The Brigham Young Cougars were coming off a catastrophic 2004-05 season in which they went 9-20 straight up, including 3-11 in Mountain West Conference play, which was good for a last place finish in the league as the Cougar basketball program had fallen from one of the most respected to one of the worst in the land. Brigham Young fared no better against the college basketball betting lines as they finished 8-20 against the spread as one of the least profitable and least desirable teams that could be found on the board. Brigham Young was on the top of many gamblers “go against” lists, in fact. One thing about life in the Mountain West Conference, however, is that there have been plenty of worst to first stories, (and vice versa), over the years. Beyond that, Brigham Young was so horrible against the board in 2004-05 that a sports gambling market correction was likely as they were losing at a pace that could not be sustained.
Discouraging start
Brigham Young opened the 2005-06 season with a 71-83 home loss to Loyola Marymount as 5.5-point chalks. The Cougars did bounce back quickly, however, with a 76-68 win at Washington State as 9.5-point dogs for a split to begin the year. Brigham Young was then off the board for their next two games starting with an 86-61 home win over Southern Utah, which was then followed by a 97-74 neutral court win over Lamar. The Cougars then traveled to Southern California and lost 68-74 as 4.5-point dogs. That was followed by an 80-77 home win over Boise State as 10.5-point overlays for a discouraging start of 1-3 against the board.
Down and up Brigham Young Cougars
After an unlined home win over Northern Kentucky, Brigham Young clobbered Weber State 80-54 as 14-point chalks. That was followed by a poor 80-91 loss at Utah State as 9.5-point dogs. The down and up pattern continued with a 97-66 home win over Eastern Washington as 10-point chalks, which was followed by a strong 68-49 home win over Tulsa as 12.5-point chalks.
Leaning red
BYU was unable to sustain momentum, however, as they next lost at Air Force 59-75 in the MWC opener as 8-point dogs. That was followed by a 72-60 home win over arch-rival Utah as 5.5-point chalks. BYU next lost at UNLV 72-82 as 4.5-point dogs and then scored an 80-67 home win over Wyoming as 8.5-point chalks. But the Cougars were leaning red as they dropped their next two games against the number starting with a 61-88 blowout loss at San Diego State and then an 89-80 overtime home win over Texas Christian as 11-point chalks to complete a 2-4 stretch against the board.
Brigham Young Cougars Finding themselves and profits
BYU was able to get on track for an impressive stretch drive in the MWC beginning with an 86-84 win at Colorado State as 4.5-point dogs. That was then followed by a 77-71 win at New Mexico as 4-point dogs. The Cougars then returned home for a 65-59 revenge win over Air Force as 1-point chalks. BYU had one last stumble against the board with a 60-79 loss at Utah as 2.5-point dogs followed by a 75-72 home win over UNLV as 3.5-point overlays. But from there the Cougars would be finding themselves and profits against the board. The good times began with a 74-68 win at Wyoming as 2-point dogs. That was followed by a 100-90 win over San Diego State as 2.5-point chalks. Next came an 81-72 win at Texas Christian as 4.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 77-69 home win over Colorado State as 6.5-point chalks and then a 76-68 win over New Mexico as 7-point chalks for a fifth consecutive win and cover. BYU went 0-2 both SU&ATS in the Mountain West Conference tourney and the first round of the NIT.