Much like an oddsmaker seeks equal action on both sides; it appears NCAA officials desire equal fouls on both sides.
In a recent study conducted by a group of professors, results indicated that college basketball referees are more likely to call fouls against the team that has fewer fouls in the first half of a game.
A sampling of 365 college games was examined during the 2004-05 season for the study. Only the first half of games were observed due to the abundance of intentional fouls called at the end of regulation.
The Associated Press spoke with former NCAA referee, Irv Brown, regarding the study. "If you're looking at the board and one team has a lot more fouls, you probably look a little harder to do something, subconsciously," Brown said.
The underlying wagering factor here is that first half outcomes will most likely not be dictated by biased foul-calling for the favored or home team.
Top-ranked and home teams that incur double-digit first half pointspreads may be at a disadvantage because officials are hoping to make the game closer so viewers won’t tune out.
Many early season basketball tournaments are held on neutral courts. Of the 365 games the study dissected, 93 were on neutral courts and the same foul pattern resulted.