The New Mexico Lobos finished the 2004-05 season with a record of 26-7 straight up, which included a conference record of 10-4, good for a second place finish in the Mountain West.
The Lobos were also a most impressive 17-8-2 against the college basketball gambling lines, finishing the season as one of the most profitable teams on the board. The Lobos got the cash in ten of their final thirteen games against the spread, in fact, and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament, which the lost to Villanova SU&ATS.
Nothing attracts attention from gamblers more than success, but with that attention also comes depletion in board value. This would prove to be the case for New Mexico, as the closed the 2004-05 season at a pace that couldn’t be sustained.
Value was depleted
New Mexico opened the season with a 56-47 unlined home win over South Carolina State. That was then followed by a 95-42 blowout home win over Mississippi as 5-point chalks. Next came another unlined home win, this time over Southern Utah, 62-48.
Back on the board at Kansas State, New Mexico suffered a 56-68 loss as 7.5-point dogs. The Lobos value was depleted to start the year as evidenced by two more failures, the first being a 76-72 home win over Texas-El Paso as 5-point overlays. That was followed by a 61-67 loss at New Mexico State as 5.5-point chalks for a 1-3 start ATS.
Brief bounce
New Mexico next met Washington on a neutral court as lost 71-81 but got the cash as 12.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 71-68 overtime win over New Mexico State as 12-point overlays and then a 68-61 home win over Oregon as 2-point chalks for a brief bounce against the board of two covers in three games. The Lobos then got an unlined home win over Alcorn State.
Gushing red ink
Starting with a 56-63 loss at San Diego as 5.5-point dogs, however, New Mexico began gushing red ink. They next scored a 66-60 home win over Dartmouth as 19.5-point chalks before scoring another unlined home win over Texas-Arlington.
Back on the board in the MWC opener at Utah, the Lobos were clobbered 49-64 as 4-point dogs. That was followed by an 83-75 home win over Colorado State as 1-point chalks. But the Lobos returned to red with a 56-54 win over Texas Christian as 9.5-point chalks and then a 70-77 loss at Wyoming as 3-point dogs.
Bargain values
New Mexico had gotten the cash in just four of their first thirteen games on the board, which had turned the college basketball betting public against them in large numbers. This ultimately served to transform them into bargain values starting with a 62-59 home win over Air Force as 2-point dogs. That was then followed by a 69-75 win at San Diego State as 10-point dogs.
Just when it looked as if the Lobos were ready to roll, however, they lost at UNLV 56-67 as 7.5-point dogs and then lost at home to Brigham Young 71-77 as 4-point chalks.
But New Mexico got back on track starting with a 64-53 home win over Utah as 4.5-point chalks. That was followed by an 80-78 win at Colorado State as 4.5-point dogs. A third straight payoff followed in the form of a 53-42 win at Texas Christian as 1.5-point chalks for a 5-2 run ATS.
Down and up finish
New Mexico next scored a 47-45 home win over Wyoming as 7.5-point home overlays. That was followed by a 46-51 win at Air Force as 9.5-point dogs. Next was a 66-73 loss to San Diego State as 2-point chalks and then a 47-39 win over UNLV as 2.5-home chalks. The Lobos then went 0-2 SU&1-1 ATS for a down and up finish.