Teams from the MWC were 4-0-1 against the spread (ATS) in bowl games last season so followers of college football betting know better than to dismiss the league as just some wagering weak sister. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers--and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:
TCU (12-1 SU, 8-4 ATS, 16 RS, 54 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:95-29
ATS: 65-51-4
HF:31-17
HD:5-1
AF:16-19-2
AD:9-10-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Horned Frogs are 36-18 ATS at home the last 10 years.
Sports Betting Angle: TCU has covered six of its last seven games against UNLV.
UTAH (10-3 SU, 6-7 ATS, 12 RS, 49 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:86-36
ATS: 68-51-1
HF:25-25-1
HD:5-0
AF:18-18
AD:13-7
Sportsbook Buster: The Utes are 18-7 as underdogs the last 10 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Utah is 8-3 ATS versus UNLV the last 11 meetings.
BYU (11-2 SU, 7-6 ATS, 12 RS, 46 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:81-44
ATS: 59-62-1
HF:25-24
HD:3-5
AF:14-18
AD:13-11-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Cougars are 11-1 as conference road dogs if they lost their last encounter with that team.
Sports Betting Angle: BYU has covered six in a row against both Wyoming and Air Force.
AIR FORCE (8-5 SU, 7-4-1 ATS, 11 RS, 45 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:68-54
ATS: 61-53-1
HF: 20-19
HD:7-7
AF:11-10
AD:18-14-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Falcons have covered 13 of their last 15 conference openers.
Sports Betting Angle: Air Force has covered six straight visits to West Point to play Army.
SAN DIEGOSTATE (4-8 SU, 4-6-1 ATS, 16 RS, 44 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:38-80
ATS: 50-57-3
HF:9-8-1
HD:13-18
AF:1-5-1
AD:27-26-1
Sportsbook Buster: Since 2000, the Aztecs are 1-5-1 as road favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: San DiegoState has covered five straight games versus ColoradoState.
WYOMING (7-6 SU, 9-3 ATS, 15 RS, 34 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:42-76
ATS: 51-59-2
HF:9-12-1
HD:15-14-1
AF:2-4
AD:23-29
Sportsbook Buster: The Cowboys are 6-0 ATS in road games following a MWC game.
Sports Betting Angle: Wyoming has covered three of its last four at home against both Utah and San DiegoState.
UNLV (5-7 SU, 3-8 ATS, 15 RS, 48 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:41-77
ATS: 49-65-1
HF:9-19
HD:16-11
AF:6-8
AD:17-27-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Rebels are just 9-19 as home favorites since 2000.
Sports Betting Angle: UNLV has covered six of its last seven visits to BYU.
COLORADOSTATE (3-9 SU, 3-8 ATS, 12 RS, 41 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:61-62
ATS: 53-63
HF:14-20
HD:9-5
AF:6-14
AD:16-17
Sportsbook Buster: The Rams are 20-34 as favorites over the past 10 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: ColoradoState has covered six of its last eight trips to Wyoming.
NEW MEXICO (1-11 SU, 5-7 ATS, 11 RS, 44 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2009)
SU:59-64
ATS: 61-55-2
HF:17-14
HD:13-12-1
AF:6-9
AD:25-17-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Lobos are 25-17-1 as road underdogs the last 10 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: New Mexico has covered eight of its last nine meetings with San DiegoState.
Legend:
SU= Straight Up
ATS = Against the Spread
HF= Home Favorite
HD= Home Underdog
AF= Away Favorite
AD= Away Underdog
This is the ninth installment of an 11-part preview series.
Next: College Football Betting 2010: The Mid-American Conference.
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
