Pac-10 teams were 21-14 ATS outside their conference last season but don’t appear to be as strong, overall, this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2007 records, returning starters (RS)—-including kickers--and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:
USC (11-2 SU, 7-6 ATS, 11 RS, 46 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 81-21
ATS: 57-45
HF: 24-21
HD: 1-3
AF: 20-16
AD: 6-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Trojans are 54-36 ATS during Coach Pete Carroll’s seven-year tenure in Troy.
Sports Betting Angle: USC has covered five of its last six meetings with Notre Dame, including three straight home games.
CALIFORNIA (7-6 SU, 4-9 ATS, 12 RS, 40 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 54-44
ATS: 47-48-1
HF: 15-18
HD: 6-7
AF: 8-11
AD: 14-10-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Bears are 6-1 ATS when facing a Pac-10 opponent after a non-conference game.
Sports Betting Angle: Cal has covered four straight at home against Arizona State.
ARIZONA STATE (10-3 SU, 6-7 ATS, 13 RS, 39 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 56-43
ATS: 47-47-2
HF: 24-16
HD: 6-3-1
AF: 8-7
AD: 7-17-1
Sportsbook Buster: Since 2000, the Sun Devils are a solid 30-19-1 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: Arizona State has covered four straight games at Washington State.
OREGON (9-4 SU, 4-8 ATS, 12 RS, 53 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 67-32
ATS: 55-41
HF: 23-19
HD: 3-2
AF: 12-9
AD: 13-7
Sportsbook Buster: The Ducks are 19-11 ATS versus non-conference foes the last eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Oregon has covered six straight games against Stanford.
ARIZONA (5-7 SU, 6-5 ATS, 13 RS, 39 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 33-59
ATS: 40-46-1
HF: 3-14
HD: 14-15-1
AF: 2-0
AD: 21-17
Sportsbook Buster: The Wildcats are a pathetic 3-14 as a home favorite the last eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Arizona has covered the last five meetings with Washington State.
UCLA (6-7 SU, 5-6 ATS, 9 RS, 41 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 56-43
ATS: 52-42-5
HF: 18-16-4
HD: 9-2
AF: 8-14
AD: 12-7-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Bruins are 21-9-1 as underdogs the last eight years.
Sports Betting Angle: UCLA has covered five in a row against both Arizona State and Oregon State.
OREGON STATE (9-4 SU, 8-4 ATS, 10 RS, 45 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 63-36
ATS: 51-40-1
HF: 21-11-1
HD: 4-5
AF: 7-11
AD: 14-11
Sportsbook Buster: The Beavers are a solid 21-11-1 as a home favorite over the last eight years.
Sports Betting Angle: Oregon State is 8-1 ATS in its last nine games versus Arizona.
WASHINGTON (4-9 SU, 6-7 ATS, 13 RS, 30 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 44-52
ATS: 39-54-3
HF: 8-20-1
HD: 12-9
AF: 3-5-1
AD: 14-17-1
Sportsbook Buster: At 8-20-1, the Huskies have been a liability as a home favorite the last eight years.
Sports Betting Angle: Washington has covered four straight games at rival Washington State.
STANFORD (4-8 SU, 5-7 ATS, 16 RS, 46 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 34-57
ATS: 46-42-2
HF: 10-8
HD: 14-15
AF: 3-2-1
AD: 19-16-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Cardinal has covered three straight against Cal in The Game.
Sports Betting Angle: Stanford has covered five of its last six games against San Jose State.
WASHINGTON STATE (5-7 SU, 6-6 ATS, 14 RS, 36 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2007)
SU: 54-41
ATS: 46-46
HF: 10-16
HD: 10-6
AF: 11-6
AD: 13-12
Sportsbook Buster: The Cougars have covered seven straight games against UCLA.
Sports Betting Angle: Washington State is 6-1 ATS in it6s last seven games versus Cal.
Legend:
SU = Straight Up
ATS = Against the Spread
HF = Home Favorite
HD = Home Underdog
AF = Away Favorite
AD = Away Underdog
This is the fifth installment of an 11-part preview series.
Next: College Football Betting: Analyzing the Big East.