Betting the Sunbelt Conference and Independents

Just five of the Sun Belt Conference's nine teams have pointspread records dating back nine years so there's not a great statistical data base for bettors. Among independents, only Navy has been a decent play versus the number since 2000. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses:

SUN BELT CONFERENCE

TROY (8-5 SU, 7-5 ATS, 12 RS, 52 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 61-46

ATS: 45-36-1

HF: 10-10

HD: 4-2

AF: 8-6

AD: 22-16-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Trojans are 26-18-1 as underdogs since being placed on the board in 2001.

Sports Betting Angle: Troy has covered four in a row versus Louisiana-Lafayette.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC (7-6 SU, 7-5-1 ATS, 11 RS, 46 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 46-47

ATS: 26-28-1

HF: 3-6

HD: 4-4

AF: 4-1

AD: 10-16-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Owls are 10-16-1 as away underdogs since 2004, their first year on the board.

Sports Betting Angle: Florida Atlantic has covered four straight games against Louisiana-Lafayette.

ARKANSAS STATE (6-6 SU, 3-8 ATS, 15 RS, 51 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 40-66

ATS: 44-52-1

HF: 10-11

HD: 11-7

AF: 1-8

AD: 21-25-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Red Wolves are 1-8 as road favorites the last nine seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Arkansas State has covered seven straight as a home underdog versus a non-conference foe.

LOUISIANA-MONROE (4-8 SU, 6-5 ATS, 17 RS, 40 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 31-73

ATS: 48-45

HF: 3-10

HD: 12-9

AF: 4-0

AD: 29-26

Sportsbook Buster: The Warhawks are 3-10 as home favorites since 2000.

Sports Betting Angle: Louisiana-Monroe has covered four straight games against Arkansas State.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE (5-7 SU, 5-7 ATS, 16 RS, 45 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 48-57

ATS: 51-48

HF: 16-17

HD: 3-3

AF: 10-8

AD: 21-19

Sportsbook Buster: The Blue Raiders are 28-17 ATS versus non-conference foes since 2000.

Sports Betting Angle: Middle Tennessee State has covered four straight at home against Arkansas State.

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE (6-6 SU, 8-4 ATS, 16 RS, 50 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 36-68

ATS: 45-47-3

HF: 8-9-2

HD: 9-10-1

AF: 5-7

AD: 23-21

Sportsbook Buster: The Ragin' Cajuns are 6-0 as conference underdogs of more than 11 points.

Sports Betting Angle: Louisiana-Lafayette has covered five straight encounters with Florida Atlantic.

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (5-7 SU, 8-4 ATS, 16 RS, 55 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 21-59

ATS: 24-25

HF: 3-3

HD: 7-6

AF: 1-1

AD: 12-13

Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Panthers did not become a board team until 2004.

Sports Betting Angle: Florida International is 6-2 ATS versus both Troy (3-1) and Middle Tennessee State (3-1).

NORTH TEXAS (1-11 SU, 4-8 ATS, 16 RS, 47 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 40-68

ATS: 50-55

HF: 12-8

HD: 10-12

AF: 7-6

AD: 20-26

Sportsbook Buster: The Mean Green is 6-1 as conference home favorite of more than six points.

Sports Betting Angle: North Texas is 7-1-1 ATS in its last nine games against Louisiana-Lafayette.

WESTERN KENTUCKY (2-10 SU, 3-7 ATS, 12 RS, 33 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 70-41

ATS: 3-7

HF: 0-1

HD: 0-3

AF: 0-0

AD: 3-3

Sportsbook Buster: This is the Hilltoppers' second year on the board.

Sports Betting Angle: Western Kentucky failed to cover any of its four lined home games last year.

INDEPENDENTS

NOTRE DAME (7-6 SU, 7-6 ATS, 15 RS, 44 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 64-46

ATS: 54-55-1

HF: 17-24

HD: 8-7

AF: 9-4-1

AD: 15-14

Sportsbook Buster: The Fighting Irish are 9-4-1 as road favorites the last nine years.

Sports Betting Angle: Notre Dame has covered five straight games versus Washington.

NAVY (8-5 SU, 6-6 ATS, 11 RS, 27 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 54-55

ATS: 55-46-1

HF: 9-16

HD: 7-8-1

AF: 4-4

AD: 21-9

Sportsbook Buster: The Midshipmen are 21-9 as road underdogs the past nine seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Navy has covered nine of its last 11 meetings with Army.

ARMY (3-9 SU, 6-5 ATS, 12 RS, 33 RL)

By the Numbers (2000-2008)

SU: 20-85

ATS: 41-57-2

HF: 4-4

HD: 11-24-1

AF: 0-3

AD: 23-19-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Black Knights are just 11-24-1 as home underdogs the past nine seasons.

Sports Betting Angle: Army is 11-1 ATS in the first of back-to-back road games.

Legend:

SU = Straight Up

ATS = Against the Spread

HF = Home Favorite

HD = Home Underdog

AF = Away Favorite

AD = Away Underdog

This is the last installment of an 11-part college football preview series for the 2009 season.