For all its prowess, only five of 16 Big East teams had winning records against the number last season, something college basketball betting devotees will be watching closely this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses:
CONNECTICUT (24-9 SU, 14-15 ATS, 17-12 O/U): With a trio of potential All Big East performers, the Huskies should be a national contender.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 9-4
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 2-4
Away Underdog: 3-2
Neutral Site: 0-5
Sportsbook Buster: The Huskies were 3-7 ATS in non-conference action last season.
Sports Betting Angle: UConn was 6-10 ATS with three or more days rest last season.
LOUISVILLE (27-9 SU, 20-14 ATS, 13-20-1 O/U): Top rookie Samardo Samuels joins a club loaded with talent.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 7-8
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 6-1
Away Underdog: 2-1
Neutral site: 4-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Cardinals were 9-2 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: The “under” was 11-4 in Louisville home games.
NOTRE DAME (25-8 SU, 15-15 ATS, 18-12 O/U): Led by Big East Player of the Year Luke Harangody (20.4 PPG, 10.6 RPG), the Irish will be tough.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-7
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 3-1
Away Underdog: 2-3
Neutral Site: 3-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Irish were 2-5 as an underdog.
Sports Betting Angle: Notre Dame was 5-9 ATS in the game after an ATS victory.
PITTSBURGH (27-10 SU, 18-14 ATS, 18-14 O/U): All Big East Sam Young (18.1 PPG) paces another strong Pittsburgh club.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 7-4
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 3-3
Away Underdog: 2-4
Neutral Site: 5-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Panthers were 11-4 ATS on three or more days rest.
Sports Betting Angle: The “over” was 14-8 in Pitt conference games.
MARQUETTE (25-10 SU, 17-12 ATS, 17-12 O/U): Four returning starters should ease the transition to a new head coach.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 5-6
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 4-1
Away Underdog: 2-4
Neutral Site: 6-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Golden Eagles were 13-8 as a favorite.
Sports Betting Angle: Marquette was 6-1 ATS on neutral floors.
SYRACUSE (21-14 SU, 15-18 ATS, 15-17-1 O/U): Don’t go to sleep on Syracuse, which returns four starters and has a good inside/outside game.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 8-11
Home Underdog: 1-0
Away Favorite: 1-2
Away Underdog: 3-3
Neutral Site: 1-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Orange was 4-13 ATS on three or more days rest.
Sports Betting Angle: The “under” was 10-4-1 following a pointspread win.
VILLANOVA (22-13 SU, 14-18 ATS, 11-20-1 O/U): The Wildcats have plenty of firepower, especially on the perimeter with Scottie Reynolds (15.9 PPG).
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 3-8
Home Underdog: 1-1
Away Favorite: 2-3
Away Underdog: 3-2
Neutral Site: 5-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Wildcats were 4-9 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: The “under” was 14-6 in Villanova conference games.
GEORGETOWN (28-6 SU, 14-17 ATS, 13-18 O/U): The Hoyas lost a lot of experience so Georgetown could struggle in the early going.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-9
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 5-3
Away Underdog: 2-2
Neutral Site: 3-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Hoyas were 3-10 ATS after a pointspread win.
Sports Betting Angle: Georgetown was 10-5 ATS after a pointspread loss.
WEST VIRGINIA (26-11 SU, 16-14-1 ATS, 15-16 O/U): Like Georgetown, West Virginia must adapt to an influx of new talent.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-4-1
Home Underdog: 0-0
Away Favorite: 3-3
Away Underdog: 1-2
Neutral Site: 6-4
Sportsbook Buster: The Mountaineers were 10-6 ATS on two days or fewer rest.
Sports Betting Angle: UWV was 7-2-1 ATS in the game after a SU defeat.
PROVIDENCE (15-16 SU, 13-16 ATS, 13-16 O/U): New Head Coach keno Davis inherits a team with four double-digit scorers and tourney aspirations.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 6-3
Home Underdog: 1-3
Away Favorite: 0-1
Away Underdog: 3-6
Neutral Site: 3-3
Sportsbook Buster: The Friars were 3-7 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: Providence was 0-6 ATS on one day or fewer rest.
CINCINNATI (13-19 SU, 16-13-1 ATS, 13-16-1 O/U): Deonta Vaughn (17.3 PPG) doesn’t have much help to help elevate the Bearcats.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 1-7
Home Underdog: 6-1
Away Favorite: 1-0
Away Underdog: 7-5-1
Neutral Site: 1-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Bearcats were 2-7 as a favorite but 14-6-1 as an underdog.
Sports Betting Angle: Cincinnati was 12-4-1 ATS in the game after a SU loss.
DE PAUL (11-19 SU, 13-14 ATS, 15-12 O/U): Youth will be served but the Blue Demons still are a year or two away from serious contention.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-3
Home Underdog: 1-5
Away Favorite: 1-0
Away Underdog: 8-3
Neutral Site: 1-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Blue Demons were 3-9 ATS at home but 9-3 ATS on the road.
Sports Betting Angle: DePaul was 11-6 ATS on the three or more days rest.
RUTGERS (11-20 SU, 8-18-1 ATS, 12-15 O/U): The Scarlet Knights did a good job recruiting, which will pay dividends, just not this season.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 1-5
Home Underdog: 3-6
Away Favorite: 0-1
Away Underdog: 4-6-1
Neutral Site: 0-0
Sportsbook Buster: The Scarlet Knights were 1-6 as a favorite.
Sports Betting Angle: Rutgers was 6-11-1 ATS in conference play.
SETON HALL (17-15 SU, 11-16-1 ATS, 15-13 O/U): The Pirates ran out of gas last season and the tank looks only half full this year, too.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-6
Home Underdog: 1-4
Away Favorite: 2-0
Away Underdog: 5-4-1
Neutral Site: 1-2
Sportsbook Buster: The Pirates were 3-10 ATS at home.
Sports Betting Angle: Seton Hall was 3-9-1 ATS on three or more days rest.
SOUTH FLORIDA (12-19 SU, 14-15 ATS, 12-16-1 O/U): The Bulls have a roster with seven freshmen so don’t expect much this season.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 4-3
Home Underdog: 2-4
Away Favorite: 3-1
Away Underdog: 3-6
Neutral Site: 2-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Bulls were 6-11 as an underdog.
Sports Betting Angle: SFU was 8-3 ATS in the game after a SU victory.
ST. JOHN’S (11-19 SU, 13-13 ATS, 8-15-3 O/U): The Johnnies averaged just 62 points a game last season and that won’t get the job done.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 2-3
Home Underdog: 2-4
Away Favorite: 0-0
Away Underdog: 8-5
Neutral Site: 1-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Red Storm was
Sports Betting Angle: St. John’s was
