Bet on the Big East

According to a study done by Ed Gunther of The National Championship Issue, Big East Conference football teams covered the pointspread an average of 56.3% from 2000-2008. This is the best winning percentage of any conference.

Because of the 10% vigorish Las Vegas sportsbooks charge for wagering on college games, a bettor has to pick winners at a rate of 52.4% to break even. The only other conference to exceed that threshold was the Pacific 10, whose teams covered at a rate of 55.1%.

The best team against the spread was Boise State, covering 63% of the time, followed by Utah (59%), Iowa (58.9%), Oregon State (57.3%) and USC (56.8%). Connecticut was the best ofr the Big east schools, covering at a 55.8% clip.

The worst at covering the spread, among teams that were Division I-A members from 2000-08, was Indiana at only 34.7%.