The Air Force Falcons finished the 2004-05 season with a record of 18-12 straight up, which included a Mountain West Conference record of 9-5, good for third place in the league.
Air Force was a profitable 13-10 against the college basketball betting boards for 2004-05 as were on a descent down the stretch with just three payoffs in their final nine games.
Interesting hire
Jeff Bzdelik, who had led Carmello Anthony and the Denver Nuggets to the NBA playoffs in one of their most successful seasons in memory, was fired the very next year. Air Force was more than happy to scoop him up and keep him in Colorado as the head man at the Academy. It was to prove to be an excellent match.
A promising start
Air Force began the 2005-06 season with a 62-49 win over Northern Arizona as 9.5-point neutral court chalks. That was then followed by a 57-53 neutral court win over Miami-Florida as 3-point dogs. The Falcons got a third straight payoff with a 74-85 win at Washington as 15.5-point dogs for a promising start of 3-0 against the board.
Air Force then had a series of unlined games to tune up for the Mountain West Conference grind beginning with a 77-45 blowout home win over Colorado Springs. That was then followed by a 66-44 home win over Western State. Next game a 64-55 win at Navy in a service academy showdown. That was followed by a 63-44 home win over Arkansas Pine Bluff and then an 81-68 win at Texas-Pan American. Air Force made it a six game sweep over unlined opponents with a 73 48 blowout home win over Northern Colorado.
Back to cranking cash
Air Force returned to the board with a 63-51 home win over St. Mary’s as a 10.5-point chalk. That was followed by a 73-50 win over Lamar in another unlined affair. The Falcons then went back to cranking cash with a 54-46 neutral court win over Georgia Tech as 5-point chalks. That was then followed by a 77-42 unlined blowout home win over IUPU-Ft. Wayne.
Back on the board against Brigham Young, the Falcons scored a 75-59 win as 8-point chalks. That was then followed by a 65-62 home win over San Diego State as 9-point chalks. Next came a 50-55 win at Wyoming as 4-point overlays for a second straight loss against the board.
Back on track
Air Force, however, got back on track as Mountain West Conference action heated up starting with a 75-49 home win over Texas Christian as 13.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 66-44 home win over Utah as 9.5-point chalks. There was then a brief pause in the payoffs with a 59-62 loss at New Mexico as 2-point chalks.
Air Force took flight again, however, starting with a 52-50 win at UNLV as 3.5-point dogs and then followed that up with a 71-56 home win over Colorado State as 10-point chalks.
Losing steam
Air Force had gotten the cash in ten of their first thirteen lined games, a pace that was not sustainable as more of the college basketball gambling public, (and the oddsmakers), began to notice them.
The Falcons began losing steam with a 59-65 loss at Brigham Young as 1-point dogs. That was followed by a 51-61 loss at San Diego State as 4-point dogs. Air Force was then unable to cover a 62-61 home win over Wyoming as 11.5-point chalks. The bleeding briefly stopped with a 63-45 blowout win at Texas Christian as 6.5-point chalks.
After a 52-51 win/push at Utah as 1-point chalks, the Falcons got a 51-46 home win over New Mexico as 9.5-point overlays. They then finished the regular season with SU&ATS wins over UNLV and at Colorado State. Air Force then lost 55-57 to Wyoming as 8.5-point overlays in the MWC tourney. The Falcons made the “Big Dance” and scored a 69-78 loss to Illinois as 7.5-point dogs.