It's easy to underestimate the Big East but the league was 4-2 against the spread (ATS) in bowl games last season, a statistic that should be of great interest to devotees of college football betting. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers--and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:

 

PITTSBURGH (10-3 SU, 8-4 ATS, 11 RS, 49 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2009)

SU:  74-49

ATS: 60-57

HF:  19-22

HD:  10-6

AF:  13-12

AD:  14-11

Sportsbook Buster: The Panthers are 1-7 as home favorites of more than 22 points over the last 10 seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Pittsburgh has covered three games in a row versus Big East rival Louisville.

 

WEST VIRGINIA (9-4 SU, 5-7 ATS, 16 RS, 31 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2009)

SU:  86-39

ATS: 57-60-2

HF:  19-26-1

HD:   5-7

AF:  18-11-1

AD:  11-10

Sportsbook Buster: The Mountaineers have covered 11 of their last 12 games as Big East underdogs.

Sports Betting Angle: West Virginia has covered seven of its last nine games versus Syracuse.

 

SOUTH FLORIDA (8-5 SU, 6-5 ATS, 15 RS, 59 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2009)

SU:  75-44

ATS: 52-42

HF:  17-10

HD:   7-6

AF:  10-12

AD:  14-12

Sportsbook Buster: Since they became a board team in 2001, the Bulls are 17-10 as a home favorite.

Sports Betting Angle: USF has covered five straight games against Syracuse.

 

CINCINNATI (12-1 SU, 5-7 ATS, 12 RS, 44 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2009)

SU:  78-48

ATS: 61-57-2

HF:  18-18

HD:  12-5

AF:  11-15

AD:  18-12-2

Sportsbook Buster: The Bearcats are 30-17-2 as underdogs over the past 10 seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Cincinnati has covered six straight encounters with South Florida.

 

CONNECTICUT (8-5 SU, 9-2-1 ATS, 16 RS, 39 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2009)

SU:  62-58

ATS: 63-42-2

HF:  15-12-2

HD:  13-6

AF:   9-4

AD:  23-19

Sportsbook Buster: The Huskies are 28-18-2 ATS at home the past decade.

Sports Betting Angle: UConn has covered five straight games against Buffalo.

 

RUTGERS (9-4 SU, 6-5 ATS, 12 RS, 45 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2009)

SU:  58-63

ATS: 62-49-1

HF:  13-14

HD: 16-12

AF:   7-7

AD:  21-15-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Scarlet Knights are 13-4 ATS at home versus non-conference opponents the last 10 seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Rutgers has covered seven consecutive games against Army.

 

SYRACUSE (4-8 SU, 6-5 ATS, 15 RS, 41 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2009)

SU:  46-73

ATS: 61-55

HF:  22-8

HD:  14-16

AF:   5-6

AD:  18-24

Sportsbook Buster: At 22-8, the Orange has been an unexpectedly powerful bet as a home favorite over the past 10 seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Syracuse has covered five straight games versus Louisville.

 

LOUISVILLE (4-8 SU, 4-6-1 ATS, 12 RS, 47 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2009)

SU:  83-41

ATS: 64-54-1

HF:  27-21

HD:   5-4

AF:  19-14

AD:  11-9-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Cardinals are 2-11-1 ATS within the Big East Conference the last two years.

Sports Betting Angle: Louisville has covered three in a row at home against South Florida.

 

 

Legend:

SU  = Straight Up                                                          

ATS = Against the Spread                                  

HF  = Home Favorite

HD  = Home Underdog

AF  = Away Favorite

AD  = Away Underdog

 

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

Next: College Football Betting 2010: The WAC.

 

 

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