The MAC has been traditionally weak out of conference, finishing 23-28-1 ATS last year and 153-177-6 ATS over the last eight years. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2007 records, returning starters (RS)—-including kickers--and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:
East
BOWLING GREEN (8-5 SU, 7-5 ATS, 17 RS, 53 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 57-39
ATS: 43-46-2
HF: 12-15-2
HD: 6-2
AF: 10-11
AD: 13-15
Sportsbook Buster: The Falcons are 6-2 as a home underdog, since 2000.
Sports Betting Angle: Bowling Green has covered eight of its last nine games against Ohio University.
MIAMI (6-7 SU, 6-6-1 ATS, 17 RS, 46 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 56-42
ATS: 52-44-1
HF: 16-12-1
HD: 5-4
AF: 13-11
AD: 17-13
Sportsbook Buster: The Redhawks are 30-22-1 ATS coming off a SU victory.
Sports Betting Angle: Miami has covered seven of its last eight encounters with Bowling Green.
BUFFALO (5-7 SU, 7-5 ATS, 18 RS, 53 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 17-75
ATS: 45-44-1
HF: 2-0-1
HD: 19-17
AF: 0-0
AD: 23-26
Sportsbook Buster: The Bulls are 6-0 ATS the week after allowing more than 21 points.
Sports Betting Angle: Buffalo has covered six straight against Miami (3-0) and Bowling Green (3-0).
KENT STATE (3-9 SU, 2-9 ATS, 16 RS, 43 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 30-62
ATS: 36-47-1
HF: 4-10
HD: 8-11
AF: 3-7
AD: 21-17-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Flashes are just 7-17 as favorites the last eight years.
Sports Betting Angle: Kent State has covered four of its last five games with Ohio University.
TEMPLE (4-8 SU, 7-5 ATS, 22 RS, 53 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 20-72
ATS: 47-41-1
HF: 4-4
HD: 17-16
AF: 2-2
AD: 23-18-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Owls are 6-1 ATS following back-to-back road games.
Sports Betting Angle: Temple has covered its last four meetings with Connecticut.
OHIO (6-6 SU, 6-4-1 ATS, 13 RS, 68 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 37-57
ATS: 40-47-1
HF: 11-9
HD: 8-6
AF: 5-9
AD: 15-20-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Bobcats are only 20-29-1 ATS on the road the last eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Ohio University has covered three of its last four games against Buffalo.
AKRON (4-8 SU, 6-5-1 ATS, 13 RS, 45 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 43-51
ATS: 43-46-2
HF: 8-14
HD: 10-5
AF: 5-8
AD: 18-18-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Zips are 10-5 as home underdogs over the past eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Akron has covered four of its last five trips to Kent State.
West
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (8-6 SU, 7-5-1 ATS, 16 RS, 45 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 40-56
ATS: 45-42-3
HF: 9-7
HD: 11-8-1
AF: 8-4-1
AD: 13-22-1
Sportsbook Buster: Over the last eight seasons, the Chippewas are 13-22-1 as road underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: Central Michigan has covered nine of its last 10 MAC openers.
BALL STATE (7-6 SU, 7-5 ATS, 18 RS, 41 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 38-55
ATS: 47-39-1
HF: 10-5
HD: 10-10
AF: 4-5
AD: 23-18-1
Sportsbook Buster: Since the start of the 2000 season, the Cardinals are 10-5 as a home favorite.
Sports Betting Angle: Ball State has covered six straight against Toledo (3-0) and Eastern Michigan (3-0).
WESTERN MICHIGAN (5-7 SU, 3-7-1 ATS, 17 RS, 34 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 44-50
ATS: 40-46-1
HF: 11-9
HD: 3-11-1
AF: 7-9
AD: 17-15
Sportsbook Buster: The Broncos are just 3-11-1 as home underdogs the past eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Western Michigan is 4-1-1 ATS their last six games against Central Michigan.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (2-10 SU, 5-6 ATS, 21 RS, 55 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 55-40
ATS: 48-39
HF: 12-14
HD: 9-2
AF: 13-10
AD: 13-10
Sportsbook Buster: The Huskies are an outstanding 9-2 as a home underdog, the last eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Northern Illinois has covered six in a row after a week off.
TOLEDO (5-7 SU, 4-7 ATS, 15 RS, 50 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 65-33
ATS: 47-41-3
HF: 22-11
HD: 6-1
AF: 8-11-1
AD: 8-15-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Rockets are 28-12 ATS at home but 16-26-3 ATS on the road, the last eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Toledo has covered eight of its last nine games against Northern Illinois.
EASTERN MICHIGAN (4-8 SU, 4-7 ATS, 15 RS, 46 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 24-68
ATS: 38-45-1
HF: 5-4
HD: 10-13-1
AF: 1-1
AD: 21-24
Sportsbook Buster: The Eagles have covered five straight against Akron.
Sports Betting Angle: Eastern Michigan is a combined 9-3 ATS their last dozen games against Bowling Green (3-1), Western Michigan (3-1) and Central Michigan (3—1).
Legend:
SU = Straight Up
ATS = Against the Spread
HF = Home Favorite
HD = Home Underdog
AF = Away Favorite
AD = Away Underdog
This is the 10th installment of an 11-part preview series.
Next: College Football Betting: Analyzing the Sunbelt Conference and Independents.
