The Central Michigan Chippewas came of a dreadful 2004-05 season in which they finished 10-18 straight up, which included a Mid-American Conference record of 4-14, which was good for dead last in the MAC West Division. The Chippewas had better, although still losing pace, against the college basketball gambling lines as they finished 11-13-1 versus the number while getting the cash in a respectable four of their final seven games to end the season.
Difficult read early
While not much was expected from Central Michigan on a straight up basis, the Central Michigan Chippewas overall board value was tough to assess as many mid-major college basketball teams that have struggled on the court have prospered at the sportsbook. Oftentimes weak teams have proven to be excellent board values as the public’s lack of desire for them serves to transform such teams into value-added plays. Central Michigan opened the season at Michigan with a 60-87 blowout loss as 20-point dogs. That was followed by a 67-62 home win over Wisconsin Green Bay as 1-point dogs. The Central Michigan Chippewas then went off the board and suffered a 65-75 loss at UMKC as they proved to be a difficult read early for gamblers.
Free fall Central Michigan Chippewas
The read got far easier for gamblers, however, starting with Central Michigan’s 43-56 loss at Cleveland State as 3.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 62-75 home loss to Miami-Ohio as 10.5-point dogs. Next came a disgraceful 36-61 loss at Dayton as 21-point dogs as the Chippewas were in a full free fall against the board with a third consecutive failure to get the cash. After an unlined 89-42 blowout home win over Rochester College the Central Michigan Chippewas were back on the board and suffered a 54-64 home loss to Southern Illinois as 9-point dogs. That was followed by a 57-69 unlined loss at East Tennessee State and then a 44-66 loss at Bowling Green as 8-point dogs. The five game losing streak against the board was halted with a 60-66 loss/cover against Kent State as 11-point home dogs.
Brief bargains
The horrible start by Central Michigan Chippewas both on the court and at the sportsbook served to transform them into brief bargains. They next scored a 49-66 loss/cover at Miami-Ohio as 18-point dogs. There was a brief toe stubber at Ohio 44-76 as 19.5-point dogs but the Chippewas got back on track with a 69-76 overtime home loss/cover against Akron as 12.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 71-61 upset win at Buffalo as 17-point dogs as Central Michigan got their fourth payoff in five games. Central Michigan next lost at Ball State in ugly fashion 41-68 as 11-point dogs and then scored a 43-49 loss/cover against Northern Illinois as 7-point dogs.
Central Michigan Chippewas Back in the tank
Central Michigan was unable to sustain success on the board, however, as they went back in the tank starting with a 71-75 overtime loss to Western Michigan as 4-point dogs for a push. They then lost at Eastern Michigan 75-81 as 5-point dogs. That was followed by a 62-78 loss at Toledo as 14-point dogs and then a 59-73 home loss to Buffalo as 7-point dogs to complete a four game streak without payoffs.
Brief bounceback
The return to losing helped again to transform Central Michigan Chippewas into bargains for a brief bounceback against the board starting with a 60-63 loss/cover to Ball State as 5-point home dogs. That was followed by an 87-76 home win over Morehead State as 9-point chalks and then a 70-80 loss cover at Northern Illinois as 14.5-point dogs for a third straight payoff. Central ended the year with an 0-4 SU mark and 1-2-1 mark ATS as they were eliminated in the first round of the MAC tourney.