Betting the Western Athletic Conference

WAC teams were 7-12-1 as home underdogs last season, a trend that college basketball betting devotees will be tracking 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:

UTAH STATE (30-5 SU, 17-12 ATS, 10-19 O/U): Difficult to bet against the Aggies, who return four starters and were 14-2 in the Western Athletic Conference last season.

By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)

Home Favorite: 6-7

Home Underdog: 0-0

Away Favorite: 5-3

Away Underdog: 3-1

Neutral site: 3-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Aggies were 8-4 ATS on the road.

Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 15-8 when Utah State was a favorite.

NEW MEXICO STATE (17-15 SU, 13-17-1 ATS, 17-14 O/U): Jahmar Young led the WAC in scoring (17.9 PPG) for a team that doesn’t lose a single starter. The Aggies are a major threat.

By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)

Home Favorite: 6-8

Home Underdog: 0-0-1

Away Favorite: 0-0

Away Underdog: 4-9

Neutral Site: 2-0

Sportsbook Buster: The Aggies are 7-14-1 ATS in road games the last two seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 11-3 when New Mexico State was a home favorite.

IDAHO (17-16 SU, 14-14 ATS, 14-14 O/U): Sharpshooter Mac Hopson (16.4 PPG, 43% 3-PT) is one of four returning starters on a team that has realistic post-season aspirations.

By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)

Home Favorite: 5-3

Home Underdog: 0-3

Away Favorite: 1-0

Away Underdog: 7-7

Neutral Site: 0-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Vandals were 7-10 as underdogs.

Sports Betting Angle: Idaho was 6-10 ATS after a SU win.

NEVADA (21-13 SU, 11-20-1 ATS, 16-16 O/U): Luke Babbit (16.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG) and Armon Johnson (15.5 PPG) give the Wolf Pack a dynamic inside/outside presence.

By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)

Home Favorite: 3-13

Home Underdog: 1-2

Away Favorite: 3-3

Away Underdog: 4-2-1

Neutral Site: 0-0

Sportsbook Buster: The Wolf Pack was 4-14 ATS at home.

Sports Betting Angle: Nevada was 7-12 ATS in conference play.

SAN JOSE STATE (13-17 SU, 11-12-1 ATS, 16-8 O/U): The Spartans have a top guard in Adrian Oliver (17.1 PPG) and the muscle in the paint to be a contender in this balanced league.

By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)

Home Favorite: 3-6-1

Home Underdog: 1-1

Away Favorite: 1-0

Away Underdog: 6-5

Neutral Site: 0-0

Sportsbook Buster: The "over" was 13-4 in Spartans WAC play.

Sports Betting Angle: San Jose State was 3-7-1 ATS in games after a SU victory.

FRESNO STATE (13-21 SU, 13-15-2 ATS, 13-17 O/U): Sylvester Seay (15.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG) and Paul George (14.3 PPH, 6.2 RPG) are tough up front but the Bulldogs need at point guard.

By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)

Home Favorite: 4-8

Home Underdog: 0-3

Away Favorite: 1-2

Away Underdog: 2-6

Neutral Site: 1-0

Sportsbook Buster: The Bulldogs are 6-16-1 as favorites the last two seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Fresno State was 11-6-1 ATS after a SU loss.

LOUISIANA TECH (15-18 SU, 19-7 ATS, 13-12 O/U): Kyle Gibson (16.1 PPG) and Magnum Rolle (12.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG) need help on a team that plays good defense but can’t score.

By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)

Home Favorite: 5-1

Home Underdog: 2-2

Away Favorite: 0-0

Away Underdog: 11-3

Neutral Site: 1-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Bulldogs are 24-10-1 ATS in conference games the last two seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Louisiana Tech was 11-3 ATS on the road.

BOISE STATE (19-13 SU, 13-15 ATS, 15-13 O/U): The Broncos have plenty experience but still lack a quality scorer that can take the tough shots in crunch time.

By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)

Home Favorite: 7-6

Home Underdog: 1-0

Away Favorite: 0-0

Away Underdog: 5-7

Neutral Site: 0-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Broncos were 5-8 ATS on the road.

Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 8-2 after a Boise State SU loss.

HAWAII (13-17 SU, 14-14 ATS, 10-18 O/U): Roderick Flemings (16.6 PPG) is as solid as they come up front but he doesn’t have the help for the Warriors to avoid the WAC basement.

By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)

Home Favorite: 4-10

Home Underdog: 2-1

Away Favorite: 0-0

Away Underdog: 7-2

Neutral Site: 0-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Warriors are 6-18 as favorites the last two years.

Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 11-6 in Hawaii conference games.

This is the last of 11 NCAA basketball betting previews.