEC play.
Sports Betting Angle: The road team in the Alabama series is 10-1-1 ATS.
ARKANSAS (5-7 SU, 5-6 ATS, 18 RS, 50 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:63-49
ATS: 53-53
HF:19-22
HD:10-8
AF:5-5
AD:17-12
Sportsbook Buster: The Razorbacks are 17-12 as away underdogs the last nine years.
Sports Betting Angle: The road team in the Auburn series is 6-1 ATS.
AUBURN (5-7 SU, 2-9 ATS, 15 RS, 47 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:80-34
ATS: 56-51-1
HF:26-25-1
HD:4-2
AF:9-9
AD:12-10
Sportsbook Buster: The Tigers are 9-1 ATS the game after Arkansas.
Sports Betting Angle: Auburn has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six visits to Tennessee.
MISSISSIPPISTATE (4-8 SU, 4-7 ATS, 10 RS, 40 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:37-69
ATS: 42-57-1
HF:7-12
HD:13-18
AF:5-7
AD:15-20-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Bulldogs are 12-19 as favorites the last nine years.
Sports Betting Angle: MississippiState is 21-37-1 ATS in games after a SU loss.
Legend:
SU= Straight Up
ATS = Against the Spread
HF = Home Favorite
HD = Home Underdog
AF = Away Favorite
AD = Away Underdog
This is the first installment of an 11-part preview series.
Next: College Football Betting 2009: Examining the Big Ten
