Posted on 2/27/2008 8:41:34 PM

College Basketball Betting - St. John's at Georgetown

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: GEORGETOWN -17.5, Total 120.5

The St. John's Red Storm (10-16 SU, 9-13 ATS) will try to create a bright spot in a disappointing season at it travels to the nation's capital on Wednesday night to take on the Georgetown Hoyas (22-4 SU, 10-13 ATS) in Big East action that is set to get underway at 9 PM ET at the Verizon Center.

In the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds, Georgetown is listed as a 17.5-point favorite, with a total of 120.5 points.

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

* STJ has lost four of its last five games SU

* STJ has covered one of its last five games

* STJ has played seven of its last nine games UNDER the total

* STJ has covered four of its last six road games

STJ has lost 12 of its last 15 road games SU

* STJ has played four of its last five road games UNDER the total

* GEO has covered two of its last five games

* GEO has played eight of its last ten games UNDER the total

* GEO has covered one of its last five home games

* GEO has played four of its last five home games UNDER the total

* GEO has covered four of the last five meetings

* GEO has won five of the last six meetings SU

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

* GEO has had the shooting edge in four of the last six meetings

* GEO has made more three-pointers in five of the last six meetings

St. John's is not likely to be in the Big East tournament, which does have a qualifying factor (unlike many other conference tourneys), so the best hope it has is to spoil the party for some other team. Georgetown, however, is not a good candidate for that, particularly because matchups have not worked out well for them in that regard. The Hoyas held St. John's to just 21% shooting in the first meeting between these two, in a 74-42 game in which Georgetown hardly broke a sweat.

Now, we are not that crazy about Georgetown's seven-foot center Roy Hibbert, but when the opponent can't bring any effective size to the table, he has the potential to be a dominant factor. Against St. John's, that's going to be the case. And the Red Storm has had major inconsistency in shooting, to say the least. They are on a pattern that's going to get them very few chances against Georgetown, as they've made 33% and 25.5% (TWICE!) in their last four games.

The Hoyas have allowed opponents just 36.2% field goals. Shutout anyone?

Lay the points with Georgetown, the 17.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: GEORGETOWN

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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)