Gaming: Can the WAC maintain its ATS Superiority?
NCAA Football Betting Lines
07/23/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Last season was quite a turnaround for the Western Athletic Conference, as the league's nine teams covered 21 of their 36 non-conference games (with two pushes) for an impressive 61% winning percentage.
This straight off the heels of a disastrous 13-22 mark in '08, a season in which the league finished 5-14 against the spread against Bowl Championship Series competition. This past year was the first since 2004 that the WAC ended a season above the .500 mark (8-7) versus BCS schools.
The question now becomes: Can the league continue its success, or will it falter with increased expectations? I fully expect the former to hold true, especially since only one team (Louisiana Tech) returns fewer starters than a season ago. In addition, the WAC is the only conference that returns every single starting quarterback.
As for betting within the league, favorites are only 55-52-1 over the last three years so it's difficult to follow specific trends on a weekly basis. However, Boise State has completed three straight years of winning records as a conference favorite with a combined ATS total of 15-8. Keep in mind, though, that 2010 will be the Broncos' final season in the WAC so the other eight squads might come at them with more intensity than in previous years.
Time now to take a team-by-team look at the league with predicted straight-up overall and conference records for those wagering on over/unders for total victories.
9) SAN JOSE STATE - The Spartans were an abysmal 1-9-1 ATS last season. They are 3-12-1 ATS in conference play the last two years.
Offense - San Jose State's offensive production has gone backwards each of the last four years, culminating with a 13.8 points per game average last season. The same cast of characters returns in 2010 along with the added pressure of learning new schemes. I don't expect much improvement, especially with trips to Alabama, Wisconsin and Utah to start the FBS schedule.
Defense - After giving up 21.6 ppg two years ago, the defense allowed 34.5 last year, the first season since '05 the unit was gashed for more than 30 ppg. In addition, only one team in the country allowed more rushing yards per game and that was 0-12 Eastern Michigan. Even with eight starters back, this is one of the worst defenses in the nation.
Prediction - There's only one way to go after a 1-9-1 ATS record so look for a few more covers, particularly in conference play. (3-9, 1-7)
8) NEW MEXICO STATE - The Aggies went 5-6-1 ATS last year but finished up with a 3-1 mark in their last four games. They are 2-7 ATS as home underdogs the last two seasons.
Offense - New Mexico State's offense was even worse than San Jose State's, finishing dead last nationally in scoring at an 11.5 ppg clip. However, there were signs of progress as the Aggies averaged 4.2 yards per carry in league play, up from 1.1 the season before. New offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar will rev up the passing game so look for the team to average close to 20 ppg in 2010.
Defense - The Aggies came into last year without their top six tacklers, and it showed as opposing rushers picked up 5.6 ypc. This season, six of the top eight tacklers return. Expect the defense to allow fewer than 30 ppg for the first time since '03.
Prediction - New Mexico State has not had a winning ATS record since '04, but that could change this season. (4-8, 2-6)
7) IDAHO - The Vandals were 7-5-1 ATS in '09 but went 0-5-1 over the final six games. They are 15-7-2 to the over since the start of the '08 season.
Offense - Only Auburn and Arkansas had a higher increase in scoring than Idaho last year. However, don't be shocked if the Vandals' 32.7 ppg mark takes a huge hit as the offense returns only four starters. In addition, the o-line brings back fewer than 20 career starts.
Defense - Despite reaching the postseason, the defense ranked dead last in the league in scoring, allowing 36 ppg. The Vandals were also 119th nationally in opponent third-down conversion percentage. Ten starters return this year so some improvement is expected. But remember, Idaho has allowed an average of 38 ppg in its five-year WAC history.
Prediction - Last season was the Vandals' first above-.500 ATS campaign since '02. Given that, I anticipate a giant tumble in 2010. (3-9, 2-6)
6) UTAH STATE - The Aggies went 8-3 ATS in '09. They are 16-8 ATS in WAC play and 14-5 as away underdogs the last three years.
Offense - Spring injuries to running back Robert Turbin and receiver Stanley Morrison will have significant ramifications for Utah State's offense. Not only do the Aggies lose their star tailback, but they will now be without five of their top six pass-catchers from a year ago.
Defense - This unit ranked seventh in league play last year in both scoring and total defense. However, 11 of the top 14 tacklers return and the team will now be in the second year of the new system.
Prediction - Quarterback Diondre Borel will not have as many weapons as he had a year ago, so don't expect another 3-0 ATS record in non-conference play. (3-9, 2-6)
5) HAWAII - The Warriors were an even 6-6 ATS last year but were 4-2 over the final six games. They are 3-1 ATS as road favorites the last two years.
Offense - The Warriors ranked seventh in the league in scoring last season, averaging only 23 ppg. Even though they finished first in league play in passing yardage, only Nevada and New Mexico State had lower completion percentages. Furthermore, with 16 fumbles in only 292 rushing attempts, they must do a better job holding onto the football.
Defense - For a unit that returned just one starter, it was an amazing achievement to finish fourth in league play in total defense. This season could be even better as seven starters come back, including the entire secondary.
Prediction - Hawaii will open the season 0-2 ATS with losses to both USC and Army. (6-7, 4-4)
4) NEVADA - The Wolf Pack finished 7-6 ATS last year, but went 4-0 to end the year. Chris Ault's club is an incredible 19-4 as a home favorite over the last six years.
Offense - Nevada was 0-4 SU in games that Colin Kaepernick threw at least 25 passes and 8-1 in the others. With nine starters coming back, expect another phenomenal season, particularly against the rest of the conference.
Defense - The Wolf Pack ranked last in the league in pass defense last year, and the secondary will once again be an area of concern with the loss of both safeties. Until the team figures out how to defend the pass, play the over (10-5 in the last 15 conference games).
Prediction - Nevada's style works well inside the WAC but not against the rest of the country as its 1-8 ATS mark in the last nine out-of-conference games points out. (8-5, 5-3)
3) LOUISIANA TECH - The Bulldogs went 7-4 ATS last year. They are 6-0 ATS as home underdogs the last three years, but 9-28-1 ATS off a SU loss in the last eight.
Offense - With head coach Sonny Dykes and offensive coordinator Tony Franklin in charge, look for Louisiana Tech to average over 30 ppg for the first time since '01. Four offensive line starters return to an attack that rang up 29 ppg a season ago, and this year's talent level has increased with transfers from both Tennessee and LSU.
Defense - With the coaching change that took place over the winter, it's important to keep in mind that defensive coordinator Tommy Spangler was retained. The defense allowed only 21 touchdowns last year, tying Boise State for the top spot in league play.
Prediction - Go with the over in each of Louisiana Tech's first four FBS games. (7-5, 5-3)
2) FRESNO STATE - The Bulldogs went 6-5-1 ATS in '09, but 1-3 in their final four games. They are just 2-10-1 as home favorites over the last four years.
Offense - Fresno State has always had solid rushing numbers so even with Ryan Mathews off to the NFL, the running game will not suffer as much as people might think. Tough-as-nails quarterback Ryan Colburn was impressive in his first season as the starter completing 61% of his tosses with 19 touchdowns. Look for even better numbers in his senior campaign.
Defense - Opposing league rushers averaged an amazing 6.7 ypc against Fresno State last season. However, that number should drop to below 5.0 if the defense can stay injury free. New defensive coordinator Randy Stewart did a fine job in '07, a year in which the Bulldogs' scoring average dropped a point despite only three returning starters. This year, seven come back.
Prediction - After playing seven road games each of the last two years, the Bulldogs get seven at home in 2010. (10-2, 7-1)
1) BOISE STATE - The Broncos went 8-5 ATS last season. They are 7-2 ATS in their last nine non-conference matchups, and 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games as road favorites.
Offense - Despite a shaky spring, Kellen Moore is still one of the top quarterbacks in the game. Throw in nine other returning starters to an offense that averaged over 40 ppg and the sky is the limit for the Broncos.
Defense - Only two starters returned to the front seven last season, causing the rush defense to allow over 4.5 ypc in league play. This year, all seven are back. It's hard to imagine the Broncos defense can improve after giving up just 17 ppg last season, but it could happen since the defense loses just two of 28 lettermen.
Prediction - Boise State is 21-9 ATS in its last 30 games. Look for another outstanding season in 2010 both SU and ATS, beginning with a win and cover versus Virginia Tech. (12-0, 8-0)
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While the Chicago White Sox continue to try and fend off Detroit and Minnesota in the American League Central standings, all eyes are on general manager Kenny Williams to make something happen before next Saturda
<< White Sox' Buehrle tries to end longtime woes against A's
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Though they still own the best record in baseball since
June 9, the Chicago White Sox have hit a bit of a rough patch of their last
few games. The timing couldn't be worse for starter Mark Buehrle, who has yet
to taste succes
<< Rays hope to end epic winless drought in Cleveland
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trying to remain in the hunt for first place in the
American League East, one would think the Tampa Bay Rays would welcome a trip
to Cleveland to face the last-place Indians.
Problem is, Tampa Bay hasn't won in 17 straight
<< Wood hopes for some support in Reds' clash with Astros
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In a perfect world, Cincinnati Reds starter Travis Wood
would be trying for his third straight winning start. However, no offensive
support in a pair of 1-0 setbacks has the 23-year-old still in search of his
first major leag
<< Rangers seeking to stretch lead over Angels in AL West
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Runs were hard to come by for the Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim in Thursday's opener of a four-game series versus the hosting Texas
Rangers. They'll need a quick fix tonight, given Joe Saunders' career-long
struggles against
Wigan, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Promising Hamilton midfielder James McArthur has joined Wigan for an undisclosed transfer fee. The 22-year-old has penned a four-year contract at the DW Stadium, where he will team up with former Accies c
Canadian MLB Report: Axford making most of chance >>
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Multiple Canadian-born hurlers were
supposed to be impact pitchers for their respective teams in 2010, but the
first half of the year didn't exactly reflect those predictions. On the other
hand, some have ste
Cubs activate P Schlitter; option P Stevens >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs have activated right-handed
pitcher Brian Schlitter from the 15-day disabled list.
He was placed on the DL on July 7, retroactive to July 3, with a right
shoulder impingement.
Sch
Bengals sign third-round pick Ghee >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals have signed
cornerback Brandon Ghee, the team's third-round draft choice.
He was the 96th overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft.
The 6-0, 192-pound Ghee made 56 tackles,
Wanted: A must-see player for Clippers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rapper Young Jeezy once boasted that mentioning his name
would bring an entire city out.
That same drawing power can be heralded by LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwight
Howard and a just handful of other players in the NBA.
Elite 8 NCAA Tournament Betting at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
In what should be an outstanding Saturday of March Madness betting action, the top four teams in the South and West Regions square off in what should be extremely close match-ups. Three of the four teams are coming off extremely close games on Thursday evening, only UCLA won semi comfortably over Pitt 64-55.
Ohio State is coming off their second game in a row where in all reality they should have lost. Of course that doesn’t matter now since the name of the game is “survive and advance” but as the tournament continues, they can’t afford to keep getting down to their opponents early. Kansas also avoided a scare by holding off a scrappy Southern Illinois squad. In the third thrilling game of the evening Memphis pulled off the minor upset (+3.5) despite being the higher seed to Texas A&M.
Although the spreads are fairly small for Saturday’s games, MySportsbook.com continue to bet against the underdogs. Despite OSU’s two scares, 86% of the “betting public” feels the Buckeyes (-1.5) have what it takes to make the Final Four. In fact, so much of the early money is on OSU that the line has already moved from -1 to -1.5. In the second game of the doubleheader, Kansas and their high-powered offense are 2 point favorites as they take on UCLA and their effective defense. About 63% of the early money thus far is once again backing the favorites. If those percentages stay that high, don’t be surprised if this line moves as well. If you like Kansas (-2) you might want to jump on it early.
Memphis vs. Ohio State
Both squads were involved in thrillers on Thursday evening and should come out fired up. OSU can ill afford to get behind early like they did versus their previous two opponents (Xavier, Tennessee). Greg Oden needs to stay out of foul trouble; the Buckeyes are a completely different team when he is on the court. Memphis definitely has the athleticism and length to match-up with OSU. Of Memphis’ five leading minute earners, the shortest of the bunch is 6’5”. Each team has a very effective defense; Memphis surrenders 62.3 PPG whereas the Buckeyes give up only 61 PPG. With those type of numbers, it isn’t surprising that Memphis covered the UNDER almost 69% of the time this season. As a favorite, OSU has covered the UNDER almost 66% of the time over the last three seasons. The major concern for Memphis which is magnifies this time of the year is their brutal foul shooting (62%). This season, OSU is 17-11 ATS versus teams with a winning record and 7-2 ATS in all tournament games. Memphis has been an extremely reliable cover in tournament play in recent years with a 23-8 ATS record over the last three seasons.
UCLA vs. Kansas
In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, UCLA will play in a role which they are very unfamiliar with that of the underdog. Only twice this season have they been getting points from the handicappers and both times they covered. Over the last three seasons UCLA is a reliable 23-7 ATS in this unfamiliar role. UCLA has not fared well against Big 12 opponents recently going 1-7 ATS since 1997. Giving up only 59.6 PPG, UCLA will definitely look to do what they do best: keep this game as low scoring as possible. Their defense has been especially tough during the tournament. UCLA opponents have been able to muster up only 48.7 PPG while shooting a combined 34.5% from the field. UCLA definitely has a challenge at hand with a Kansas team that is capable of putting points on the board in bunches. As a team, they average 79 PPG and shoot an impressive 49.6% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. During the tournament Kansas has been “lights out” from the field having shot 56.2%.
With Friday -105 juice on Basketball betting, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on all of the “March Madness” action. Don’t forget to monitor who the public is backing at MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By doing so, you have the best chance of predicting a possible line change, thus getting the best value for your wager.
To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards
MySportsbook.com, Online Sportsbook and Casino, is celebrating our 9th football season online since our launch in 1997. MySportsbook.com has experienced exponential growth, having taken over $8 billion in Sports and Casino Wagers since we opened our doors.
This year we will accept over $3 billion in wagers. Tens of thousands of winning wagers are created daily for the 300,000 people that have joined our website. In August of 2005, MySportsbook.com was acquired by Sportingbet, a UK company which is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange. Combined, MySportsbook.com and Sportingbet easily form the world's largest internet sportsbook company and one of the internet's most profitable companies. The acquisition has provided for added transparency and accountability to MySportsbook.com customers and thus provides more safety and security for our customers. Our business is audited by BDO Stoy Hayward, one of the largest auditing firms in London, and our accounts are published quarterly on the London Exchange. We encourage you to take a look around and truly hope you enjoy your experience.
Through advertising deals with the top handicapping sites in the world, MySportsbook.com reaches a global audience and is one of the most commonly visited gaming spots on the Internet.
MySportsbook.com offers the largest selection of casino games and sporting wagers on the Internet. We believe that an educated player is a more responsible gambler, thus we provide you with all of the latest news and handicapping information. MySportsbook.com is your ultimate destination for gaming information and wagering. You can start by signing up in the Casino or Sportsbook. Once you sign up you can use your same login in either the casino or Sportsbook. So do it now and start winning serious money Today!
If at any time you have a question, we have numerous people waiting to help you, so don't be afraid to call our customer service department. We do not take any telephone wagers but we can certainly answer any questions you may have about our service.
MySportsbook.com is officially licensed in Antigua as a preferred licensee recognized by the Directorate of offshore gaming of Antigua and Barbuda.
What more could you ask for from an Online Sportsbook?
- MySportsbook.com processes over $3 billion in wagers a year in audited business
- As MySportsbook.com is a publicly traded company, this provides us with excellent capitalization, which enables us to cover any size bet, from $5 to $1 million
- Greatest variety of wagering options, from European Football to NBA to Formula 1, we cover the world's sporting events
- No other Sportsbook offers as many free contests and as many chances to win FREE Money
- Fast and Easy Payouts and Deposit Methods
- Top Notch Security
- Visa and Mastercard licensed electronic cash processor
- Top Notch 24x7 Live Operator support, by phone or via the Internet. No telephone wagers are accepted.
- All customer emails answered within 1 hour during the day, or if sent overnight, within 2 hours of the start of the business day
- We will not charge you any fees to get started; there are no credit card fees, there are no gaming taxes and we will give you up to a 10% cash bonus on your first deposit when you get started.
- 21% Bonus Cash for referring your friends to MySportsbook.com
- Best Voted Online Blackjack casino games
- World Series odds
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts credit cards needs.