The Austin Peay Governors finished the 2005-05 season with a record of 13-19 straight up, including an Ohio Valley Conference record of 9-7, which was good for a three-way fifth place tie in the league. Against the college basketball gambling lines, however, the Governors were unable to maintain the pace as they got the cash in just twelve out of thirty-one games. The Governors faded poorly down the stretch with just two payoffs in seven games before they rallied in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament to go 2-1 both straight up and against the spread as they were finally bounced by Eastern Kentucky 46-52 as 2-point dogs to end the season.
Flopped out of the gate
Austin Peay opened the 2004-05 season with a 54-83 loss at Western Kentucky as 10.5-point dogs. That was then followed by an ugly 46-66 loss at Rutgers as the Governors failed to cover as 13.5-point dogs. Next came a 67-94 loss at Kent State as 12.5-point dogs as the Governors flopped out of the gate with three straight losses against the board.
Austin Peay then took a pair of games off the board, starting with a 57-51 unlined neutral court with over Delaware State, which was then followed by an 82-70 overtime win over Texas Southern, also on a neutral court.
Back on the board at Tennessee Tech, the Governors’ problems continued as they lost 61-78 as 10.5-point chalks. That was then followed by a 66-55 home win over Morehead State that the Governors failed to cover as 13-point chalks.
The red ink bleed was finally stopped by Austin Peay as they defeated Eastern Kentucky 79-63 as 1.5-point home chalks, which snapped their five game losing streak against the board.
The Governors then took a game off from the board and scored an 84-71 home win over East Tennessee State.
Unable to gain traction
From there, the Governors went back on the board but were still unable to gain traction or show any value, starting with a 74-71 home win over Evansville that they failed to cover as 3.5-point chalks. That was then followed by a 83-67 win at Middle Tennessee State as 10-point dogs. The back and fourth pattern continued with a 75-84 loss at Tennessee-Martin in a pick’em affair. The Governors then followed that up with a 95-82 home win over Jacksonville State as 6-point chalks which was then followed by a 62-56 home win over Eastern Illinois as 12.5-point overlays.
Brief bargains Austin Peay Governors
The Governors had covered just three of their first eleven games against the spread, making them one of the least desirable teams on the board and thereby transforming them into brief bargains, starting with a 56-67 loss/cover at Murray State as 13-point dogs. That was then followed by a 63-56 win at Southeast Missouri State in a pick’em for a second straight payoff.
Back in the tank
Austin Peay was unable to sustain success however and starting with a 75-79 home loss to Tennessee Tech as 4-point overlays, they went back in the tank. They next got a win/push at home over Tennessee-Martin and followed that up with three consecutive SU&ATS losses at Chattanooga, at Jacksonville State, and at Samford.
Back as bargains Austin Peay Governors
After once again turning off the college basketball gambling public, the Governors were back as bargains for the stretch drive of the regular season as they scored five consecutive covers before splitting their final four games of the regular season SU&ATS.
In the OVC tourney, the Governors got a loss cover against Tennessee Tech to finish the year with eight payoffs in their final ten games.