The Ohio Bobcats finished the 2004-05 season with a record of 21-11 straight up, which included a mark of 11-7 in the Mid-American Conference, which was good for a four way tie for second place. Better still, Ohio was a sensational 20-8 against the college basketball betting lines, which made them one of the most profitable teams on the board out there.
Ohio capped off a highly successful season with a MAC tournament championship, which earned them a berth in the NCAA tourney. They got a loss/cover in the opening round against Florida 62-67 as a 12 point dog as they finished the season with five payoffs in their final six games and with a favorable reputation with the college basketball gambling public.
Solid Start
Ohio started off the 2005-06 season with a 77-61 home win over St. Francis-PA. That was followed by an 81-50 unlined home win over American University.
Ohio then took to the board for the first time at Marist and scored a 69-63 win/cover as 3.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 71-63 win at Rhode Island as 1-point chalks as the Bobcats got off to a solid start of 4-0 straight up and 2-0 against the spread.
Brief dip
The two consecutive payoffs coupled with the excellent season of 2004-05 made Ohio one of the more popular mid-major teams on the board, which would cause to deplete some of their value.
The Bobcats were blown off the court at Cincinnati 58-86 as 6.5-point dogs to begin a brief dip against the board.
After an unlined home win over Shippensburg Raiders, the Bobcats got a home win over Detroit 56-55 as 11-point overlays. That was followed by a 63-71 loss against Kentucky as 7-point neutral court dogs for a third consecutive loss against the board.
Back in black
Ohio next scored an 87-55 home win over Western Michigan as 10-point chalks. That was followed by a 71-60 home win over Ball State as 11-point chalks for a push.
Ohio was then back in black with a 75-63 win at Eastern Michigan as 6.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 76-44 blowout home win over Central Michigan as 19.5-point chalks to complete a 3-0-1 stretch ATS.
Bleeding red ink
Ohio next lost at Northern Illinois 59-64 as 1.5-point chalks before scoring a 71-68 win at Toledo as 1-point dogs. From there, however, the Bobcats began bleeding red ink.
Ohio first beat Akron 66-63 but failed to cover as 4.5-point home chalks. That was followed by a 51-70 upset loss at Buffalo as 1-point chalks. Next was a 59-73 home loss to Miami-Ohio as 6.5-point chalks followed by a 60-73 loss to Kent State as 3.5-point chalks for a fourth straight loss ATS.
Solid stretch
Ohio got back on track with a 93-90 overtime win at Bowling Green as 2.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 78-67 win over Northern Illinois as 6-point chalks. The Bobcats then stumbled in SU&ATS losses on the road at Western Michigan and at Miami-Ohio but got back on track with SU&ATS home wins over Samford and Buffalo to complete a solid stretch in which they went 4-2 both SU&ATS.
Break even finish
The Bobcats next lost at Akron 61-76 as 6.5-point dogs and followed that up with a 58-78 loss at Kent State as 8-point dogs. The regular season ended with an 85-48 home win over Bowling Green as 12.5-point chalks. Ohio went 2-1 both SU&ATS in the MAC tourney for a break even finish.