Posted on
3/13/2008 7:23:52 PM
College Basketball - BOSTON COLLEGE vs. MARYLAND
By Charles jay
BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: MARYLAND -5.5, Total 141.5
The Maryland Terrapins (18-13 SU, 11-14-1 ATS) begin a quest that they hope will end up with an NCAA tournament bid on Thursday night when they face off against the Boston College Eagles (13-16 SU, 10-14 ATS) in the ACC tourney at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Game time is 9:30 PM ET.
In the BetUS NCAAB betting odds, Maryland is listed as a 5.5-point favorite, with a total of 141.5 points.
Here are some of the NCAA basketball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* BC has covered four of its last 13 games
* BC has lost its last six games SU
* BC has lost 12 of its last 13 games SU
* MARY has lost four of its last five games SU
* MARY has covered one of its last five games
* MARY has played four of its last five games UNDER the total
* BC has covered four of the last five meetings
* BC has had the shooting edge in three of the last five meetings
* BC has had the rebounding edge in four of the last five meetings
Maryland had a lot of winnable games that it blew this season - to Virginia Tech, Clemson, Ohio, American, VCU, and oh, Boston College, which triumphed on December 9 behind 19 points by Tyrese Rice. The Terps later got that win back, but they are at best on the NCAA bubble and it's going to take a great performance on their part in this tournament to get to the next step.
That's why we're looking for the maximum effort against this Eagles team that has lost 12 of its last 13 games, as opponents have come to understand that if they can deal with Rice in a reasonable fashion, they can control BC's offense. Typical of Boston College's story was its March 1 game against North Carolina, when Rice scored 46 points but his teammates had only 44 in a 90-80 loss to the Tar Heels.
Maryland brings balance to the table, as well as some size, which was on display in the last meeting, when forward Jamie Gist had 23 points and Bambale Osby blocked five Eagles' shots. But Grievis Vasquez, playing opposite Rice, took the game over with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting.
Maryland is much more well-rounded, and desperate. We'll lay the points with the Terrapins, the 5.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAAB betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: MARYLAND
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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com gives it the old college try as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)