Pac-10 teams were 15 games over .500 ATS versus non-conference foes and played 21 more "over" than "under" games last season, trends college basketball betting fans will be watching this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses:
CALIFORNIA (22-11 SU, 16-13-1 ATS, 17-11-2 O/U): Jerome Randle (18.3 PPG), Patrick Christopher (14.5 PPG) and Theo Robertson (13.1 PPG) can really light it up for the Bears.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:8-3-1
Home Underdog:2-1
Away Favorite:1-1
Away Underdog:5-5
Neutral Site:1-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Bears were 10-4-1 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: The "over" is 38-19-3 the last two years in Cal games.
WASHINGTON (26-9 SU, 18-12-2 ATS, 20-12 O/U): Isaiah Thomas (15.5 PPG) leads a deep and talented backcourt that will have the Huskies challenging for a Pac-10 title.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:9-6-1
Home Underdog:0-0
Away Favorite:2-3
Away Underdog:4-0-1
Neutral Site:3-3
Sportsbook Buster: The "over" was 16-4 in Huskies conference games.
Sports Betting Angle: Washington was 5-1-1 as an underdog.
UCLA (26-9 SU, 16-16-2 ATS, 21-12-1 O/U): With nine freshmen and sophomores on the roster, the Bruins likely will struggle early but improve as the season progresses.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite: 10-7-1
Home Underdog:0-0
Away Favorite: 3-4-1
Away Underdog:1-1
Neutral site:2-4
Sportsbook Buster: The "over" was 14-6 in Bruins conference games.
Sports Betting Angle: UCLA was 4-8 ATS on one or fewer days rest.
ARIZONA (21-14 SU, 19-15-1 ATS, 20-14 O/U): New Head Coach Sean Miller will build around Nic Wise (15.7 PPG) in a realistic quest for a 26th consecutive trip to the Big Dance.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:8-5-1
Home Underdog:2-1
Away Favorite:1-1
Away Underdog:4-5
Neutral Site:4-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Wildcats were 10-6-1 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: Arizona was 9-4 ATS after a SU loss.
OREGONSTATE (18-18 SU, 17-14 ATS, 13-18 O/U): Four starters return to the team that won a dozen more games than it had the previous season so a winning season looks probable.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:0-3
Home Underdog:9-3
Away Favorite:0-0
Away Underdog:7-7
Neutral Site:0-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Beavers were 9-3 as home underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 13-7 in OregonState conference play.
OREGON (8-23 SU, 9-21 ATS, 15-15 O/U): The Ducks will have just about everyone of significance back but need to play more cohesive basketball to reach the top half of the league.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:3-2
Home Underdog:2-6
Away Favorite:1-0
Away Underdog:2-8
Neutral Site:1-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Ducks were 5-17 as underdogs
Sports Betting Angle:Oregon was 5-13 ATS on three or more days rest.
WASHINGTONSTATE (17-16 SU, 12-18-1 ATS, 11-19-1 O/U): New Head Coach Ken Bone inherits a team paced by super sophomore Klay Thompson and a tradition for stingy defense.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:3-8
Home Underdog:2-1
Away Favorite:1-1
Away Underdog:2-6-1
Neutral Site:3-2
Sportsbook Buster: The "under" was 10-1 when the Cougars were home favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: WashingtonState was 6-11 after a pointspread loss.
ARIZONASTATE (25-10 SU, 19-12 ATS, 17-14 O/U): Only two starters depart but they’re both in the NBA now so look for the Sun Devils to experience a decline in fortunes this season.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:6-5
Home Underdog:1-0
Away Favorite:4-4
Away Underdog:3-0
Neutral Site:5-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Sun Devils were 4-1 as underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: ASU is 24-15-1 ATS in conference play the last two seasons.
USC (22-13 SU, 18-15 ATS, 17-14-1 O/U): Kevin O’Neill takes over a program with only one returning starter, Dwight Lewis (14.4 PPG) and questions at the crucial point guard position.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:7-6
Home Underdog:2-1
Away Favorite:1-1
Away Underdog:4-4
Neutral Site:4-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Trojans were 10-5 ATS on three or more days rest.
Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 6-2 when USC was a road underdog.
STANFORD (20-14 SU, 19-12-1 ATS, 16-15-1 O/U): Landry Fields (12.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG) has all-star talent but there isn’t much around him and the Cardinal could be Pac-10 cellar-bound.
By the Numbers (2008/09 Season)
Home Favorite:11-4
Home Underdog:0-0-1
Away Favorite:2-4
Away Underdog:5-3
Neutral Site:1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Cardinal was 9-2 ATS versus non-conference foes.
Sports Betting Angle: Stanford was 13-3-1 ATS on three or more days rest.
This is the sixth of 11 NCAA basketball betting previews.
