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November 2007
A 23-59-3 pointspread record outside their league last season tells college basketball betting followers all they need to know about the prowess of the Ohio Valley Conference teams. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses:
AUSTIN PEAY (21-12 SU, 17-14 ATS, 15-14-2 O/U): The return of all five starters, including Drake Reed (15.8 PPG) and Fernandez Lockett (11.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG), from last year's regular season champions gives the Govs the early vote for another title.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 8-5
Home Underdog: 0-1
Away Favorite: 1-1
Away Underdog: 3-8
Neutral site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Governors were 16-7 ATS in conference play last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Austin Peay was 3-9 as an underdog last season.
EASTERN KENTUCKY (21-12 SU, 18-10-1 ATS, 12-16-1 O/U): The Colonels upended Austin Peay in the OVC title game last season and with Mike Rose (15.1 PPG) and Adam Leonard (12.5 PPG) could contend for a second straight NCAA Tournament bid.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 7-4
Home Underdog: 1-0
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 5-6-1
Neutral Site: 3-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Colonels were 8-4 as favorites.
Sports Betting Angle: Eastern Kentucky was 12-4-1 ATS after a pointspread victory.
TENNESSEE TECH (19-13 SU, 14-16-1 ATS, 15-15 O/U): Anthony Fisher (17.2 PPG) and Amadi McKenzie (13.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG) give the Golden Eagles enough firepower to again contend for the league's top spot.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 7-5
Home Underdog: 1-0
Away Favorite: 3-2
Away Underdog: 2-6-1
Neutral Site: 1-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Eagles were 4-8-1 as underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: Tennessee Tech was 5-9-1 ATS after a pointspread loss.
MURRAY STATE (16-14 SU, 13-13-1 ATS, 14-13 O/U): A steady backcourt and a stingy defense should lead the Racers to another winning season and if the young players mature, Murray State could be even better than that.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-7
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 1-0-1
Away Underdog: 6-6
Neutral Site: 1-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Racers were 6-9-1 ATS after a SU win
Sports Betting Angle: Murray State was 5-2-1 ATS on one or no days rest.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE (11-20 SU, 14-16 ATS, 17-13 O/U): All-league candidates Brandon Foust (12.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG) and David Johnson (10.2 PPG) could help the Redhawks could lead a turnaround in Scott Edgar's second year at SMSU.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-3
Home Underdog: 3-2
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 9-7
Neutral Site: 0-2
Sportsbook Buster: The "over" was 14-7 in Redhawks conference games.
Sports Betting Angle: SE Missouri State was 4-7 after a SU win.
TENNESSEE STATE (12-20 SU, 11-20 ATS, 14-17 O/U): LaDarious Weaver 13.7 PPG) gives the Tigers a serious outside threat and if Bruce Price, who averaged 19.3 PPG in the first six games of the '05/06 season before tearing a knee is up to form, Tennessee State could surprise.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-4
Home Underdog: 2-1
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 5-10
Neutral Site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Tigers were 6-11 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: Tennessee State was 7-12 ATS after a SU loss.
EASTERN ILLINOIS (10-20 SU, 12-16 ATS, 17-10-1 O/U): All five starters return from last year's 20-loss team but the Panthers will have to shoot better to move up the OVC standings.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-2
Home Underdog: 1-3
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 7-7
Neutral Site: 0-2
Sportsbook Buster: The "over" was 14-5-1 in Panthers conference play.
Sports Betting Angle: Eastern Illinois was 4-8 ATS on one of no days rest.
MOREHEAD STATE (12-18 SU, 8-18 ATS, 14-12 O/U): The Eagles lost their top two scorers and will need to develop some heft under the basket to become true contenders.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-8
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 4-9
Neutral Site: 0-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Eagles were 0-5 ATS facing non-conference foes.
Sports Betting Angle: Morehead State was 1-6 ATS after a pointspread win.
JACKSONVILLE STATE (9-21 SU, 12-14-1 ATS, 13-13-2 O/U): The Gamecocks will have to address replacing their leading scorer and improving their rebounding skills before any talk of progress.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 3-3
Home Underdog: 2-1-1
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 5-8
Neutral Site: 0-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Gamecocks were 7-10-1 as underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: The "under" was 11-7-1 in Jacksonville conference games.
SAMFORD (16-16 SU, 11-19-1 ATS, 13-18 O/U): This is the last season in the OVC before the Bulldogs move to the Southern Conference. That distraction, plus the loss of their top scorer, isn't encouraging.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 3-3
Home Underdog: 1-5
Away Favorite: 0-1
Away Underdog: 5-9
Neutral Site: 0-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Bulldogs were 5-10-1 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: Samford was 3-9-1 ATS on three or more days rest.
TENNESSEE-MARTIN (8-23 SU, 9-19 ATS, 15-13 O/U): The team that finished last in the OVC returns just one starter which should lead to an ugly season for the Skyhawks.
College Basketball Betting By the Numbers (2006/07 Season)
Home Favorite: 3-3
Home Underdog: 1-5
Away Favorite: 0-1
Away Underdog: 5-9
Neutral Site: 0-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Skyhawks were 6-14 as underdogs.
Sports Betting Angle: Tennessee-Martin was 1-8 ATS after a pointspread victory.
This is the last of 22 NCAA college basketball betting previews.
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