The Manhattan Jaspers have become one of the better known “mid-major” programs over the years with their post season appearances in the NCAA tournament, which has given them name recognition with the college basketball gambling masses.
This name recognition, however, had the potential to drive Manhattan’s value down as they were no longer a “secret” or “surprise” team that would sneak up on oddsmakers and gamblers alike, let alone their on court opponents.
Eventually, therefore, you had a mid major team that was receiving increased attention from everyone at the sportsbook and on the court, which was likely to deplete their value as a result.
Value was down at the start
Manhattan opened the season with a 52-66 loss at Seton Hall as 3.5-point dogs and followed that up with a 66-72 home loss to George Mason as 1.5-point chalks.
After an 82-87 overtime loss/cover at Syracuse as 13.5-point dogs, the Jaspers lost at Rhode Island 69-78 as 3.5-point dogs, proving that their value was down at the start with a record of 1-3 both straight up and against the spread.
Value was restored Manhattan Jaspers
One thing to keep in mind about a mid major team that stumbles out of the gate is that the masses will quickly get off of them, which quickly transforms these teams back into bargain values.
Manhattan Jaspers slow start would prove to have such an affect beginning with a 90-79 home win over Marist as an 8-point chalk. That was followed by an 85-73 win at Loyola Maryland as a 3-point chalk
Manhattan next took a couple of games off from the board beginning with a 76-62 win at North Dakota State, which was followed by a 73-70 overtime win at South Dakota State.
Back on the board at home against cross town rival Fordham, Manhattan Jaspers scored an 81-68 win and cover as a 6.5-point chalk. That was followed by an 89-78 home win over St. Francis-NY, which was unlined.
Back on the board at Iona, the Jaspers scored a strong 87-68 win as 5-point dogs. That was followed by a 95-82 home win over St. Peter’s as an 11-point home chalk for a fifth straight payoff against the college basketball gambling odds as the Jaspers value was restored.
Free fall
Just when it looked as if Manhattan had their act together they proved to be over-valued starting with an 87-81 home win over Rider as 14-point chalks. That was followed by a 77-74 home win over Siena as 11-point overlays.
The free fall went into full force with a 68-77 loss at Marist as 1-point dogs. That was followed by a 78-71 home win over Canisius as 12-point overlays and then a 56-75 loss at Rider as 5.5-point chalks for a fifth consecutive loss against the spread.
Back in black Manhattan Jaspers
Just when the college basketball gambling public soured on Manhattan, however, they were to get back in the black starting with a 74-69 win at Fairfield as 1.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 63-58 win at Siena as 2-point dogs.
After a 51-67 blowout upset loss to Niagara as 10.5-point chalks, the Japsers scored back to back SU&ATS wins over Loyola-Maryland and at St. Peter’s. They then suffered a brief value depletion to end the regular season as they went 3-2 SU but 2-3 ATS.
In the post season Manhattan finished 2-2 both SU & ATS losing in the third round of the NIT.