It's easy to underestimate the Big East but six of the league's eight teams went to bowls last season and conference teams are 66-51-1 ATS outside the Big East the past three seasons, a statistic that should be of great interest to devotees of college football betting. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:
RUTGERS (8-5 SU, 8-4 ATS, 13 RS, 47 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:49-59
ATS: 56-44-1
HF:13-11
HD:15-11
AF:4-6
AD:20-15-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Scarlet Knights are 10-3 ATS at home versus non-conference opponents the last nine seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Rutgers has covered six consecutive games against Army.
PITTSBURGH (9-4 SU, 7-6 ATS, 15 RS, 49 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:64-46
ATS: 52-53
HF:16-20
HD:9-6
AF:10-12
AD:14-11
Sportsbook Buster: The Panthers are 1-7 as home favorites of more than 22 points over the last nine seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: The underdog in Pittsburgh-Rutgers series has covered six of the last seven meetings.
WEST VIRGINIA (9-4 SU, 4-8 ATS, 12 RS, 33 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:77-35
ATS: 52-53-2
HF:18-22-1
HD:5-7
AF:17-10-1
AD:9-9
Sportsbook Buster: The Mountaineers have covered nine of their last 10 games as Big East underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: West Virginia has covered five consecutive games against Connecticut.
SOUTH FLORIDA (8-5 SU, 5-7 ATS, 12 RS, 40 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU: 67-39
ATS: 46-37
HF:16-10
HD:6-4
AF:8-6
AD:11-11
Sportsbook Buster: Since they became a board team in 2001, the Bulls are 22-14 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: USF has covered four straight games against Syracuse.
CONNECTICUT (8-5 SU, 5-7 ATS, 12 RS, 37 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:54-53
ATS: 54-40-1
HF:14-10-1
HD:12-6
AF:8-4
AD:18-19
Sportsbook Buster: The Huskies are 26-16-1 ATS at home the last nine seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: UConn has covered six straight games against Rutgers.
CINCINNATI (11-3 SU, 6-7 ATS, 9 RS, 43 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:66-47
ATS: 56-50-2
HF:17-14
HD:12-5
AF:8-13
AD:17-12-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Bearcats are 29-17-2 as underdogs over the past nine years.
Sports Betting Angle: Cincinnati has covered five straight encounters with South Florida.
LOUISVILLE (5-7 SU, 4-7 ATS, 13 RS, 49 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:79-33
ATS: 60-48
HF:26-20
HD:4-2
AF:19-14
AD:9-6
Sportsbook Buster: The Cardinals are a solid 13-8 as underdogs the last eight seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Louisville has covered its last five visits to Cincinnati.
SYRACUSE (3-9 SU, 5-6 ATS, 14 RS, 45 RL)
By the Numbers (2000-2008)
SU:42-65
ATS: 55-50
HF:21-8
HD:11-13
AF:5-6
AD:16-22
Sportsbook Buster: At 21-8, the Orange has been strong as a home favorite over the past nine seasons.
Sports Betting Angle: Syracuse has covered four straight games versus Louisville.
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 2009: Examining the WAC.
