Posted on 2/28/2008 12:10:25 PM

NCAA Basketball Betting - OHIO STATE at INDIANA

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: INDIANA -8, Total 130.5

The Indiana Hoosiers (23-4 SU, 12-12 ATS), who are in a transition period to say the least, will try to do better the second time around for interim coach Dan Dakich as they play host to the Ohio State Buckeyes (17-10 SU, 11-12 ATS) in a Big Ten showdown that takes place at 7 PM ET at Assembly Hall in Bloomington.

In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, Indiana is listed as an eight-point favorite, with a total of 130.5 points.

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

* OSU has covered one of its last six games

* OSU has lost four of its last six games SU

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

* OSU has covered four of its last six road games

* OSU has lost five of its last seven road games SU

* OSU has played five of its last six road games UNDER the total

* IND has covered four of its last six games

* IND has won 19 of its last 22 games SU

* IND has played six of its last seven games OVER the total

* IND has won 12 of its last 14 home games SU

* IND has played four of its last five home games OVER the total

* IND has covered five of the last seven meetings

* OSU has covered six of the last nine meetings as the road team

* IND has won five of the last six games SU as the home team

* IND has had the shooting edge in five of the last six meetings

* OSU has had the rebounding edge in seven of the last ten meetings

Obviously this is a trying time for Indiana's basketball program, especially as it would appear to have a straight-line ticket into the NCAA tournament. With coach Kelvin Sampson recently being pushed out of his position for NCAA rules violations, many members of the team had skipped the next practice after the announcement of Sampson's "resignation" and actually deliberated whether or not to even show up for Saturday's game against Northwestern. The effects of all the confusion seemed to show, as the Hoosiers were barely able to squeak by the conference cellar-dwellers by an 85-82 score, despite shooting 56%.

Ohio State is obviously not going in a totally positive direction, but the Buckeyes, who made it to the national title game last season, are a desperate team right now; desperate to salvage a chance to make it to the NCAA tournament, which they may not do barring a very strong showing in the Big Ten tournament.

But Thad Matta will undoubtedly get the maximum effort out of his team, and even though the situation in Indiana will probably settle down gradually, there is no doubt the resentment is still there, since Sampson was a popular coach with the players. More to the point, Dan Dakich was not the choice of at least five players who met with the athletic director and asked that Ray McCallum be elevated. This can make for a very divided team.

We'll take the points with Ohio State, the eight-point underdog in the BetUS NCAAB betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: OHIO STATE

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)