Posted on 1/17/2008 6:24:15 PM

NCAA Basketball Betting – Butler at Cleveland State

By Charles Jay

The Butler Bulldogs (13-1 SU, 10-6 ATS) may be ranked 12th in the country, but they aren't the first place team in the mid-major Horizon League. That distinction goes to the Cleveland State Vikings (12-5 SU, 9-5 ATS), who they’ll face Thursday night in a conference showdown that tips off at 7:30 PM ET from the Wolstein Center in Cleveland.

In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, Butler is a 5.5-point road favorite, with a total of 130. In the BetUS college basketball money line, Butler is -240, with Cleveland State at +200.

Here are some of the NCAA basketball betting trends and stats relative to this matchup:

* BUT has won seven of its last eight road games

* CSU has covered four of its last six games

* CSU has won five of its last six games SU

* CSU has played five of its last seven games OVER the total

* CSU has won five of its last six home games SU

* BUT has won 13 of the last 15 meetings

* CSU has covered four of the last five meetings as the home team

* BUT has won six of the last seven meetings SU as the visitor

* BUT makes 9.2 three-pointers per game

* BUT allows 57.8 ppg (14th in nation)

* BUT allows 24.3 rebounds per game on the road (3rd in nation)

* CSU shoots 45% FG's

* CSU averages 8.2 steals per game

* CSU averages 12.2 offensive rebounds per game

Cleveland State has improved itself, unquestionably, from last year's crew that gave Butler no challenge whatsoever, losing by scores of 92-50 and 70-45. And interestingly, it is the Vikings who are the top team in the Horizon League standings right now, with a 5-0 record. But CSU has been turned back - hard - when moving up in class against Ohio State and Kent State. Butler played a team that had beaten CSU by 17 points, Ohio State, and laid the Buckeyes out by a 65-46 score.

The guys from Indianapolis have certainly reached the big time. Butler is ranked #12 in the country in the Associated Press poll, and that's no fluke, as the Bulldogs won 29 games and advanced to the Sweet 16 last season.

What characterizes Butler's play, and has for a while now, is its ability to take care of the ball (10.5 turnovers a game) and shoot the three-pointer (9.2 per game with 40% accuracy). When you do those things, you are able to get out and extend the lead while not giving away easy points on the other end. It also helps if you can defend and control the tempo. And Butler does both extremely well, currently ranking #1 among all Division I teams in points allowed on the road (53.5 per contest), which is one of the reasons why it has won seven of its last eight away from home.

As talented as Cedric Jackson (the CSU point guard who transferred from St. John's) may be, he will have a hard time with the patience and defense he'll see from guards Mike Green and AJ Graves.

We'll lay the points with Butler, the 5.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAAB betting odds.

BetUS NCAAB betting odds: BUTLER -5.5, Total: 130

JAY'S PLAY: BUTLER

(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com never does anything wrong. He always insists “the butler did it.” He currently is a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)