College Basketball Betting - Analyzing the Mid-American Conference

All seven teams that had a losing straight up won/lost record also were unsuccessful against the pointspread last season, a trend that college basketball betting followers will be watching again this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses:

EAST DIVISION

KENT STATE (28-7 SU, 17-12-1 ATS, 14-14-2 O/U): MAC Player of the Year Al Fisher (13.9 PPG) leads the attack but the Flashes need players to emerge in the paint to stay in front.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 7-3-1

Home Underdog: 0-0

Away Favorite: 4-4

Away Underdog: 3-2

Neutral Site: 3-3

Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Flashes were 14-9-1 as a favorite last season.

Sports Betting Angle: Kent State was 11-7-1 ATS in MAC contests last season.

MIAMI (17-16 SU, 17-15 ATS, 18-13-1 O/U): Three starters return, including Michael Bramos (16.3 PPG), making the ‘Hawks MAC contenders.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 5-5

Home Underdog: 1-0

Away Favorite: 3-3

Away Underdog: 3-5

Neutral Site: 5-1

Sportsbook Buster: The RedHawks were 5-1 ATS on one day or less rest.

Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 11-7 when Miami was a favorite.

BOWLING GREEN (13-17 SU, 12-16-1 ATS, 11-18 O/U): The Falcons return everyone of consequence but must improve their shooting to contend.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 3-3

Home Underdog: 3-3

Away Favorite: 1-0

Away Underdog: 4-7-1

Neutral Site: 1-2

Sportsbook Buster: The Falcons were 6-10-1 ATS in conference games.

Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 14-7 when Bowling Green was an underdog.

OHIO (20-13 SU, 15-15 ATS, 13-16-1 O/U): Ohio State assistant John Groce inherits a team that lost three of its top four scorers.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 10-4

Home Underdog: 2-3

Away Favorite: 2-3

Away Underdog: 3-3

Neutral Site: 0-5

Sportsbook Buster: The Bobcats were 10-4 as home favorites.

Sports Betting Angle: Ohio was 4-9 ATS in games following a pointspread loss.

AKRON (24-11 SU, 18-13 ATS, 15-15-1 O/U): The Zips won 50 games the past two years but, with six newcomers, begin the rebuilding process.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 7-6

Home Underdog: 0-0

Away Favorite: 4-1

Away Underdog: 5-2

Neutral site: 2-4

Sportsbook Buster: The Zips were 9-3 ATS on the road.

Sports Betting Angle: Akron was 12-7 ATS in MAC games.

BUFFALO (10-20 SU, 13-16 ATS, 15-14 O/U): Five starters return but is that a good thing when you win just 10 games and go 3-13 in the MAC?

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 4-2

Home Underdog: 2-5

Away Favorite: 0-0

Away Underdog: 4-8

Neutral Site: 3-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Bulls were 8-13 as an underdog.

Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 11-6 in Buffalo's MAC games.

WEST DIVISION

WESTERN MICHIGAN (20-12 SU, 16-13-1 ATS, 14-16 O/U): Four starters are back, including David Kool (16.3 PPG) but C Joe Reitz (15.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG) will be missed.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 6-3

Home Underdog: 2-0

Away Favorite: 4-4-1

Away Underdog: 3-3

Neutral Site: 1-3

Sportsbook Buster: The Broncos were 8-3 ATS at home.

Sports Betting Angle: Western Michigan was 11-7 ATS in conference play.

EASTERN MICHIGAN (14-17 SU, 13-15 ATS, 14-13-1 O/U): Carlos Medlock (14.8 PPG) and Justin Dobbins (10.2 PPG) should lead an EMU resurgence.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 4-4

Home Underdog: 3-1

Away Favorite: 0-0

Away Underdog: 5-7

Neutral Site: 1-2

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

Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 8-3-1 when EMU played at home.

TOLEDO (11-19 SU, 13-16 ATS, 13-16 O/U): New Coach Gene Cross looks for immediate improvement with an interesting cast of holdovers and newcomers.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 4-2

Home Underdog: 3-2

Away Favorite: 0-1

Away Underdog: 5-10

Neutral Site: 1-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Rockets were 8-13 as an underdog.

Sports Betting Angle: Toledo was 3-8 ATS after a SU victory.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN (14-17 SU, 12-16-1 ATS, 18-11 O/U): With inexperience at the point and the loss of several big men, the Chippewas could have a tough campaign.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 2-4-1

Home Underdog: 2-1

Away Favorite: 1-2

Away Underdog: 6-7

Neutral Site: 1-2

Sportsbook Buster: The Chippewas were 2-8-1 ATS after a pointspread victory.

Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 11-6 when Central Michigan was an underdog.

BALL STATE (6-24 SU, 11-17-1 ATS, 13-16 O/U): Anthony Newell (16.9 PPG) will be surrounded by seven new Cardinals so it looks like another difficult season.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 2-3

Home Underdog: 2-7

Away Favorite: 0-0

Away Underdog: 7-6-1

Neutral Site: 0-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Cardinals were 4-10 ATS at home.

Sports Betting Angle: Ball State was 9-14-1 as an underdog.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS (6-22 SU, 13-13 ATS, 16-10 O/U): Eight newcomers join MAC 2008 Freshman of the Year Darion Anderson on a team that is still a couple of years away.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 1-2

Home Underdog: 4-3

Away Favorite: 0-0

Away Underdog: 8-5

Neutral Site: 0-3

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

Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 10-3 when Northern Illinois was on the road.