The Mid-American Conference was better than expected out of conference, finishing 28-21 ATS last season, a trend that college football betting aficionados will be watching this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:

 

EAST DIVISION

OHIO (4-8 SU, 7-4 ATS, 14 RS, 47 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  41-65

ATS: 47-51-1

HF:  11-10

HD:  10-7

AF:   7-9

AD:  18-22-1

Sportsbook Buster: Over the last nine seasons, the Bobcats are 0-9-1 ATS the week before playing Bowling Green.

Sports Betting Angle: Ohio University has covered three straight games against Miami.

 

AKRON (5-7 SU, 6-6 ATS, 15 RS, 45 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  48-58

ATS: 49-52-2

HF:   9-15

HD:  11-6

AF:   7-10

AD:  20-19-2

Sportsbook Buster: The Zips are 11-6 as home underdogs over the past nine seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: The home team has covered four straight in the Akron-Kent State series.

 

TEMPLE (5-7 SU, 7-4-1 ATS, 15 RS, 51 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  25-79

ATS: 54-45-2

HF:   6-5

HD:  18-16-1

AF:   3-3

AD:  26-20-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Owls are 9-6-1 ATS in MAC play since joining the league three years ago.

Sports Betting Angle: Temple has covered five of its last six meetings with Navy.

 

BUFFALO (8-6 SU, 9-5 ATS, 14 RS, 53 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  25-81

ATS: 54-49-1

HF:   4-4-1

HD:  19-17

AF:   0-0

AD:  29-26

Sportsbook Buster: The Bulls have covered nine straight games versus teams with losing SU records.

Sports Betting Angle: Buffalo has covered four straight against Akron.

 

KENT STATE (4-8 SU, 5-6 ATS, 15 RS, 59 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  34-70

ATS: 41-53-1

HF:   4-10

HD:  10-13

AF:   3-7

AD:  24-20-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Flashes are 7-17 as favorites the last nine years.

Sports Betting Angle: Kent State has covered four straight visits to Ohio University.

 

BOWLING GREEN (6-6 SU, 8-4 ATS, 10 RS, 39 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  63-45

ATS: 51-50-2

HF:  13-19-2

HD:   6-1

AF:  13-11

AD:  16-15

Sportsbook Buster: The Falcons are 6-2 as a home underdog but 13-19-2 as a home favorite since 2000.

Sports Betting Angle: Bowling Green has covered nine of its last 10 games against Ohio University.

 

MIAMI (2-10 SU, 4-7 ATS, 12 RS, 45 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  58-52

ATS: 56-51-1

HF:  16-15-1

HD:   6-5

AF:  13-11

AD:  20-16

Sportsbook Buster: The Redhawks have covered eight of their last nine versus Bowling Green.

Sports Betting Angle: Miami has covered three in a row against Western Michigan.

 

WEST DIVISION

CENTRAL MICHIGAN (8-5 SU, 5-7 ATS, 16 RS, 44 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  48-61

ATS: 50-49-3

HF:  10-8

HD:  12-9-1

AF:   8-7-1

AD:  16-23-1

Sportsbook Buster: Over the last nine seasons, the Chippewas are 16-23-1 as road underdogs.

Sports Betting Angle: Central Michigan is 9-1-1 ATS in its last 11 MAC openers.

 

TOLEDO (3-9 SU, 6-6 ATS, 16 RS, 57 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  68-42

ATS: 53-47-3

HF:  23-12

HD:   8-3

AF:   8-11-1

AD:   8-18-2

Sportsbook Buster: The Rockets are 31-15 ATS at home but 16-29-3 ATS on the road, the last nine seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Toledo has covered six of its last seven games against Eastern Michigan.

 

WESTERN MICHIGAN (9-4 SU, 5-6-1 ATS, 10 RS, 32 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  53-54

ATS: 45-52-2

HF:  13-11

HD:   3-11-1

AF:   8-11-1

AD:  18-17

Sportsbook Buster: The Broncos are just 3-11-1 as home underdogs the past nine seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Western Michigan has covered three in a row against Kent State.

 

NORTHERN ILLINOIS (6-7 SU, 6-6 ATS, 11 RS, 45 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  61-47

ATS: 55-45

HF:  13-18

HD:   9-2

AF:  15-10

AD:  16-11

Sportsbook Buster: The Huskies are 9-2 as home underdogs the last nine seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Northern Illinois is 6-1-1 ATS in its last eight games against Western Michigan.

 

BALL STATE (12-2 SU, 8-5 ATS, 11 RS, 36 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  50-57

ATS: 55-44-1

HF:  13-7

HD:  10-10

AF:   8-6

AD:  24-19-1

Sportsbook Buster: Since the start of the 2000 season, the Cardinals are 13-7 as home favorites.

Sports Betting Angle: Ball State has covered four straight against Toledo.

 

EASTERN MICHIGAN (3-9 SU, 4-7 ATS, 17 RS, 45 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU:  27-77

ATS: 42-52-1

HF:   5-5

HD:  11-15-1

AF:   1-1

AD:  24-28

Sportsbook Buster: The Eagles have covered four straight at Northern Illinois.

Sports Betting Angle: Eastern Michigan has covered five of its last six against Akron.

 

 

Legend:

SU  = Straight Up                        

ATS = Against the Spread                 

HF  = Home Favorite

HD  = Home Underdog

AF  = Away Favorite

AD  = Away Underdog

 

This is the 10th installment of an 11-part preview series.

Next: College Football Betting 2009: Examining the Sunbelt Conference and Independents.

 

 

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