The Fresno State Bulldogs finished the 2004-05 season with a record of 16-14 straight up, including a Western Athletic Conference record of 9-9, which was good for a fourth place finish in the league.
Against the spread the Bulldogs had no bite as they finished with just eight payoffs in twenty-eight lined games and got the cash in just four out of their final fifteen games, finishing as one of the least profitable teams on the college basketball betting boards.
With such a poor performance against the spread, however, Fresno State did have the opportunity to provide good value against the board as they would possibly catch a lot of gamblers, (and the oddsmakers), sleeping at the switch.
Profitable start
Fresno State Bulldogs opened the 2004-05 season with an 85-77 win at Cal Poly SLO that they failed to cover as 9-point overlays. That was then followed by an 80-73 home win over Oregon State as 5-point chalks for a payoff. The Bulldogs then lost at Buffalo 69-85 as 5-point dogs.
But Fresno State was able to then do what they failed to do in 2004-05 and that was slam on the breaks and even accelerate, ever so slightly, beginning with an 84-77 win at Iowa State as 13-point dogs, which was then followed by a 75-60 home win over Northridge as 8.5-point chalks for a profitable start of 3-2 against the spread.
Back to the future
From there, unfortunately, the Fresno State Bulldogs went back to the future looking very much like the 2004-05 team starting with a 61-72 neutral court loss to San Diego as 2.5-point dogs. That was then followed by a 63-99 loss at Pacific as 6.5-point dogs.
After an unlined home win over Norfolk State by a score of 89-70, the Bulldogs went back into the tank with a 79-76 home win over Santa Barbara as 5.5-point chalks. That was then followed by a 65-60 home win over Fresno State Bulldogs as 8-point chalks and then a 69-70 home loss to Iona as 1.5-point chalks for a fifth consecutive loss against the board.
After a 99-96 overtime home win over Utah State as 4.5-point dogs, the Bulldogs lost at New Mexico State 70-73 as 2-point dogs, which was then followed by a 54-73 loss at Louisiana Tech as 6.5-point dogs.
Brief burst
The 1-7 ATS stretch would prove to enhance Fresno’s value ever so slightly, starting with an 87-77 home win over Nevada as 4-point dogs, which was then followed by a 65-73 loss/cover at Hawaii as 8.5-point dogs to complete a brief burst of two straight covers.
Problems resumed
From there, however, Fresno’s problems resumed beginning with a 75-72 home win over New Mexico State as 7.5-point overlays. That was then followed by a 66-68 overtime home loss to Louisiana Tech as 2-point chalks. Next came an 89-54 home win over Idaho as 15.5-point chalks for a brief respite but then the Bulldogs failed to get the cash in a 63-66 loss push as 3-point dogs at Boise State and then a 61-72 loss at Idaho as 8-point overlays.
Bargain values
Fresno State Bulldogs was now well into their second season as a team that couldn’t get the cash on a consistent basis, making themselves one of the least appealing teams on the board, which is exactly what transformed them into bargain values for the stretch drive beginning with a 79-66 home win over San Jose State as 10-point chalks. That was then followed by a 73-67 home win over Hawaii as 1.5-point chalks. Next came a 62-67 loss/cover at Creighton as 12.5-point dogs followed by an 87-80 win at San Jose State as 2.5-point chalks for a fourth straight cover.
The Bulldogs ended the year out of gas, however, as they went 1-2 both SU&ATS.