The Missouri State Bears finished the 2004-05 season with a record of 19-13 straight up and 16-13 against the spread. The Bears finished 10-8 in Missouri Valley Conference play, which was good for fifth place. The Bears finished very strong as they got the cash in thirteen of their final nineteen games against the spread and made it to the second round of the NIT.
Flying Start
Missouri State opened the season with an 87-51 home win over Northern Illinois as 7.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 97-80 win at Arkansas State as 1.5-point chalks. The payoffs continued with with 101-55 blowout win over Georgia Southern as 12-point chalks and then a 95-75 home win over Texas A&M CC for a flying start of 4-0 against the college basketball gambling lines.
Brief dip
Missouri State next went off the board and scored an 88-76 win at Oral Roberts. That was followed by an 85-71 win over Detroit as 15.5-point chalks to begin a brief dip against the board.
The Bears then traveled to Arkansas and suffered a 75-79 loss as 3.5-point dogs. Missouri State then halted the bleeding with an 85-55 blowout home win over Arkansas State as 18-point chalks. That was followed by a most discouraging 56-78 loss at Creighton as 1-point dogs in the Missouri Valley Conference opener to complete a 1-3 stretch against the board.
Back in black Missouri State Bears
Missouri State next scored a 97-78 home win over Indiana State as 12.5-point chalks. That was followed by an 85-79 win/payoff at Drake as 5-point chalks. Next came an 80-65 win at Evansville as 10-point chalks as the Bears were back in black with three consecutive covers against the college basketball betting lines.
Losing ground and cash
Missouri State next scored a 62-72 home loss to Northern Iowa as 5-point chalks as they began losing ground and cash as Missouri Valley Conference play was heating up.
Missouri State next hosted Illinois Sate and scored a 70-54 win and cover as 14.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 57-81 win at Wichita State as 2-point dogs. The Bears then hosted Southern Illinois, one of the leading MVC contenders and scored a 71-63 win as 4.5-point chalks.
But just when the Bears looked to be on track, the suffered back to back SU&ATS losses starting with a 62-68 home defeat to Wichita State as 5.5-point chalks, which was followed by a 76-86 loss at Bradley as 3.5-point dogs to complete a 2-4 stretch against the board.
Cash cows Missouri State Bears
As the MVC headed into the stretch drive, the Bears emerged from hibernation and became one of the hottest teams against the board starting with an 80-58 win at Indiana State as 7-point chalks. That was followed by an 84-59 home win over Drake as 10-point chalks. Next was a 70-62 home win over Bradley as 5.5-point favorites as the Bears were being transformed into cash cows with three straight payoffs.
The cash continued to roll in as Missouri State next scored a 64-66 loss/cover at Southern Illinois as 4.5-point dogs. That was followed by a 66-63 win at Northern Iowa as 6-point dogs. More payoffs came in as the Bears scored a 72-61 win at Illinois State as 7-point chalks before the regular season finale at home against Creighton ended with a 60-54 Bears win that they failed to cover as 7.5-point overlays, which ended Missouri State’s run of eight consecutive payoffs.
Post season overlays
That regular season finale in which they failed to get the cash in a win over Creighton was a portent of things to come for Missouri State, as they were upset in the MVC tourney by Northern Iowa 42-57 as 2.5-point chalks, which likely cost them an NCAA bid. The Bears settled for the NIT and went 2-1 SU but 1-2 ATS.