The Princeton Tigers, usually one of the better entries of the Ivy League, finished the 2004-05 season with a record of 15-13 straight up and 10-14 against the spread as their solid public reputation with gamblers had caused their value to deplete. In fact, after a 4-1 start against the spread the Tigers finished 6-13 against the board the rest of the way including three ATS losses in their final four games.
Contention was expected
The fact that Princeton Tigers was one of the more respected Ivy League programs with the college basketball gambling public meant that Ivy League title contention was expected, which also meant that they always wouldn’t be getting full value on the board. The potential positive, however, was that Princeton’s losing season against the board in 2004-05 might have potentially served as a way to already enhance their overall board value as the Tigers might be considered damaged goods with the college basketball gambling public.
Poor Start
Princeton opened the 2005-06 season with a 41-54 home loss to Drexel as 4.5-point chalks. That was followed by an unlined 64-54 win at Lehigh. But it was to be a poor start for the Tigers as the lost their next two games, both unlined, to Lafayette at home 46-57 and then at Colgate 39-62. Back on the board at home against Temple, the Tigers suffered a 47-60 loss as 6.5-point dogs.
Value briefly returned
In their next game at home against Wyoming, Princeton Tigers scored ma 59-50 win as 2-point home chalks. That was followed by an ugly 21-41 unlined home loss to Monmouth-NJ.
Next was a 42-61 loss at Wake Forest as 19.5-point dogs, followed by a 34-58 loss to Stanford as 13.5-point neutral court dogs. Princeton’s woes continued in a 46-51 unlined home win against Carnegie Mellon but they got back on track at Rutgers in a 44-54 loss as 15.5-point dogs for a 3-1 stretch against the board as their value briefly returned.
Another dip
The profits didn’t last long for Princeton, however, as they lost at Rice 41-52 as 7-point dogs. That was followed by a 68-64 overtime home win over Columbia as 6-point overlays as Ivy League play kicked into high gear. The Tigers then lost their third straight against the board with a 49-57 home loss to Cornell as 5-point chalks.
Back in black
Princeton Tigers 3-6 mark against the spread served to enhance their overall board value when coupled with the substandard results of the previous season. The Tigers were back in black starting with a 50-65 loss at Davidson as 16-point dogs. That was followed by a 66-49 win over Yale as 1-point chalks. Next was a 52-37 win over Brown as 7-point chalks. A fourth straight payoff came at Harvard in a 60-59 win as 8-point dogs and that was followed by a 52-49 win at Dartmouth as 2-point chalks.
The payoff streak ended with a 41-60 loss at Pennsylvania as 15.5-point dogs but the Tigers bounced back to get the cash in their next game, a 76-68 overtime win at Cornell as 4.5-point dogs.
Value depletion
Princeton Tigers next traveled to Columbia where value depletion began, as their streak of payoffs began to catch up with them as they drew increased attention from both gamblers and the oddsmakers. The Tigers lost a tough 64-65 decision as 1-point chalks.
Next was a 63-60 win over Dartmouth as 8.5-point chalks for a second straight loss against the board. The bleeding briefly stopped with a 75-48 blowout win over Harvard as 2-point chalks but the Tigers went back into the tank with a 46-61 win at Brown as 1-point dogs.
Ended in profit
Princeton’s season ended in profit with back-to back wins SU&ATS at Yale and at home over Penn.