College Basketball Betting: Analyzing the Mountain West Conference

The teams with the three best SU records also had the best ATS marks, a trend college basketball betting fans will be monitoring this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses:

UNLV (27-8 SU, 18-13-1 ATS, 15-17 O/U): A trio of returning starters plus a heralded 7-0 rookie makes the Rebels the team to beat in the MWC.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 10-5-1

Home Underdog: 0-2

Away Favorite: 3-2

Away Underdog: 3-3

Neutral Site: 2-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Runnin' Rebels were 14-7-1 as favorites last season.

Sports Betting Angle: UNLV was 11-4 ATS on two or fewer days rest last season.

BYU (27-8 SU, 17-13-1 ATS, 13-18 O/U): Lee Cummard (15.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG) is the star of a team that will have to break in a new backcourt duo.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 7-4-1

Home Underdog: 0-0

Away Favorite: 5-4

Away Underdog: 2-1

Neutral site: 3-4

Sportsbook Buster: The Cougars were 12-6-1 ATS in Mountain West Conference games.

Sports Betting Angle: BYU was 11-6-1 ATS on three or more days rest.

NEW MEXICO (24-9 SU, 24-8 ATS, 20-9-1 O/U): First round NBA draft pick J.R. Giddens is gone but the Lobos still are good enough to contend.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 14-3

Home Underdog: 0-0

Away Favorite: 5-1

Away Underdog: 5-3

Neutral Site: 0-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Lobos were 19-5 as favorites.

Sports Betting Angle: New Mexico 13-2 ATS versus non-conference foes.

UTAH (18-15 SU, 15-15-1 ATS, 15-15-1 O/U): All five starters return so an improvement to 20 or more wins looks to be a realistic goal.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 6-7

Home Underdog: 0-0

Away Favorite: 3-2

Away Underdog: 4-5-1

Neutral Site: 2-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Utes were 7-10-1 ATS in MWC play.

Sports Betting Angle: Utah was 5-8-1 ATS in games after a pointspread win.

SAN DIEGO STATE (20-13 SU, 15-15 ATS, 10-20 O/U): The Aztecs have plenty of talent but must play more as a team to move up the standings.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 5-5

Home Underdog: 1-0

Away Favorite: 3-2

Away Underdog: 4-4

Neutral Site: 2-3

Sportsbook Buster: The "under was 12-6 when the Aztecs were favorites.

Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 16-3 after an SDS SU victory.

WYOMING (12-18 SU, 9-16 ATS, 13-12 O/U): Wichita State transfer Sean Ogirri and G Brandon Ewing are two reasons why the Cowboys could surprise.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 3-2

Home Underdog: 1-4

Away Favorite: 0-1

Away Underdog: 4-6

Neutral Site: 0-3

Sportsbook Buster: The Cowboys were 5-10 as underdogs.

Sports Betting Angle: Wyoming was 5-11 ATS on three or more days rest.

AIR FORCE (16-14 SU, 11-13-1 ATS, 10-14-1 O/U): Andrew Henke is a dead-eye shot but the Falcons are too young and inexperienced to fly high.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 3-3

Home Underdog: 1-3

Away Favorite: 0-2

Away Underdog: 4-4-1

Neutral Site: 2-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Falcons were 4-7-1 ATS after a SU win.

Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 10-6-1 in Air Force MWC games.

COLORADO STATE (7-25 SU, 12-15-1 ATS, 14-13-1 O/U): The Rams went 0-16 in conference play last season so things have to get better…don't they?

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 0-2

Home Underdog: 3-4

Away Favorite: 0-1

Away Underdog: 5-6-1

Neutral Site: 4-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Rams were 6-11-1 ATS in conference games.

Sports Betting Angle: CSU was 7-12-1 ATS after a SU defeat.

TCU (14-16 SU, 11-12 ATS, 6-16-1 O/U): Just two regulars return, dictating that new Head Coach Jim Christian start from scratch.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 2-2

Home Underdog: 4-2

Away Favorite: 1-1

Away Underdog: 4-6

Neutral Site: 0-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Horned Frogs were 6-3 ATS after a pointspread victory.

Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 12-4-1 in TCU conference games.