Arkansas State Indians

2005 Season Summary

About the only useful purpose that the Arkansas State football program has served is to be one of the very worst in the history of college football. At least that's how it was entering the 2005 season. The Indians were good at losing and at picking up big paychecks for serving as a sacrificial lamb at bigger BCS schools in non-conference games.

On more than a few "go against" lists

Sure, there have been some big name coaches such as Ray Perkins that have passed through Jonesboro offering false hope that was never fulfilled, but most of the time Arkansas State fans and gamblers have taken this program for what it was through 2004, an afterthought and a loser that was on more than a few "go against" lists of college football bettors.

A decent value over the years

Despite their well deserved reputation as losers, Arkansas State had quietly posted winning/profitable seasons against the oddsmakers in three of the previous four years preceding 2005, providing savvy college football gamblers with a decent value over the years.

More of the same expected

The definition of insanity is to expect something different from someone that keeps doing the same thing over and over again. With that in mind, more of the same was expected from Arkansas State which means another losing season was forecasted for 2005 and anyone mentioning the Indians and "bowl berth" in the same sentence last August was likely to be carried out in a straight-jacket or be asked to pee in a cup!

No early hints

Arkansas State opened the 2005 season at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium against the Big 12's Missouri Tigers. This was technically a "home game" for the Indians, who decided to play in KC for the extra cash. Mizzou, an inconsistent middle of the pack type of team was a whopping 25-point chalk and got the cash in a 44-17 win.

After a 56-7 home win against 1-AA competition, the Indians went back on the road to play another Big 12 opponent for more revenue as they met an Oklahoma State that was down at least a notch from the previous few seasons as successful coach Les Miles was gone, as were many of his key players from their Alamo Bowl team of 2004. The Indians kept within the 24.5-point number in a 10-20 loss. Still, there were no early hints of what was to come.

A Sun Belt blowout

Arkansas State opened Sun Belt Conference play at home against Florida International as a modest 8-point chalk. The Panthers were the equivalent of a college football expansion team as they were in their first full season on the betting boards and Arkansas State pounded them 66-24.

Rock bottom value

Two blowout home wins including one in league play increased the price of Arkansas State on the betting boards. They went to Louisiana Monroe as a 3-point road chalk and lost 27-31. Next, as a 13.5-point home chalk against Louisiana Lafayette, the Indians escaped with a 39-36 straight up win. Another virtual expansion team, Florida Atlantic, visited next as 8.5-point dogs and got the cash in a weak 3-0 win by Arkansas State.

The Indians were 3-1 in Sun Belt play as they traveled to Middle Tennessee State, one of the preseason chalks of the Sun Belt who was struggling so far in 2005. The Indians were 4-point dogs and were blown off the field in a 45-7 win by the Blue Raiders, as Arkansas State his rock bottom value with their fourth straight loss against the spread.

Value was restored

Now that they were written off by most gamblers as "the same old Indians," Arkansas State's value was restored as they won and covered both of their final Sun Belt games to earn a bowl berth, which as a 19-31 loss/cover, as 14.5-point dogs to Southern Miss. The Indians gave gamblers a good lesson on mid-major value fluctuations in 2005.