Betting the Pac-10

Pac-10 teams were 19-15 ATS in non-conference games and were 4-1 ATS in bowls, trends that college football betting followers will be tracking this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:

USC (12-1 SU, 7-5-1 ATS, 12 RS, 59 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 93-22

ATS: 64-50-1

HF: 28-22-1

HD: 1-3

AF: 22-20

AD: 6-2

Sportsbook Buster: The Trojans are 61-41-1 ATS during Coach Pete Carroll's eight-year tenure in Troy.

Sports Betting Angle: USC has covered six of its last seven meetings with Notre Dame.

CALIFORNIA (9-4 SU, 9-4 ATS, 15 RS, 53 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 63-48

ATS: 56-52-1

HF: 22-18

HD: 6-7

AF: 9-13

AD: 15-11-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Bears have covered eight straight when facing a Pac-10 opponent after a non-conference game.

Sports Betting Angle: Cal has covered five of its last six games against Arizona State.

ARIZONA (8-5 SU, 8-5 ATS, 13 RS, 51 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 41-64

ATS: 48-51-1

HF: 7-15

HD: 16-15-1

AF: 3-3

AD: 21-18

Sportsbook Buster: The Wildcats are 7-15 as a home favorite the last nine seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Arizona has covered its last six visits to Washington.

UCLA (4-8 SU, 7-5 ATS, 16 RS, 48 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 60-51

ATS: 59-47-5

HF: 19-16-4

HD: 13-4

AF: 9-14

AD: 13-10-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Bruins are 26-14-1 as underdogs the last nine years.

Sports Betting Angle: UCLA has covered seven of its last eight games against opening rival San Diego State.

OREGON (10-3 SU, 7-6 ATS, 9 RS, 48 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 78-34

ATS: 65-43

HF: 27-19

HD: 4-2

AF: 13-10

AD: 15-8

Sportsbook Buster: The Ducks are 23-14 ATS versus non-conference foes the last nine seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Oregon has covered five straight games against Washington.

OREGON STATE (9-4 SU, 9-4 ATS, 10 RS, 54 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 72-40

ATS: 61-43-1

HF: 25-12-1

HD: 5-5

AF: 9-12

AD: 16-12

Sportsbook Buster: The Beavers are 25-12-1 as a home favorite over the last nine years.

Sports Betting Angle: Oregon State is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games versus Arizona.

STANFORD (5-7 SU, 7-5 ATS, 17 RS, 50 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 39-64

ATS: 53-47-2

HF: 12-8

HD: 17-15

AF: 3-3-1

AD: 21-20-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Cardinal is 16-3-1 ATS the week after playing USC.

Sports Betting Angle: Stanford has covered six of its last seven games against both Washington State and San Jose State.

ARIZONA STATE (5-7 SU, 4-6-1 ATS, 15 RS, 46 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 61-50

ATS: 51-53-3

HF: 26-18

HD: 6-5-1

AF: 9-7

AD: 8-19-3

Sportsbook Buster: Since 2000, the Sun Devils are 8-19-3 as a road underdog.

Sports Betting Angle: Arizona State has covered five straight games against Washington.

WASHINGTON (0-12 SU, 1-11 ATS, 18 RS, 45 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 44-64

ATS: 40-65-3

HF: 8-21-1

HD: 13-14

AF: 3-6-1

AD: 14-21-1

Sportsbook Buster: At 8-21-1, the Huskies have been a liability as a home favorite the last nine years.

Sports Betting Angle: The home team in the USC series has covered four of the last five meetings.

WASHINGTON STATE (2-11 SU, 4-8 ATS, 15 RS, 41 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 56-52

ATS: 50-54

HF: 11-19

HD: 12-10

AF: 11-6

AD: 15-16

Sportsbook Buster: The Cougars have covered their last six home games against UCLA.

Sports Betting Angle: Washington State has covered four straight road games versus California.

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 2009: Examining the Big East.