The Indiana State Sycamores were a long way from the glory days of Larry Bird and the 1979 national finalist squad of lore. Indiana State finished the 2004-05 season with a horrific mark of 11-20 straight up, which included a Missouri Valley Conference record of 5-13 as they finished dead last at the bottom of “The Valley.”
In an interesting study in college basketball gambling value, however, Indiana State Sycamores finished 17-11 against the spread as they covered eleven of their last sixteen games of the season, proving that the most undesirable teams often bring the most value on the board. Whether Indiana State could maintain that profitable run in 2005-06, however, remained to be seen.
Picked up where they left off
Indiana State opened the 2005-06 season with an unlined 84-60 win over Central State (OH). They then scored a payoff in their first lined game of the year, an 85-79 overtime win over Middle Tennessee State as 2.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 66-58 win at Eastern Illinois as 7-point chalks as the Sycamores picked up where they left off at the end of 2004-05 with three straight payoffs to begin the new season.
Indiana State Sycamores took a brief break from the profit taking with a 57-56 home loss to Ball State as 6-point chalks but got right back on track with a 59-58 win at Butler as 7-point dogs. That was then followed by an unlined 86-71 home win over Campbell.
Back on the board at home against Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Conference opener, the Sycamores scored a 69-59 overtime win as 7.5-point chalks. That was then followed by a 62-66 win at Wichita State as 9-point dogs to begin the season a stellar 6-1 against the college basketball betting boards. It was to prove to be the high water mark of the season as a violent college basketball betting market correction was long overdue.
Gushing red ink
It is asking an awful lot for a poor college basketball team to retain a profitable margin against the board. In essence, Indiana State, with seventeen covers in their last twenty-three games as a bottom feeding Missouri Valley Conference mid-major team was clearly out-performing what they were and that bubble had to burst.
The Sycamores problems began with a 78-97 loss at Missouri State as 12.5-point dogs. That was followed by their final unlined game of the season, a pathetic 46-54 home loss to IUPU-Ft. Wayne.
Back on the board as MCV play went into full swing, Indiana State scored a 49-55 home loss to Southern Illinois as 4-point dogs. That was followed by a 58-63 loss at Evansville as 3-point dogs. Next came a 59-76 blowout loss at Drake as 8.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 53-69 home loss to Creighton as 6.5-point dogs as the Sycamores were gushing red ink with five consecutive failures against the board.
There was no relief in sight as Indiana State Sycamores next lost at home to Drake 68-77 in overtime as 2.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 63-85 loss at Bradley as 14.5-point dogs. It was more of the same at Illinois State as the Sycamores lost 48-75 as 7-point dogs and then followed that up with a 58-80 home loss to Missouri State as 7-point dogs for a ninth consecutive loss on the board.
Up and down
Mercifully, the Sycamores streak finally ended with a 63-54 win at Southern Illinois as 15.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 56-83 blowout loss to Northern Iowa as 15-point dogs. The up and down pattern continued with a stunning 75-63 upset home win over Bradley as 5.5-point dogs followed by a 58-77 blowout home loss to Wichita State as 5-point dogs.
Back in black
Few things in college basketball gambling appeal less to the public than a losing mid major team, which helps enhance such teams’ board value. Indiana State finished the season back in black with four covers in their final six games as unwanted bargains.