Like all of their Big Sky Conference opponents, the Eastern Washington Eagles operate in virtual anonymity with both gamblers and general college basketball fans. In the early portion of the college basketball schedule, this can often mean that teams such as Eastern Washington can be transformed into exceptional bargain values. The Eagles would prove to be yet another excellent example of how the unknowns can become profitable teams in the early portion of the college basketball schedule.
Eastern Washington opened with an 89-63 unlined home win over Pacific Lutheran. That was followed by a 73-83 neutral court loss/push against Marquette as 10-point dogs. The Eagles next lost to Southern California, also on a neutral court, 51-69 as 6.5-point dogs, which was to be their final failure for quite a while.
Bargain Run
Starting off at 1-2 straight up only made Eastern Washington less appealing to the masses than they already were in the first place. This transformed the Eagles into excellent bargains as the preseason went into full gear.
Eastern Washington proved to be an excellent value in their next game, a 72-80-neutral court loss to Southern Illinois as 12.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 68-55 win at Idaho as 5-point dogs. The Eagles came home to wallop Northridge 70-48 as 1.5-point chalks for their third straight cover. The bargain run continued as the eagles beat California-Riverside 85-70 as 6-point chalks. Despite covering four consecutive games the Eagles were still unwanted against “name brand” and Pac-10 powerhouse Washington as they got the cash in a 74-91 loss as 23-point dogs. That was followed by a 65-75 neutral court loss to Gonzaga as 17.5-point dogs for their sixth straight cover.
Eastern Washington’s covers against both Washington and Gonzaga proved, better than any other two games, how a decent Big Sky Conference team can bring exceptional value to savvy gamblers that are shopping for it.
Correction
After six consecutive covers, the last two of which being high profile, Eastern Washington’s value began to deplete. Eastern Washington’s problems began with a 76-62 home win over Cal Poly SLO as 16.5-point overlays. That was followed by a 66-97 loss at Brigham Young as 10-point dogs. A brief halt to the red ink occurred in the Eagles’ next game, a 72-76 loss at Boise State as bargain 7-point dogs.
The correction continued in Eastern Washington’s next game, however, as they were beaten soundly at home by San Diego 78-97 as 1-point dogs. Eastern Washington next lost at Northern Arizona 95-105 as 5-point dogs and then lost at Sacramento State 69-88 as 5.5-point dogs for their fifth loss against the spread in six games.
The Eagles were able to stop the gushing of red ink with back-to-back straight up wins and covers starting at Portland State with an 89-70 victory as 5.5-point dogs, which was followed by an 80-64 home win over Idaho State as 7-point chalks. The Eagles failed to cover their next two games, however. They first beat Weber State 59-50 as 9.5-point home overlays in a tough loss for gamblers and then lost at Montana State 70-82 as 4-point dogs to complete a 3-7 stretch against the sportsbooks.
Back as bargains
Eastern Washington was back as bargains starting with a 72-78 loss at Montana as 11.5-point dogs. That was followed by an 87-75 home win over Sacramento State as 3.5-point home chalks. Next was a 73-61 home win over Northern Arizona, again, as 3.5-point home chalks and that was followed by a 72-64 win over Portland State as 7.5-point home chalks. The Eagles’ run climaxed at Weber State in a 76-73 win as 2-point dogs for their fifth straight payoff.
Down and up
Eastern Washington lost their next two games both SU&ATS at Cal State Fullerton and at home to Montana before winning and covering their final two games of the regular season against Montana State and at Idaho State before splitting their Big Sky tourney games to finish down and up.