Betting the Mid-American Conference

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.