College Basketball Betting: Analyzing the Horizon League

Horizon League teams were 51-40-2 ATS outside their conference a year ago, trend college basketball betting enthusiasts surely will be watching this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses:

CLEVELAND STATE (21-13 SU, 18-13 ATS, 13-17-1 O/U): The return of four starters, including J'Nathan Bullock (14.8 PPG0 and Cedric Jackson (13.9 PPG) make the Vikings league favorites.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 7-4

Home Underdog: 1-1

Away Favorite: 2-0

Away Underdog: 5-6

Neutral Site: 3-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Vikings were 11-5 as favorites last season.

Sports Betting Angle: Cleveland State was 14-5 ATS in games following a SU win last season.

WRIGHT STATE (21-10 SU, 14-13-2 ATS, 14-14-1 O/U): The Raiders boast a high quality backcourt but have lost three starters in the frontcourt.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 2-9

Home Underdog: 2-1

Away Favorite: 1-1-2

Away Underdog: 8-1

Neutral site: 1-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Raiders were 4-10 ATS at home but 9-2-2 ATS on the road.

Sports Betting Angle: Wright State was 10-2 as an underdog.

UW-GREEN BAY (15-15 SU, 11-13-3 ATS, 15-12 O/U): All five starters are back from a team that underperformed. Better defense is a requirement.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 5-4-1

Home Underdog: 1-1

Away Favorite: 0-0-1

Away Underdog: 4-7-1

Neutral Site: 1-0

Sportsbook Buster: The Phoenix was 3-8-2 ATS on two or fewer days rest.

Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 1-4 when Wisconsin-Green Bay was an underdog.

BUTLER (30-4 SU, 17-15-1 ATS, 17-16 O/U): Matt Howard (12.3 PPG as a frosh) is the lone returning starter to a team that must be rebuilt.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 9-7

Home Underdog: 0-0

Away Favorite: 4-6-1

Away Underdog: 1-0

Neutral Site: 3-2

Sportsbook Buster: The Bulldogs were 7-12-1 ATS in league games.

Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 9-3 in Butler road games.

ILLINOIS-CHICAGO (18-15 SU, 18-12-1 ATS, 13-18 O/U): The top three scorers return and the Flames have a shot at another winning season.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 7-2-1

Home Underdog: 1-1

Away Favorite: 0-2

Away Underdog: 8-5

Neutral Site: 2-2

Sportsbook Buster: The Flames were 7-2-1 as a home favorite.

Sports Betting Angle: Illinois-Chicago was 9-1-1 ATS after a SU defeat.

VALPARAISO (22-14 SU, 15-15-2 ATS, 19-13 O/U): The top two scorers have departed but Coach Homer Drew rarely has a team that isn't a contender.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 5-7

Home Underdog: 0-0-1

Away Favorite: 1-0-1

Away Underdog: 6-5

Neutral Site: 2-2

Sportsbook Buster: The Crusaders were 11-8-1 ATS after a SU win.

Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 13-8 in Valparaiso league games.

LOYOLA ILLINOIS (12-19 SU, 12-14-2 ATS, 10-18 O/U): The Ramblers return four starters but need to shoot better to move up the league standings.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 1-6

Home Underdog: 1-1-1

Away Favorite: 1-0

Away Underdog: 7-6-1

Neutral Site: 0-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Ramblers were 1-6 as home favorites.

Sports Betting Angle: Loyola-Illinois was 2-9-1 ATS after a pointspread win.

UW-MILWAUKEE (14-16 SU, 12-15 ATS, 13-14 O/U): The Panthers made strides last season and, though young, could earn a winning record.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 3-6

Home Underdog: 2-3

Away Favorite: 1-1

Away Underdog: 6-5

Neutral Site: 0-0

Sportsbook Buster: The Panthers were 5-9 ATS at home.

Sports Betting Angle: Wisconsin-Milwaukee was 3-9 ATS following a pointspread win.

YOUNGSTOWN STATE (9-21 SU, 15-9-2 ATS, 14-12 O/U): Seven newcomers will try to lift the fortunes of a program that has had double-digit wins just once in the last seven seasons.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 2-1

Home Underdog: 3-1-2

Away Favorite: 0-0

Away Underdog: 8-7

Neutral Site: 1-0

Sportsbook Buster: The Penguins were 12-5-2 ATS in league play.

Sports Betting Angle: Youngstown State was 6-1 ATS after a pointspread loss.

DETROIT (7-23 SU, 11-13-3 ATS, 10-17 O/U): New Head Coach Ray McCallum will need time if the Titans are to become a respectable hoops program.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 1-3

Home Underdog: 4-4-2

Away Favorite: 0-0

Away Underdog: 6-6-1

Neutral Site: 0-0

Sportsbook Buster: The Titans were 6-12-2 ATS after a SU defeat.

Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 13-6 in Detroit league games.