The Rhode Island Rams were yet another Atlantic 10 Conference basketball team that operated in relative obscurity amongst gamblers. Rhode Island rams was coming off a downright catastrophic 2004-05 season in which they finished 6-22 straight up and 8-15-1 against the spread. The horrible season set the bar so low that any improvement at all would be heralded and, in addition, made the Rams a potential bargain value on the college basketball betting boards.
Quiet value
After a season opening win over Sacred Heart in an unlined game, Rhode Island traveled to Utah where they lost both straight up and against the spread 50-66 as 13-point dogs to the Utes. The game further soured the public on Rhode Island, who had a weak reputation to begin with, which only served to increase their value at the sportsbooks.
In their next game at home versus Brown, Rhode Island scored a 57-40 win as 7.5-point chalks. This was followed up with an unlined win at Boston University. Rhode Island Rams next beat rival Providence 77-69 as 1.5-point chalks and followed that up with a 78-69 win over Manhattan as 3.5-point home favorites for their third straight cover as a quiet value.
Back in the tank
Just when it appeared as if Rhode Island might be a surprise team, they went right back into the tank starting with a 63-71 home loss to Ohio as a 1-point dog. The next split two unlined games before losing 41-67 at Houston as 10-point dogs. This was followed by an ugly 56-78 home loss to Boston College as 8.5-point dogs for a third consecutive loss against the oddsmakers heading into Atlantic 10 Conference play. Once again Rhode Island was an unattractive commodity, which made them a potential bargain team against the sportsbooks.
Out of the bushes
Rhode Island began A10 play with an 80-88 loss at Charlotte as 9.5-point dogs. This was followed by a 64-59 home win over Fordham as 4.5-point favorites. Next was a 71-66 win at St. Bonaventure as 1-point dogs and that was followed up with a 71-68 win at La Salle as 5.5-point dogs. Rhode Island continued their roll both straight up and against the sportsbooks with a 58-46 home win over Richmond as 5-point chalks and followed that up with a 58-55 home win over Massachusetts as a 1-point chalk. The Rams emerged from out of the bushes with six consecutive covers and 5 consecutive straight up wins. All of a sudden, Rhode Island was attracting the attention of more mainstream gamblers as well as the oddsmakers, who had to adjust their prices on the college basketball betting boards accordingly.
Brief dip
Rhode Island next traveled to George Washington to face the best team in the Atlantic 10 in the Colonials, which would be an excellent barometer as to where the Rhode Island program really stood. The answer was not encouraging as the Rams were blown out 62-81 as relatively small 13-point dogs, which illustrated their depleting value on the college basketball betting boards. Rhode Island next lost at home to Saint Louis 53-58 as 3.5-point chalks and that was followed by a 61-63 loss/cover at Massachusetts as 7.5-point dogs. Rhode Island was a 14-point overlay in their next game at home versus Duquesne, a 79-69 win as they completed a brief dip against the spread at 1-3.
Finished in the black
Rhode Island next traveled to Fordham where they lost a tough 76-79 overtime decision as 5.5-point dogs. This was followed by a 55-57 loss to Saint Joseph’s as 2.5-point home dogs for a half-point cover. Rhode Island next suffered back-to-back losses both straight up and against the spread, first at Saint Louis 62-73 as 7.5-point dogs and then at home to Xavier 76-85 as 3.5-point dogs. Rhode Island finished in the black, however, with a 69-63 win over Temple as 4.5-point home dogs and a 65-56 win at Dayton as 6.5-point dogs as they ended up with four covers against the sportsbooks in their final six games as well as a winning regular season record.
Hope for the future
Rhode Island was blown out in the first round of the A10 tournament 45-74 by Temple as a 5.5-point dog but departed with hope for the future.