The Rider Broncs finished with a strong 2004-05 season as they posted a record of 19-11 straight up, including 13-5 in conference play which was good for a first place tie.
Rider was also profitable as they finished with a record of 15-9-1 against the spread, covering five of their final seven games of the season, which ended with a loss in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament championship game to Niagara 59-81 as 4-point dogs.
First to worst Rider Broncs
In 2005-06 Rider Broncs was to provide a classic and lasting less on about the first to worst (and vice versa), nature of mid-major teams from such conferences as the Metro Atlantic, where fortunes change can and often do change dramatically.
Slow start
Rider opened the 2005-06 season with an unlined 54-56 loss to Bucknell. That was followed by a 60-72 loss/push at Drexel as 12-point pups.
After an unlined home win over Boston University, the Rider Broncs next lost to powerhouse Villanova in a 57-86 blowout as 19-point neutral court dogs. That was followed by another neutral court win at Monmouth-NJ 75-67.
But back on the board, the losing resumed as the Broncs suffered a 59-80 defeat at Iona as 10-point dogs for a slow start of 0-2-1 against the spread.
Brief burst Rider Broncs
Rider’s slow start helped transform them somewhat into bargain values beginning with an 89-84 home win over Delaware as 4-point chalks. That was followed by a 63-59 unlined home win over LIU Brooklyn.
Back on the board against Charleston, the Broncs scored a 67-72 loss/cover as 9.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 100-104 overtime loss at St. Peter’s as 5.5-point dogs to complete a brief burst of three straight payoffs against the board.
Back in red
The Broncs couldn’t sustain success, however, as they next lost at Siena 62-85 as 3.5-point dogs. That was followed by an 81-85 home loss to Fairfield as 5-point chalks. After an 81-87 loss/cover at Manhattan as 14-point dogs the Broncs were back in red with a 66-89 home loss to Marist as 2-point dogs to complete a 1-3 stretch ATS.
Up again Rider Broncs
Rider next won at home over Niagara 78-70 as a 1-point chalk and followed that up with a 76-78 loss at Loyola-Maryland as a 7-point dog. Rider remained up again with a 75-56 home win over Manhattan as 5.5-point dogs and then kept it going with an 81-62 win at Canisius as 3.5-point dogs.
Free fall
Unfortunately for Rider, that was to prove to be the high point of the season as beginning with a 70-84 loss at Niagara as 4.5-point dogs, the Broncs would suffer a free fall both on the court and at the sportsbook.
Problems continued with a 69-77 overtime loss at Fairfield as 2.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 73-69 win over Canisius as 7-point chalks. Next was a 62-73 loss at Marist as 10-point dogs and then a 73-92 blowout loss at home against Siena as 3-point chalks. Rider ended the five game losing streak against the board with a 79-83 loss/cover at home against Iona as 6-point dogs.
Red ink resumed gushing
As it turned out, however, the cover against Iona would prove to be the final payoff for Rider all season.
They next lost at Northeastern 79-92 as 12-point dogs. That was followed by a 66-69 home loss to Loyola-Maryland as 4-point chalks and then a 64-77 home loss to St. Peter’s as 1-point dogs to complete a stretch in which Rider went 1-8 against the spread.
Rider lost SU &ATS in the MAAC tourney to St. Peter’s.