Posted on 2/15/2008 7:16:18 PM

NCAA Basketball Betting - Kentucky at LSU

By Charles Jay

BetUS college basketball betting fans who have followed the SEC this season may be surprised at the recent uptick of the LSU Tigers (9-14 SU, 6-12 ATS), who will play host to the Kentucky Wildcats (12-10 SU, 10-8-1 ATS) in a conference matchup that tips off at 1 PM ET on Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge.

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

* KY has won and covered five of its last six games

* KY has played four of its last six games UNDER the total

* KY has covered three of its last ten road games

* KY has lost 11 of its last 13 road games SU

* LSU has covered four of its last five games

* LSU has lost 10 of its last 12 games SU

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

* LSU has covered one of its last six home games

* LSU has lost its last five home games SU

* KY has won and covered four of the last six meetings as the visitor

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

* KY has had the shooting edge in each of the last seven meetings

* LSU has had the rebounding edge in each of the last four meetings

Kentucky will unquestionably be looking for a little redemption after suffering the embarrassment of a 93-52 loss to Vanderbilt on Tuesday, in which the Wildcats shot less than 33% from the field. When you look at the way they played their previous five games, the Vandy revenge blowout certainly looks like an anomaly.

But you can't disregard what might be a subtle shift in the fortunes of LSU. The Tigers were floundering under John Brady, who was relived of his duties in his 11th year at the helm. Then Butch Pierre took over and LSU proceeded to take Tennessee, #1 in the RPI ratings, completely out of its game in a narrow 47-45 defeat, then scored a win at two-time defending national champion Florida three days ago. A lot of people in Baton Rouge have thought LSU had too much talent to be wallowing in mediocrity, and Pierre, who has the job on an interim basis, is trying like hell to get consideration for the permanent position.

We can't disparage anything Kentucky has done in coming back from a tough start under first-year coach Billy Gillespie. But we're willing to stick with LSU for now, because they've shown some spirited play under the new regime. In this near pick 'em affair, we'll go with the Tigers in the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PREDICTION: LSU BY 5

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 www.eBookies.com gives it the old college try as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)