Although the Dayton Flyers were 18-11 straight up for the 2004-05 season they covered just 11 of 26 lined games as they were something of an overlay against the oddsmakers. The Flyers had a respectable reputation amongst gamblers, particularly as a home team, and the oddsmakers were fully aware of this and adjusted the prices for Dayton games on the betting boards accordingly.
Quiet bargain at the start
Few college basketball bettors had a firm read on Dayton as the 2005-06 season began. The Flyers opened with a strong 81-60 home win against Tennessee Tech as a 10.5-point chalk. The next lost at Miami-Ohio 42-58 as 2-point dogs to start out with an even 1-1 split both SU and ATS.
Dayton would next prove to be a quiet bargain at the start, however, as they would cover 4 consecutive games against the spread. They first beat Morehead State 67-41 as 20-point home chalks. Next at Creighton as 10-point dogs, they got the cash in a tough 90-91-overtime loss. At Cincinnati as a 9.5-point dog, Dayton scored an impressive 75-66 win. Next, as a 14-point home chalk against Pepperdine the Flyers got the cash in a 63-45 win that was followed by an unlined win over Grambling. Dayton next blew out Central Michigan 61-36 as 21-point home chalks.
Value was shot Dayton Flyers
With 6 covers in their first 7 games, Dayton’s value was shot and their cover was blown with the mainstream gambling public. As an 8.5-point home chalk versus DePaul, the Flyers began a collapse of epic proportions with a 54-61 loss. This was followed up with back-to-back wins in unlined action. In a rematch with Cincinnati on a neutral court as 7.5-point dogs, Dayton was blown off the court in a 63-81 loss. On that same court against Northern Iowa as a 5-point dog, the Flyers failed yet again 67-74. Dayton’s woes continued at home against Vanderbilt in a 60-63 loss as 1-point chalks for their 4th consecutive loss against the spread.
Bleeding red ink
As conference play began Dayton’s woes continued starting with a most discouraging 56-66 loss at Fordham as 1.5-point chalks. Next came a home date against Charlotte, which was a 65-73 defeat as 3-point chalks. Dayton continued bleeding red ink for gamblers in their next game at Richmond in a 50-58 loss as 1-point chalks. Incredibly enough, despite 6 games in a row straight up the Flyers were still a modest 1-point chalk at home against Temple in a 51-53 loss to complete an 8-game losing streak against the oddsmakers.
Brief run as a bargain Dayton Flyers
By this time Dayton was treated as a plague by the mainstream gambling public, which of course turned them into a significant value against the betting boards. Against hapless Duquesne as an 18-point chalk, Dayton Flyers got back on the winning track with an 85-63 win/cover. This was followed by a 78-58 win over St. Bonaventure as a 12-point chalk. Next at Xavier as 12-point dogs, the Flyers covered in a 55-60 loss. As a modest 1-point chalk at home against Saint Joseph’s, Dayton scored a 77-69 win and cover, their fourth payoff in a row, as they completed a brief run as a bargain.
Back in the red
Just when gamblers started taking a second glance at Dayton they went back in the red. First at Charlotte as a 6-point dog the Flyers lost 49-62. Next at George Washington as a 12-point dog, Dayton barely missed the cash in a 67-81 loss. The Dayton Flyers suffered another near miss in their next game at home against Saint Louis in a 46-44 win as 3.5-point chalks for their third straight failure against the spread.
Rebound in the black Dayton Flyers
With the public again both soured and burned out on them, Dayton enjoyed a brief rebound in the black with three covers in their next four games, winning two of those games straight up.
The season ended appropriately in the red
In the regular season finale against Rhode Island, Dayton Flyers lost 56-65 as a 6.5-point home chalk. The season ended appropriately in the red with a 55-67-conference tournament failure to St. Joe’s as a 5-point dog.