Break Out The Body Paint - NCAA Hoops Gambling Is Back

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College basketball is back, and Insiders Betting Digest.com isn’t going to let a season get started without sending us another magazine full of information and come-ons to try and get us excited about gambling on NCAA hoops. Mission accomplished IBD.com, kudos to your marketing people. After the jump, we’ll pull some hopefully useful info from the magazine to get you started this season….

GAMBLING TRENDS TO WATCH FOR 2005-06

· UConn was 17-10 on the Over/Under line last year, and return four of their five top scorers from last year. They were also 9-4 at home ATS.

· If you think UNC’s 21-15 ATS figure from 04-05 looks impressive, buyer beware. They padded that early due to coming off two nineteen win seasons, and lose seven of their top eight scorers to the draft and graduation.

· Fresno State posted a sluggish 3-11 record at home ATS last season, and lose their top three frontcourt players to graduation or transfer from 2004-05.

· Like gimmes? The Ohio U Bobcats were 20-8 ATS last year, have a senior leader at guard, and only have a 12/30/05 tilt at Kentucky to really worry about on their schedule.

· Maryland was 2-11 ATS on the road last season, and lose PG John Gilchrist this season.

· Watch the lines for St. Johns this season. They were 9-18 straight up, but an impressive 18-6 ATS overall, including covering in thirteen of their first fifteen games on the board. Not only that, they get their top eight scorers coming back. Take advantage early before the books adjust.

· The U (Miami) isn’t just a football school. The Hurricanes were 9-3 ATS on the road in 04-05, including covers against Florida, Georgia Tech, UNC and Wake. They also return their top four scorers.

· The Houston Cougars were a ridiculous 8-2 at home ATS last season, and have a senior-heavy roster coming into 2005.

· Like betting on the smart kids? Northwestern might be a good play at home, coming off a 9-2 ATS home record last year. Stay away on the road though, they were 4-11 ATS away from Evanston.

· Vice-versa, Notre Dame was 3-10 at home ATS and 9-2 ATS on the road. With underrated PG Chris Thomas gone, they may have a hard time covering anything in 2005.

· Michigan State started slow last year, missing the cover on four of their first six. They lose three senior contributors, and will be looking to Matt Trannon and Delco Rowley at PF, neither of whom can fill the basket.

· Wisconsin-Milwaukee ran up a 26-6 record (straight up) in 2004-05, and two of their betting stats stand out for this senior-heavy team. They were a ridiculous 14-3 ATS on the road last year, and ran a 17-11 record on the Over/Under.

· Steve Alford’s Iowa Hawkeyes were 21-12 straight up last year, but miserable at home ATS. 4-11 last season, and they lose top scorer Pierre Pierce to graduation.

· New Mexico might see some slightly overrated lines early this season, as they may be set on reputation. The Lobos were 26-7 last year, and 18-9 ATS. However, they lose their top three scorers and three of four forwards from last year’s roster.

· Speaking of New Mexico, The New Mexico State Aggies were a miserable 1-9 ATS at home last year, dropping to such teams as Tulsa, North Texas, and Louisiana-Lafayette. Expect them to be underrated, as they get two of their top three guards back, and entering their senior years. Easy schedule plus senior leadership is a combination we like.

· Playing the Under? Take UGA, who was 7-15 last year, and return most of their roster. On the Over? Everyone’s back for Weber State, who ran up seventeen overs versus six unders last season.

Insiders Betting Digest.com