The Fordham Rams basketball program has operated in relative obscurity and with little notable success. The Rams were coming off another typical season in anonymity in 2004-05 as they finished 13-16 straight up and 13-11 against the spread as one of the least visible Atlantic 10 Conference programs. There was little to indicate that Fordham would make any significant leaps in progress for 2005-06 and a winning season was considered a faint hope at best. The sharper members of the college basketball betting fraternity would keep an eye on the Rams, however, for any potential bargains they might offer against better-known foes.
Discouraging start
Fordham Rams did little to inspire much hope as the 2005-06 season began. The Rams opened on a neutral court against Old Dominion and lost a 52-65 decision as 9-point dogs. This was followed up with another neutral court loss, 68-79 to Georgia as 3-point dogs. Fordham finally got a win and cover in their next game, also on a neutral court, as they defeated Norfolk State 72-53 as 11-point chalks. Fordham was next beaten in an non-lined game by St. Francis-New York 60-66 before losing at Siena 54-64 as 1-point chalks for a most discouraging start as they stood at 1-4 straight up and 1-3 against the spread.
Brief bargains
Fordham Rams continued losing straight up with a 70-71 home loss to Iona as a 2.5-point dog. They next lost at Holy Cross in overtime in an unlined game to fall to 1-6 straight up. This poor start did have a positive effect however, as Fordham became brief bargains against the pointspreads as gamblers were understandably leery about laying out cash on the Rams.
Upset win for the Fordham Rams
Few gave Fordham any chance in their next game at Virginia as 11.5-point dogs but the Rams scored a 62-60 upset win to stop the bleeding and gain confidence. This was followed by a 95-80 win at Fairfield as 1.5-point chalks. The Rams slipped in their next two games, however, both straight up and against the spread in losses at Manhattan and at Notre Dame. They picked up a final preseason win in an unlined game versus Lafayette and prepared for Atlantic 10 Conference action.
Strong start
Fordham Rams opened league play with a 66-56 home win over Dayton as 1.5-point dogs. This was followed by a 59-64 win at Rhode Island as 4.5-point dogs. Fordham got back on track with a 78-63 win over Pennsylvania as 3-point home dogs and followed that up with a 90-63 blowout win over Duquesne as 14-point home chalks for a strong start to conference action with three wins and covers in four games.
Fordham Rams Back in the red
Fordham was unable to sustain momentum, however, as they next loss at Massachusetts 61-74 as 7.5-point dogs. In their next game at home against St. Bonaventure the Rams prevailed 79-72 in overtime as 9.5-point chalks in an overlay situation. This was followed by a discouraging 54-64 loss at Saint Louis as 6-point dogs for a third straight loss against the sportsbooks as the Rams were back in the red.
Three up and three down
The erratic Rams next beat Richmond 63-45 as 4.5-point home chalks. They then won at Duquesne 90-81 as 7-point chalks and followed that up with an 81-70 win at St. Bonaventure as 3.5-point chalks. Just when gamblers began to believe the Rams burned them starting with a 79-76-overtime win over Rhode Island as 5.5-point home chalks. This was followed with a 64-84 loss at Xavier as 10.5-point dogs and a 75-81 loss to Charlotte as 2.5-point home dogs as the Rams went three up and three down against the spread.
Profitable finish for Fordham Rams
As was the case all season the Rams would quickly keep gamblers guessing as they covered three of their final four games in the regular season and then went on to win and cover their first two games of the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament. In the third round against Xavier as a 6.5-point dog, Fordham lost 59-70 but closed the season with a profitable finish as they covered 5 of their final 7 games.