The Mid-American Conference is 0-9-1 against the spread (ATS) in bowl games the last two seasons, a trend that college football betting aficionados will be watching. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:
EAST DIVISION
TEMPLE (9-4 SU, 8-4 ATS, 16 RS, 56 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:34-83
ATS: 62-49-2
HF:9-7
HD:18-16-1
AF:5-4
AD:29-20-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Owls are 29-20-1 as road underdogs the last decade.
Sports Betting Angle: Temple has covered five straight meetings with Connecticut.
OHIO (9-5 SU, 8-5 ATS, 12 RS, 64 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:50-70
ATS: 56-56-1
HF:12-11
HD:11-8
AF:8-11
AD:21-22-1
Sportsbook Buster: Over the last 10 seasons, the visitor in the KentState series is 9-1 ATS.
Sports Betting Angle: OhioUniversity has covered four straight games against Miami.
KENTSTATE (5-7 SU, 6-4-1 ATS, 15 RS, 49 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:39-77
ATS: 47-57-2
HF:6-10
HD:11-14-1
AF:4-8
AD:26-22-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Flashes are 10-18 as favorites the last 10 years.
Sports Betting Angle: KentState has covered three of its last four visits to Bowling Green.
BUFFALO (5-7 SU, 4-6-1 ATS, 14 RS, 49 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:30-88
ATS: 58-55-2
HF:4-7-1
HD:20-18
AF:1-0-1
AD:31-28
Sportsbook Buster: The Bulls are 11-2 ATS on the road against an under .500 opponent.
Sports Betting Angle: Buffalo has covered four straight against Miami.
BOWLING GREEN (7-6 SU, 7-6 ATS, 8 RS, 41 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:70-51
ATS: 58-56-2
HF:15-20-2
HD:7-3
AF:15-13
AD:18-15
Sportsbook Buster: The Falcons are 7-3 as a home underdog since 2000.
Sports Betting Angle: Bowling Green has covered five straight visits to OhioUniversity.
MIAMI (1-11 SU, 5-7 ATS, 19 RS, 51 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:59-63
ATS: 61-58-1
HF:16-15-1
HD:9-7
AF: 13-11
AD:22-20
Sportsbook Buster: The Redhawks have covered five straight road games at Bowling Green.
Sports Betting Angle: Miami is 4-1-1 ATS in its last six games versus Akron.
AKRON (3-9 SU, 3-8 ATS, 13 RS, 54 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:51-67
ATS: 52-60-2
HF:9-17
HD:12-8
AF:7-10
AD:22-23-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Zips are 9-17 as home favorites over the past 10 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Akron is 8-1 as an underdog of more than 22 points.
WEST DIVISION
WESTERN MICHIGAN (5-7 SU, 3-8 ATS, 13 RS, 34 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:58-61
ATS: 48-60-2
HF:14-13
HD:3-12-1
AF:9-11-1
AD:19-22
Sportsbook Buster: The Broncos are just 3-12-1 as home underdogs the past 10 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Western Michigan has covered three of its last four games versus both Toledo and Akron.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (7-6 SU, 5-7 ATS, 15 RS, 48 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:68-53
ATS: 59-52
HF:16-20
HD:9-2
AF:15-12
AD:18-12
Sportsbook Buster: The Huskies are 27-14 as underdogs the last 10 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Northern Illinois is 7-1-1 ATS in its last nine games against Western Michigan.
BALLSTATE (2-10 SU, 6-5 ATS, 19 RS, 42 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:52-67
ATS: 61-49-1
HF:13-8
HD:11-13
AF:8-7
AD:29-19-1
Sportsbook Buster: Since the start of the 2000 season, the Cardinals are 29-19-1 as road underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: BallState has covered five of its last six meetings with Western Michigan.
TOLEDO (5-7 SU, 5-7 ATS, 11 RS, 41 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:73-49
ATS: 58-54-3
HF:24-14
HD:10-3
AF:9-12-1
AD:11-21-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Rockets are 34-17 ATS at home but 20-33-3 ATS on the road, the last 10 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Toledo has covered seven of its last eight games against Eastern Michigan.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (12-2 SU, 9-3-1 ATS, 12 RS, 43 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:60-63
ATS: 59-52-4
HF:14-8
HD:12-9-1
AF:11-8-1
AD:18-24-1
Sportsbook Buster: Over the last 10 seasons, the Chippewas are 14-8 as home favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: Central Michigan is 10-1-1 ATS in its last 12 MAC openers.
EASTERN MICHIGAN (0-12 SU, 3-8-1 ATS, 15 RS, 44 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:27-89
ATS: 45-60-2
HF:5-8
HD:12-18-1
AF:1-1
AD:26-32-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Eagles are 17-26-1 ATS at home the last 10 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Eastern Michigan has covered its final road for five straight seasons.
Legend:
SU= Straight Up
ATS = Against the Spread
HF= Home Favorite
HD= Home Underdog
AF= Away Favorite
AD= Away Underdog
This is the 10th installment of an 11-part preview series.
Next: College Football Betting 2010: The Sunbelt Conference and Independents.
This article was written by Luken Karel for http://www.thegreek.com. The Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering college football betting and sports betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and all other major sports. The Greek is a must have sports betting and entertainment portal with one of the largest wagering menus available online. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com
