MWC teams have been 6-1-1 against the spread (ATS) in bowl games last two seasons 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 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:
BOISESTATE (12-1 SU, 9-4 ATS, 16 RS, 58 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU: 124-18
ATS: 84-48-2
HF:41-20
HD:0-2
AF:32-20
AD:7-4-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Broncos have been 41-20 as home favorites the last 11 years.
Sports Betting Angle: BoiseState is 7-1 ATS the week before playing Nevada.
Bets and Pieces: The Broncos have covered five straight games versus FresnoState.
TCU (13-0 SU, 6-6 ATS, 11 RS, 43 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU: 108-29
ATS: 71-57-4
HF:34-19
HD:5-1
AF:19-23-2
AD:9-10-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Horned Frogs are 39-20 ATS at home the last 11 years.
Sports Betting Angle: TCU has covered four straight games against Baylor.
Bets and Pieces: The Horned Frogs have covered their last five meetings with Wyoming.
AIR FORCE (9-4 SU, 5-7 ATS, 13 RS, 58 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:77-58
ATS: 66-60-1
HF: 21-22
HD:8-7
AF:13-13
AD:18-15-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Falcons have covered 14 of their last 16 conference openers.
Sports Betting Angle: Air Force has covered four straight visits to Notre Dame.
Bets and Pieces: The Falcons have covered five in a row and 11 of their last 13 at home versus Army.
SAN DIEGOSTATE (9-4 SU, 7-4-1 ATS, 12 RS, 38 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:47-84
ATS: 57-64-4
HF:10-10-1
HD:14-19
AF:3-7-2
AD:29-26-1
Sportsbook Buster: Since 2000, the Aztecs are 3-7-2 as road favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: SDS has covered six of its last seven home games versus Wyoming.
Bets and Pieces: The Aztecs have covered five straight games against UNLV.
COLORADOSTATE (3-9 SU, 6-6 ATS, 12 RS, 43 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:64-71
ATS: 59-69
HF:16-20
HD:11-6
AF:6-14
AD:18-22
Sportsbook Buster: The Rams are 22-34 as favorites over the past 11 seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: ColoradoState is 11-0 ATS at home coming off a non-conference game.
Bets and Pieces: The Rams have covered five of their last six games versus UTEP.
WYOMING (3-9 SU, 5-5-1 ATS, 14 RS, 37 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:45-85
ATS: 56-64-3
HF:10-12-1
HD:16-16-2
AF:2-6
AD:26-30
Sportsbook Buster: The Cowboys have covered five straight as underdogs of seven or fewer points.
Sports Betting Angle: Wyoming has covered five of its last six visits to Air Force.
Bets and Pieces: The Cowboys have covered three of their last four games versus BoiseState.
UNLV (2-11 SU, 5-8 ATS, 11 RS, 52 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:43-88
ATS: 54-73-1
HF:10-19
HD:20-12
AF:6-8
AD:17-34-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Rebels are 10-19 as home favorites but 20-12 as home dogs since 2000.
Sports Betting Angle: UNLV is 17-34-1 as a road underdog the last 11 seasons.
Bets and Pieces: The Rebels have covered five of their last seven visits to Wyoming.
NEW MEXICO (1-11 SU, 4-8 ATS, 15 RS, 42 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2010)
SU:60-75
ATS: 65-63-2
HF:17-14
HD:15-16-1
AF:6-9
AD:27-21-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Lobos are 5-0 ATS the week after playing New MexicoState.
Sports Betting Angle: New Mexico has covered nine of its last 10 meetings with San Diego St.
Bets and Pieces: The Lobos have covered three of their last four visits to Wyoming.
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 2011: 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
