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posted January 14, 2008 at 16:54 in NBA Free Picks

WHO: Milwaukee Bucks (15-22 SU, 17-19-1 ATS) at Utah Jazz (21-17 SU, 17-21 ATS)

WHERE: EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City

WHEN: Monday, January 14 at 9:05 PM ET

BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: UTAH -9.5, Total: 210

In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:

* UTAH has won eight of the last ten meetings SU

* UTAH has covered the last ten meetings

* Six of the last seven meetings have gone UNDER the total

* UTAH has had the shooting edge in each of the last five meetings

* UTAH has had the rebounding edge in eight of the last ten meetings

Milwaukee has allowed its opponents to shoot 47.1% from the floor, which is the third worst in the league. The Bucks have averaged 40.4 rebounds per game, and 94.3 ppg on the road. Also:

* MIL has won four of its last seven games SU

* MIL has covered its last five games

* MIL has covered its last five road games

* MIL has played its last three games OVER the total

* MIL has covered five of its last six games as an underdog

Utah is averaging 107.7 points a game at home, which is fifth-best in the NBA. The Jazz has averaged 25.7 assists per game, which is second only to Phoenix, but they have made just four 3-point shots per game - only Atlanta has less. Also:

* UTAH has won five of its last six games SU

* UTAH has won seven of its last eight home games SU

* UTAH has played four of its last six home games OVER the total

Milwaukee has shown some fighting spirit lately, covering five in a row, but this is one of those games where you have to look at the history between the two. And the Jazz has been overwhelming against the Bucks, winning the last eight and covering the last ten. This also appears to be a bad style matchup for Milwaukee, as Utah, which likes to force the pace and hits 49%, mostly from inside the arc, operates against a Bucks defense that is third worst in the NBA (yielding 47% shooting).

Playing at an accelerated tempo, Milwaukee has a tendency to get out of control, and shot selection has not been a strength of this team. It's just their luck that after a lengthy slump, Utah has won five of six and has been bolstered by the return of do-everything small forward Andrei Kirilenko, who had back problems but chalked up 16 points, seven boards and eight assists against Orlando in Saturday's win.

We'll lay the points with Utah, the 9.5-point favorite in the BetUS NBA betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: UTAH

You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!

(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)