Posted on 2/29/2008 7:22:24 PM

CBB Betting Picks - ILLINOIS at IOWA

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA basketball betting matchup:

BetUS college basketball followers take heed - It's not always the teams at the top of the rung that provide the best betting opportunities. on Saturday at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, two Big Ten teams that will most likely be watching the NCAA, the NIT and the CBI on television this year will get together to do battle, as the Iowa Hawkeyes (12-17 SU, 12-14 ATS) play host to the Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois (11-17 SU, 10-18 ATS) in conference action that gets underway at 6 PM ET.

Here are some of the NCAA basketball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* ILL has lost six of its last seven games SU

* ILL has lost 13 of its last 16 games SU

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

* ILL has lost nine of its last ten road games SU

* ILL has covered two of its last six road games

* ILL has played its last four road games UNDER the total

* IOWA has lost five of its last six games SU

* IOWA has won four of its last six home games SU

* IOWA has played seven of its last ten games UNDER the total

* IOWA has covered four of the last six meetings

* ILL has had the rebounding edge in each of the last three meetings

* ILL has made more three-pointers in eight of the last ten meetings

Illinois appears to be a team that has severely underachieved this season, although many concluded it was going to be a rebuilding year. The Illini got nowhere against its non-conference schedule, save for a blowout win over Arizona State, and scored wins over only Michigan, Northwestern and Minnesota in the Big Ten season. Bad free throw shooting has plagued Illinois, which has been able to hit only 60% from the charity stripe - one of the worst figures in the country.

We're going to give a slight edge in this matchup to Iowa, which looks like it has a little more structure and direction under Todd Lickliter, who took over the program after many years at Butler. Lickliter's team has risen above itself to beat the likes of Michigan State and Ohio State at home, and plays the kind of defense and pace (55.7 ppg allowed at home) that tends to frustrate opponents. Sure, Illinois blew out Minnesota in Minneapolis a couple of weeks ago, but that was a little out of character for both teams. And the Illini's last three outings, in which they have produced just 151 total points and shot less than 38%.

Iowa is in a little better place right now. we'll take the Hawkeyes at home and lay points in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PREDICTION: IOWA BY 10

Go to the BetUS.com online sportsbook today to bet on NCAA basketball. We have the most current NCAA basketball odds and lines, as well as player and game props. Join BetUS.com to experience the best in online sports betting action!

(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com gives it the old college try as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)