College basketball betting fans have to be careful gauging the ever-changing power struggle in the Big Ten. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses:
PURDUE (25-9 SU, 18-12-1 ATS, 17-14 O/U): The Boilermakers return four starters to a team that lost five games by three points or less.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-6
Home Underdog: 1-0
Away Favorite: 4-0
Away Underdog: 4-2-1
Neutral Site: 2-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Boilermakers were 14-4-1 ATS in Big Ten play last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Purdue was 8-2-1 ATS on the road last season.
MICHIGAN STATE (27-9 SU, 18-15 ATS, 17-16 O/U): Plenty of shooting prowess and solid board work make the Spartans a title contender.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-8
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 4-2
Away Underdog: 0-4
Neutral site: 8-1
Sportsbook Buster: Spartans were 10-3 ATS versus non-conference foes.
Sports Betting Angle: Michigan State was 8-1 ATS on neutral courts.
WISCONSIN (31-5 SU, 19-13-1 ATS, 11-22 O/U): The Badgers always are tough and this year’s team, though a bit green, will be no exception.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-8-1
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 7-2
Away Underdog: 2-1
Neutral Site: 4-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Badgers were 9-3 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: The “under” was 21-9 when Wisconsin was a favorite.
OHIO STATE (24-13 SU, 18-14-1 ATS, 14-19 O/U): A heralded freshman class will pay dividends for the Buckeyes, though maybe not this year.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 8-5-1
Home Underdog: 0-2
Away Favorite: 3-2
Away Underdog: 4-2
Neutral Site: 3-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Buckeyes were 13-7-1 as a favorite.
Sports Betting Angle: OSU was 10-4 ATS versus non-conference opponents.
ILLINOIS (16-19 SU, 14-21 ATS, 18-17 O/U): A bevy of talented newcomers will launch an Illini comeback that probably won’t hit its stride until next season.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-8
Home Underdog: 0-3
Away Favorite: 1-3
Away Underdog: 4-3
Neutral Site: 5-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Illini were 4-11 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: Illinois was 4-12 ATS in games after a SU win.
MINNESOTA (20-14 SU, 14-15 ATS, 11-18 O/U): This will be Tubby Smith’s first recruiting class. He’ll need it; the top three scorers are gone.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 7-4
Home Underdog: 0-3
Away Favorite: 2-2
Away Underdog: 3-6
Neutral Site: 1-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Gophers were 4-10 as an underdog.
Sports Betting Angle: Minnesota was 9-5 ATS on three or more days rest.
MICHIGAN (10-22 SU, 11-19 ATS, 14-16 O/U): Manny Harris averaged 16.1 PPG as a frosh last year but the Wolverines still are lacking depth.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-4
Home Underdog: 2-5
Away Favorite: 0-1
Away Underdog: 6-5
Neutral Site: 1-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Wolverines were 1-9 ATS versus non-conference foes.
Sports Betting Angle: Michigan was 4-9 ATS at home.
PENN STATE (15-16 SU, 13-14-1 ATS, 14-14 O/U): The Lions are scrappy, which should take them over .500 but not much farther.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 5-2-1
Home Underdog: 3-3
Away Favorite: 1-0
Away Underdog: 3-6
Neutral Site: 1-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Nittany Lions were 6-3-1 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: PSU was 9-5-1 ATS on three or more days rest.
NORTHWESTERN (8-22 SU, 11-14 ATS, 12-13 O/U): The Wildcats return four starters but this bunch was a dismal 1-17 in the conference last season.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 1-3
Home Underdog: 1-7
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 8-4
Neutral Site: 1-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Wildcats were 2-10 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: Northwestern was 8-4 as an away underdog.
IOWA (13-19 SU, 13-16 ATS, 11-18 O/U): The best two players from a 13-win team are gone, making this a challenging season in Iowa.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-5
Home Underdog: 4-4
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 7-4
Neutral Site: 0-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Hawkeyes were 2-8 ATS versus non-conference opponents.
Sports Betting Angle: Iowa was 2-7 as a favorite.
INDIANA (25-8 SU, 13-17 ATS, 16-14 O/U): Eight freshmen and two JC transfers join two players who combined to average 1.6 PPG last season. It’s going to be ugly in Bloomington.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 7-9
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 3-3
Away Underdog: 2-2
Neutral Site: 1-3
Sportsbook Buster: The “over” was 10-6 in Hoosiers home games.
Sports Betting Angle: Indiana was 4-8 ATS in games following a pointspread win.
