Posted on 3/10/2008 5:27:59 PM

College Basketball Betting - ELON vs. DAVIDSON

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: DAVIDSON -16.5, Total 127.5

The Phoenix of Elon University (14-18 SU, 15-13-2 ATS) will go after perhaps the year's most unlikely NCAA tournament bid on Monday night when it takes on the 25th-ranked Davidson Wildcats (25-6 SU, 20-9 ATS), who boast one of the nation's best players, in the championship game of the Southern Conference, scheduled to tip off at 9 PM ET at the North Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, SC.

In the BetUS NCAAB betting odds, Davidson is listed as a 16.5-point favorite, with a total of 127.5 points.

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

* ELON has won seven of its last ten games SU

* DAV has covered eight of its last nine games

* DAV has won its last 21 games SU

* DAV has played six of its last seven games UNDER the total

* DAV has won the last ten meetings SU

* DAV is 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight meetings

* Four of the last six meetings have gone OVER the total

Davidson has bulled its way into the national consciousness, and has put itself in a position where, even if the Wildcats lose this game, they might be considered for an NCAA at-large bid. Under coach Bob McKillop, they are both disciplined (just 12.4 TO's per game) and explosive (79 ppg, 9.2 three-pointers per contest).

Stephen Curry, the son of former NBA long-range bomber Dell Curry, is one of the nation's foremost offensive forces and a surefire first-round NBA draft choice. Through his presence, he has carried his team to the #25 ranking in the Associated Press poll. They played UCLA, Duke and North Carolina very tough earlier in the season, and have not lost a conference game.

Elon did a great job on Curry the first time around, holding him to 4-of-15 shooting and only 15 points as the Phoenix lost by just two points on January 9, though it must be said that Curry both the tying and winning baskets in that game. Curry rebounded with 36 points in the next encounter, but it must be noted that his team only won by a 74-64 score.

There is no doubt that Davidson is fully capable of a blowout win here. But we don't want to ignore those previous results, nor the fact that Elon, a 43% shooting team overall, has hit at a 55%, 46% and 56% rate in its last three games as it has marched into this title game. They've shown that they can keep things competitive whether they are able to shut down Curry or not. We'll grab the points with Elon, the 16.5-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: ELON

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)