Memphis gets most of the coverage but college basketball betting fans know that other Conference USA teams may be better pointspread plays than the Tigers. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses:
MEMPHIS (38-2 SU, 18-20-2 ATS, 22-17-1 O/U): 42-game C-USA win streak won’t last but Memphis has more than enough talent to keep on winning.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 9-10-1
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 4-5
Away Underdog: 0-0
Neutral site: 5-5-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Tigers were the only high profile team to never be an underdog last season.
Sports Betting Angle: The “over” was 5-1 in Memphis Tournament games.
TULSA (23-11 SU, 19-14-1 ATS, 18-14-2 O/U): 7-foot Jerome Jordan (10.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG) and G Ben Uzoh (15.6 PPG), the Hurricane looks NCAA Tournament bound.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 12-3
Home Underdog: 0-1
Away Favorite: 1-1
Away Underdog: 3-8
Neutral Site: 3-1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Hurricane was 15-5-1 as a favorite, including 12-3 at home.
Sports Betting Angle: Tulsa was 13-7 ATS following a SU win.
ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM (24-10 SU, 16-14 ATS, 18-12 O/U): Robert Vaden (21.1 PPG) can light it up but the Blazers will be hurt by a lack of frontcourt heft.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 7-3
Home Underdog: 1-0
Away Favorite: 3-2
Away Underdog: 3-4
Neutral Site: 1-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Blazers were 11-7 ATS on three or more days rest.
Sports Betting Angle: The “over” was 12-5 in UAB Conference USA games.
UTEP (19-14 SU, 12-16-1 ATS, 19-10 O/U): Stefon Jackson (23.6 PPG) has enough support for the Miners to make a run at a slot in the Big Dance.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-8-1
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 0-1
Away Underdog: 5-6
Neutral Site: 3-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Miners were 4-8-1 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: UTEP was 3-9 ATS in games following a SU defeat.
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (19-14 SU, 16-10 ATS, 14-12 O/U): Jeremy Wise (18.7 PPG) leads a talented backcourt but the Eagles are short on reliable post players.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 5-1
Home Underdog: 1-0
Away Favorite: 1-0
Away Underdog: 5-7
Neutral Site: 3-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Eagles were 9-3 as a favorite.
Sports Betting Angle: Southern Miss was 7-1 ATS at home.
MARSHALL (16-14 SU, 10-12-1 ATS, 10-13 O/U): A solid returning nucleus and three high-profile transfers may be able to get the Herd to 20 wins.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 5-3-1
Home Underdog: 1-1
Away Favorite: 1-2
Away Underdog: 2-5
Neutral Site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Thundering Herd was 3-7 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: Marshall was 1-8 ATS in games following an ATS win.
HOUSTON (24-10 SU, 15-14 ATS, 18-10-1 O/U): The loss of four starters, including Robert McKiver (23.6 PPG) means a steep decline for Houston.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 7-6
Home Underdog: 0-1
Away Favorite: 2-2
Away Underdog: 5-2
Neutral Site: 1-3
Sportsbook Buster: The “over” was 9-2 in Houston’s non-conference games.
Sports Betting Angle: The Cougars were 5-3 as an underdog.
TULANE (17-15 SU, 12-15 ATS, 9-17-1 O/U): Key personnel losses probably will push the Green Wave into the red this season.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 3-5
Home Underdog: 1-2
Away Favorite: 1-2
Away Underdog: 2-5
Neutral Site: 5-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Green Wave was 6-12 ATS in conference play.
Sports Betting Angle: The “under” was 12-5-1 in Tulane’s conference games.
CENTRAL FLORIDA (16-15 SU, 12-14 ATS, 14-11-1 O/U): Three-point ace Jermaine Taylor (20.8 PPG) won’t have enough help to save the Knights.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-4
Home Underdog: 1-1
Away Favorite: 1-2
Away Underdog: 2-5
Neutral Site: 2-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Knights were 3-7 on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: The “over” was 9-5 when UCF was a favorite.
SMU (10-20 SU, 12-8 ATS, 10-10 O/U): A roster with just one upper classman means the Mustangs are in for more growing pains this year.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 1-0
Home Underdog: 6-2
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 5-5
Neutral Site: 0-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Mustangs were 7-2 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: SMU was 4-1 ATS in games following a SU win.
EAST CAROLINA (11-19 SU, 8-14 ATS, 16-6 O/U): Not much to like here except ECU’s ability to get over the total with regularity.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-1
Home Underdog: 3-5
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 2-7
Neutral Site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Pirates were 6-11 ATS in Conference USA play.
Sports Betting Angle: The “over” was 5-0 in ECU non-conference games.
RICE (3-27 SU, 14-14 ATS, 6-22 O/U): New Head Coach Ben Braun inherits a team that can’t shoot (55.9 PPG) and lacks depth.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 0-2
Home Underdog: 5-5
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 6-6
Neutral Site: 3-1
Sportsbook Buster: The “under” was 14-3 when the Owls played in conference games.
Sports Betting Angle: The “under” was 21-5 when Rice was an underdog.
