The Akron Zips finished the 2004-05 season with a record of 19-10 straight up, which included a Mid-American Conference record of 11-7, which was good for a four way tie for second place in the MAC East Division.
The Zips finished 14-12 against the spread as they faded badly down the stretch with just three payoffs in their final ten games, after starting out 11-5 against the board to begin the season as their pointspread value depleted as their popularity with the college basketball gambling public increased with that solid start.
A lot of parity
The MAC was a league with a considerable amount of competitive balance and parity, which made handicapping the league a tremendous challenge for anyone that bet college basketball. Because there was a lot of parity in the league, nearly anything from a worst to first place finish was possible for most of the teams.
Stumbled out of the gate
Akron began the season with a 67-62 home win over Youngstown State as 20.5-point overlays. That was followed by a 79-61 home win over Duquesne as 17-point chalks for a break even start.
But then the Zips lost at California 75-89 as 7.5-point dogs. That was followed by an unlined 123-52 home win over Denison and then an 85-111 blowout loss at Louisville as 13-point dogs as the Zips stumbled out of the gate against the books for a 1-3 start.
Cash cows
Akron’s slow start, coupled with their mid-major status and rather anonymous existence would prove to serve as a value enhancement beginning with a 74-61 neutral court win over Mount St. Mary’s as 12-point chalks. That was followed by an 83-72 neutral court win over Mississippi State as 1-point chalks.
Akron was emerging as virtual cash cows as they next got a loss/cover against Clemson, 59-66 as 8.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 72-44 home win over Wright State as 9-point chalks.
As MAC play began, the payoffs continued starting with a 66-62 win at Ball State as the Zips were favored by 1.5-points. That was followed by a 75-58 home win over Toledo as 6.5-point chalks. Next was a 69-55 win at Western Michigan as 2.5-point chalks and then an 86-73 home win over Northern Illinois as 8-point favorites. The ninth and final consecutive payoff was a 62-50 win at Cleveland State as 8.5-point chalks.
Cranking more cash
After the payoff streak ended with a 76-69 overtime win at Central Michigan as 12.5-point favorites, the Zips went right back to cranking more cash with a 79-61 home win over Eastern Michigan as 17-point chalks. That was followed by a 63-66 win at Ohio as 4.5-point dogs.
After a 52-45 home win/push over Miami-Ohio as 7-point chalks, the Zips scored a 77-72 overtime win at Bowling Green as 4.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 75-61 home win over Buffalo as 8.5-point chalks.
Things finally began to slow down
Akron had just completed a phenomenal run of 13-1-1 against the college basketball betting boards, a pace that simply couldn’t be sustained much longer. And starting with a 57-63 loss at Kent State as 4-point dogs, things did finally began to slow down.
The Zips went on to win three consecutive games straight up over Western Michigan, at Eastern Michigan, and over Bowling Green while failing to cover only against Eastern. They then lost SU&ATS at Nevada and got a loss/push at Miami-Ohio. They then beat Ohio SU&ATS at home, lost SU&ATS at Buffalo and finished the regular season with a SU&ATS win over Kent State.
In post season Akron went 2-2 both SU&ATS in the MAC and NIT tournaments, as they were eliminated in the 2nd round of the NIT.