Posted on 3/21/2008 7:23:41 PM

March Madness Betting Picks - Villanova vs Clemson

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA March Madness Gambling Odds: Clemson -6, Total 145

The Clemson Tigers (24-9 SU, 18-12-1 ATS) have high hopes for this year's NCAA tournament. They start going after it on Friday night at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, against the Villanova Wildcats (20-12 SU, 12-17 ATS) in a Midwest Regional game that begins at 9:50 PM ET.

At BetUS Sportsbook, Clemson is listed as a six-point favorite, with a total of 145 points.

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

* VILL has covered seven of its last ten games

* VILL has covered eight of its last 23 games

* VILL has won six of its last nine games SU

* VILL has played ten of its last 12 games UNDER the total

* CLEM has won five of its last seven games SU

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

Clemson, which returned four starters from a team that made it to the NIT final last season, may be poised to make a run. There is scoring balance, with four players averaging between 10.6 and 14.5 points a game. James Mays (7 rpg) has muscle, K.C. Rivers (14.5 ppg) has versatility. and Terrence Oglesby (42%) is an instant offense element off the bench.

Villanova came on a bit toward the end, beating West Virginia, Syracuse and U-Conn in the final month. But this team is not as fortunate as Clemson, personnel-wise. Scottie Reynolds (15.4 ppg) is obviously a standout, but the Wildcats are guard-oriented and don't shoot that well (just 43%). Casiem Drummond, who may have given the Wildcats some much-needed size, has not come back well from his ankle injury, going scoreless in just four minutes of action in his last two games.

This may be with a bit of trepidation, but we have to go with the team that has more size, balance and talent. That's the Clemson Tigers, the six-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA college basketball wagering odds.

JAY'S PLAY: CLEMSON

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)