Only one Big Ten team, Northwestern, played more "over" games than "under" games last season, a trend that basketball betting aficionados will be monitoring this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses:
MICHIGANSTATE (31-7 SU, 20-14-1 ATS, 15-20 O/U): Five of the top six return from last season’s NCAA runner-ups, including Big Ten Player of the Year Kalin Lewis (14.7 PPG, 4.7 APG).
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:7-6
Home Underdog:0-1
Away Favorite:5-2
Away Underdog:1-1
Neutral site:7-4-1
Sportsbook Buster: Spartans were 12-5-1 ATS on three or more days rest.
Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 10-4 in MichiganState home games.
PURDUE (27-10 SU, 16-18 ATS, 17-17 O/U): The top six players are back from last season’s sweet 16 squad.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:9-6
Home Underdog:0-0
Away Favorite:1-5
Away Underdog:0-2
Neutral Site:4-5
Sportsbook Buster: The Boilermakers were 3-7 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: Purdue was 7-13 ATS on three or more days rest.
MICHIGAN (21-14 SU, 17-12 ATS, 14-14-1 O/U): The Wolverines boast two of the Big Ten’s top five returning scorers in Manny Harris (16.9 PPG) and DeShawn Sims (15.4 PPG).
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:7-2
Home Underdog:2-1
Away Favorite:0-2
Away Underdog:5-4
Neutral Site:3-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Wolverines were 13-1 ATS on three or more days rest.
Sports Betting Angle: Michigan was 9-3 ATS at home.
OHIOSTATE (22-11 SU, 17-12 ATS, 12-16 O/U): Evan Turner (17.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG) leads yet another team capable of challenging for the Big Ten title.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:6-5
Home Underdog:1-1
Away Favorite:2-0
Away Underdog:4-4
Neutral Site:4-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Buckeyes were 13-8 ATS in conference play.
Sports Betting Angle: OSU was 10-2 ATS on two or fewer days rest.
ILLINOIS (24-10 SU, 16-14-1 ATS, 11-20 O/U): Junior Mike Davis (11.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG) and the conference’s top recruiting class will have the Illini battling for the league title…next season.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:7-6-1
Home Underdog:0-1
Away Favorite:1-2
Away Underdog:4-2
Neutral Site:4-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Illini were 6-3 ATS in games after a SU loss.
Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 11-4 in Illinois home games.
MINNESOTA (22-11 SU, 13-15 ATS, 13-15 O/U): The Gophers have depth and experience but a lack of talent could hold back Tubby Smith’s team.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:7-4
Home Underdog:0-1
Away Favorite:0-1
Away Underdog:3-6
Neutral Site:2-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Gophers are 7-17 as underdogs the last two seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Minnesota is 14-8 as a home favorite the lat two years.
NORTHWESTERN (17-14 SU, 13-14 ATS, 17-10 O/U): With Kevin Coble (15.4 PPG) leading the way, the Wildcats are on the brink of an NCAA bid.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:5-4
Home Underdog:2-1
Away Favorite:2-0
Away Underdog:3-8
Neutral Site: 0-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Wildcats were 3-8 as road underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: Northwestern was 13-6 ATS in Big Ten play.
PENNSTATE (27-11 SU, 19-12 ATS, 13-17-1 O/U): Talor Battle (16.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG) leads the NIT champions in search of a spot in the Big Dance.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:5-5
Home Underdog:3-1
Away Favorite:2-0
Away Underdog:5-5
Neutral Site:4-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Nittany Lions were 9-5 as favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: PSU was 7-4 ATS in games after a pointspread loss.
WISCONSIN (20-13 SU, 13-17-1 ATS, 12-18-1 O/U): The Badgers have a solid senior backcourt but are unproven up front.
By the Numbers (2008/09 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 4-10-1 ATS on two or fewer days rest.
Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 8-2-1 when Wisconsin was an underdog.
INDIANA (6-25 SU, 12-16 ATS, 12-16 O/U): The Hoosiers surely will improve but they’re still a little too young and small to seriously threaten.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:0-1
Home Underdog:6-5
Away Favorite:0-1
Away Underdog:5-6
Neutral Site:1-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Hoosiers were 4-8 ATS after a pointspread victory.
Sports Betting Angle: Indiana was 1-4 ATS in games following a SU win.
IOWA (15-17 SU, 16-11 ATS, 12-15 O/U): With four of its top players gone, the Hawkeyes will have to struggle just to avoid the conference cellar.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:5-2
Home Underdog:3-2
Away Favorite:1-1
Away Underdog:6-4
Neutral Site:1-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Hawkeyes were 12-5 ATS on two days or less rest.
Sports Betting Angle: Iowa was 6-3 ATS in games following a pointspread loss.
This is the third of 11 NCAA basketball betting previews.
