2005 UAB Blazers Handicapping Review

 

By Tom Wilkinson

 

Alabama Birmingham entered the 2004 season having posted back-to-back losing records both straight up and against the odds. That being said the Blazers finished relatively strong at the end of 2003 with five covers in their final eight games and many key returning players that had some sports betting bloggers posting that it was a possible “breakout” year for UAB.

The Blazers made a definite statement in the 2004 season opener by clobbering Baylor 56-14 as 14.5-point home chalks. Although Baylor was lightly regarded, such a walloping of a Big 12 team is bound to get a Conference USA team sports handicapping attention, which was the case for UAB. This helped drive down the Blazers’ value in their next game, however, as they lost 7-34 at Florida State as 22.5-point dogs as they now prepared to enter Conference USA play.

In the league opener at home as 2.5-point home dogs against Memphis, UAB prevailed 35-28 and followed that with an impressive 30-27 win at Cincinnati as 1.5-point dogs. As 11.5-road chalks against SEC doormat Mississippi State, the Blazers got the cash and win again 27-13 to make it three in a row. Home against struggling but still dangerous and perennial Conference USA power TCU, the Blazers posted a 41-25 win as 6.5-point chalks to improve their overall record to 5-1 both straight up and against the odds. At this point UAB had gained considerable sports handicapping attention and extra posts by the sports betting bloggers, which is a sure sign of an impending sports handicapping market correction.

Sure enough, as whopping and inflated 18-point favorites at Tulane, UAB lost straight up 55-59 and then was bombed out at home by South Florida 20-45 as 18.5-point home chalks. These back-to-back upset losses certainly cooled the once steaming sports handicapping romance of just two weeks prior as Houston came calling. UAB was installed as 9.5-point home chalks and prevailed 20-7 with the more favorable price installed by the sports betting odds makers. The Blazers now stood at 6-3 both straight up and against the spread as they payed a visit to Army. As 12-point chalks the Blazers got the game but not the money 20-14. UAB lost their final game at Southern Miss as 1-point dogs 21-26, but qualified for the Hawaii Bowl against the homestanding (and home cooking) Warriors. UAB was clearly overvalued as 3.5-point dogs, losing on the Island 40-59.