Missouri Valley Conference teams were worth a wager at home last year, something college basketball betting followers will be monitoring this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses:
CREIGHTON (22-11 SU, 15-14 ATS, 18-10-1 O/U): Led by MVC Freshman of the Year P’Allen Stinnett (12.6 PPG), the Bluejays are the class of the league.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 8-6
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 3-2
Away Underdog: 3-5
Neutral Site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The “over” was 11-2-1 when the Bluejays were a favorite last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Creighton was 3-7 ATS in games following a SU loss.
ILLINOIS STATE (25-10 SU, 15-17-1 ATS, 14-19 O/U): Osiris Eldridge (15.8 PPG) may be the best player in the MVC and he has some help, too.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 7-8-1
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 3-4
Away Underdog: 3-2
Neutral Site: 2-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Redbirds were 1-6-1 ATS in games after a SU defeat.
Sports Betting Angle: Illinois State was 4-10-1 ATS in games following a pointspread loss.
DRAKE (28-5 SU, 20-8-1 ATS, 14-14 O/U): Josh Young (15.9 PPG) and Jonathan Cox (12.3 PPG) should keep the Bulldogs in MVC contention.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 7-4
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 3-2
Away Underdog: 6-1-1
Neutral Site: 3-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Bulldogs were 18-7-1 ATS after a SU victory.
Sports Betting Angle: Drake was 7-1 ATS versus non-conference foes.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (18-15 SU, 15-16-2 ATS, 16-17 O/U): The backcourt is solid but the Salukis are counting on newcomers to fill some holes up front.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 9-5-2
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 2-4
Away Underdog: 2-5
Neutral Site: 2-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Salukis were 9-5-2 ATS at home but 4-9 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: Southern Illinois was 4-10-1 ATS in games after a pointspread win.
NORTHERN IOWA (18-14 SU, 13-14-2 ATS, 15-13-1 O/U): Tough on defense and good on the boards, the Panthers are in need of some outside shooters.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-7-1
Home Underdog: 0-2
Away Favorite: 2-1-1
Away Underdog: 4-3
Neutral Site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Panthers were 6-9-1 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: The “over” was 12-6 when Northern Iowa was a favorite.
BRADLEY (21-17 SU, 20-16 ATS, 22-12-2 O/U): The Braves boast a solid perimeter game but are in search of some presence in the paint.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 7-7
Home Underdog: 2-1
Away Favorite: 3-2
Away Underdog: 7-4
Neutral Site: 1-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Braves were 10-6 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: Bradley was 14-5 ATS in games following a SU victory.
WICHITA STATE (11-20 11-14-2 ATS, 15-12 O/U): Only one starter returns and it’s hard to make progress when you’re inexperienced at pointguard.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-3-1
Home Underdog: 1-3
Away Favorite: 0-1
Away Underdog: 5-4-1
Neutral Site: 1-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Shockers were 6-11-2 ATS in conference games.
Sports Betting Angle: Wichita State was 5-11-2 ATS in games after a SU defeat.
INDIANA STATE (15-16 SU, 13-15-1 ATS, 20-9 O/U): The Sycamores return three starters but inexperience at the point will be difficult to overcome.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 3-3
Home Underdog: 5-1
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 4-10-1
Neutral Site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Sycamores were 4-10-1 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: Indiana State was 4-9 ATS on two or fewer days rest.
EVANSVILLE (9-21 SU, 13-13-2 ATS, 13-15 O/U): The good news is that five starters return. The bad news is that Evansville finished last in MVC with those players.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-2
Home Underdog: 5-3-1
Away Favorite: 1-0
Away Underdog: 5-6-1
Neutral Site: 0-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Purple Aces were 7-3-2 ATS in games after a pointspread loss.
Sports Betting Angle: Evansville was 5-3-1 as a home underdog.
MISSOURI STATE (17-16 SU, 11-18 ATS, 14-15 O/U): The Bears have a new arena but not a single returning player who averaged in double figures.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 8-5
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 0-2
Away Underdog: 1-9
Neutral site: 2-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Bears were 1-11 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: Missouri State was 2-11 as an underdog.
