Just five of the Sun Belt Conference’s nine teams have pointspread records dating back eight years so there’s not a great statistical data base for bettors. Among independents, only Navy has been a reliable play since 2000. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2007 records, returning starters (RS)—-including kickers--and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:
FLORIDA ATLANTIC (8-5 SU, 8-5 ATS, 18 RS, 55 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 41-42
ATS: 19-23
HF: 1-6
HD: 3-3
AF: 3-0
AD: 9-13
Sportsbook Buster: The Owls are just 1-6 as home favorites since 2004, their first year on the board.
Sports Betting Angle: Florida Atlantic has covered three straight games against Louisiana-Lafayette.
TROY (8-4 SU, 8-3 ATS, 14 RS, 53 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 54-41
ATS: 38-31-1
HF: 7-8
HD: 4-2-1
AF: 6-5
AD: 20-15
Sportsbook Buster: The Trojans are a solid 24-17-1 as an underdog since being placed on the board in 2001.
Sports Betting Angle: Troy has covered seven in-a-row following a double-digit SU win.
LOUISIANA-MONROE (6-6 SU, 7-4 ATS, 15 RS, 38 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 27-65
ATS: 43-39
HF: 3-8
HD: 11-7
AF: 4-1
AD: 25-23
Sportsbook Buster: Since 2000, the Warhawks are 3-8 as home underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: Louisiana-Monroe has covered three straight games against Arkansas State.
ARKANSAS STATE (5-7 SU, 5-7 ATS, 11 RS, 48 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 34-60
ATS: 41-44-1
HF: 8-8
HD: 11-6
AF: 1-4
AD: 20-23-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Red Wolves are 11-6 as a home underdog the last eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Arkansas State is 8-2 ATS versus non-conference foes the last eight seasons.
LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE (3-9 SU, 5-6 ATS, 14 RS, 45 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 30-62
ATS: 37-43-3
HF: 4-8-2
HD: 9-10-1
AF: 3-6
AD: 21-19
Sportsbook Buster: The Ragin’ Cajuns are 7-14-2 as underdogs the last eight years.
Sports Betting Angle: Louisiana-Lafayette has covered four straight encounters with Florida Atlantic.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE (5-7 SU, 6-5 ATS, 12 RS, 36 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 43-50
ATS: 46-41
HF: 15-15
HD: 2-2
AF: 9-8
AD: 19-15
Sportsbook Buster: The Blue Raiders are 24-16 ATS versus non-conference foes since 2000.
Sports Betting Angle: Middle Tennessee State has covered five straight games against Arkansas State.
NORTH TEXAS (2-10 SU, 4-7 ATS, 13 RS, 41 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 39-57
ATS: 46-47
HF: 12-9
HD: 9-8
AF: 7-6
AD: 17-22
Sportsbook Buster: The Mean Green is 6-1 as conference favorite of more than six points.
Sports Betting Angle: North Texas is 7-0-1 ATS in its last eight games against Louisiana-Lafayette.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (1-11 SU, 5-7 ATS, 18 RS, 55 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 16-52
ATS: 16-21
HF: 1-2
HD: 5-6
AF: 0-1
AD: 9-11
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Panthers did not become a board team until 2004.
Sports Betting Angle: Florida International is 4-1 as a double-digit conference underdog.
WESTERN KENTUCKY (7-5 SU, 0-0 ATS, 13 RS, 41 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 68-31
ATS: 0-0
HF: 0-0
HD: 0-0
AF: 0-0
AD: 0-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Hilltoppers play five SBC opponents but do not get full league status until the 2009 season. This is their first year on the board.
Sports Betting Angle: Western Kentucky could be a good bet against Sun Belt foes in that the Hilltoppers will be motivated and their opponents may not.
INDEPENDENTS
NOTRE DAME (3-9 SU, 5-7 ATS, 16 RS, 37 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 57-40
ATS: 47-49-1
HF: 15-21
HD: 7-7
AF: 7-4-1
AD: 14-11
Sportsbook Buster: The Fighting Irish have covered five of their last six games against Navy.
Sports Betting Angle: Notre Dame has failed to cover the spread in seven consecutive bowl games.
NAVY (8-5 SU, 5-7 ATS, 13 RS, 30 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 46-50
ATS: 49-40-1
HF: 8-15
HD: 6-7-1
AF: 4-4
AD: 18-8
Sportsbook Buster: The Midshipmen are a strong 18-8 as road underdogs the past eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Navy has covered eight of its last 10 meetings with Army.
ARMY (3-9 SU, 4-6-1 ATS, 8 RS, 38 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 17-76
ATS: 35-52-2
HF: 2-4
HD: 11-21-1
AF: 0-3
AD: 19-17-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Black Knights are just 13-25-1 ATS at home the past eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Army is 9-1 ATS in the first of back-to-back road games.
Legend:
SU = Straight Up
ATS = Against the Spread
HF = Home Favorite
HD = Home Underdog
AF = Away Favorite
AD = Away Underdog
This is the last installment of an 11-part college football preview series.
