College Basketball Betting: Analyzing the Metro Atlantic Conference

For the second straight season, the five MAAC teams that won 18 or more games straight up also had winning records against the spread, a trend college basketball betting enthusiasts will be monitoring this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses:

SIENA (23-11 SU, 18-14 ATS, 13-19 O/U): Edwin Ubiles (17.0 PPG), Kenny Hasbrouck (16.1 PPG) and Alex Franklin (15.1 PPG) are among five returning starters on a team that should dominate the conference.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 6-7

Home Underdog: 1-1

Away Favorite: 4-4

Away Underdog: 5-1

Neutral site: 2-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Saints were 9-5 ATS on the road last season.

Sports Betting Angle: Siena was 7-2 ATS in games following a SU loss last season.

FAIRFIELD (14-16 SU, 13-13 ATS, 14-11-1 O/U): Kenny Han, who led the MAAC in assists and 3-point shooting, heads four returning starters.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 3-4

Home Underdog: 1-3

Away Favorite: 0-1

Away Underdog: 8-4

Neutral Site: 0-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Stags were 9-5 ATS in road games.

Sports Betting Angle: Fairfield was 9-5 ATS on three or more days rest.

RIDER (23-11 SU, 16-14 ATS, 18-10-2 O/U): Four starters return but MAAC Player of the Year Jason Thompson (20.4 PPG, 12.1 RPG) isn't one of them.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 4-6

Home Underdog: 0-0

Away Favorite: 3-2

Away Underdog: 6-4

Neutral Site: 3-2

Sportsbook Buster: The "over" was 13-3-1 when the Broncs were favorites.

Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 13-5-2 in games after a SU Rider win.

NIAGARA (19-10 SU, 17-11 ATS, 12-14-2 O/U): Tyrone Lewis (16.1 PPG), two more returning starters and a pair of heralded transfers should help the Purple Eagles soar.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 6-6

Home Underdog: 0-0

Away Favorite: 4-1

Away Underdog: 6-3

Neutral Site: 1-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Purple Eagles were 10-4 ATS on the road.

Sports Betting Angle: Niagara was 6-2 ATS on one or no days rest.

MANHATTAN (12-19 SU, 7-19-1 ATS, 13-14 O/U): The Jaspers are still young but have the athleticism and talent to post a winning record.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 0-6-1

Home Underdog: 3-3

Away Favorite: 0-1

Away Underdog: 3-8

Neutral Site: 1-0

Sportsbook Buster: The Jaspers were 5-14-1 ATS in conference games.

Sports Betting Angle: Manhattan was 3-9-1 ATS at home.

LOYOLA-MD (19-14 SU, 17-12 ATS, 14-13-2 O/U): The Greyhounds will have to rebuild after losing much of their scoring a rebounding prowess.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 4-5

Home Underdog: 1-0

Away Favorite: 2-2

Away Underdog: 6-5

Neutral Site: 3-0

Sportsbook Buster: The Greyhounds were 13-7 ATS in the MAAC.

Sports Betting Angle: Loyola was 10-3 ATS on one or no days rest.

IONA (12-20 SU, 13-16 ATS, 11-17-1 O/U): The Gaels should continue the improvement that had them win 10 more games than the previous season.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 4-2

Home Underdog: 2-3

Away Favorite: 2-1

Away Underdog: 5-6

Neutral Site: 0-3

Sportsbook Buster: The "under" was 15-5-1 in Gaels conference games.

Sports Betting Angle: Iona was 7-11 ATS after a SU defeat.

ST. PETER'S (6-24 SU, 11-13 ATS, 11-12-1 O/U): The Peacocks three-guard attack needs some complimentary size and strength in the paint.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 1-1

Home Underdog: 1-7

Away Favorite: 0-0

Away Underdog: 8-3

Neutral Site: 0-1

Sportsbook Buster: The Peacocks were 3-9 ATS at home but 8-3 ATS on the road.

Sports Betting Angle: Saint Peter's was 1-7 as a home underdog.

MARIST (18-14 SU, 16-13-1 ATS, 14-14-2 O/U): With just one returning starter, the foxes have left the chicken coop for new Head Coach Chuck Martin.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 7-5

Home Underdog: 0-0

Away Favorite: 1-1-1

Away Underdog: 4-2

Neutral Site: 3-4

Sportsbook Buster: The Red Foxes were 8-3 ATS after a pointspread loss.

Sports Betting Angle: The "over" was 7-4-1 when Marist was a home favorite

CANISIUS (6-25 SU, 11-12-2 ATS, 10-13-2 O/U): The Golden Griffins lack experience and, frankly, talent on a team that won just two conference games last season.

By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)

Home Favorite: 0-1

Home Underdog: 6-3-1

Away Favorite: 0-0

Away Underdog: 3-8-1

Neutral Site: 2-0

Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Griffins were 3-8-1 ATS on the road.

Sports Betting Angle: Canisius was 7-4-1 ATS on three or more days rest.