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posted March 28, 2008 at 17:19 in NBA Free Picks

WHO: Los Angeles Clippers (21-50 SU, 31-39 ATS) at Utah Jazz (47-25 SU, 38-34 ATS)

WHERE: Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City

WHEN: Friday, March 28 at 9 PM ET

BetUS NBA betting odds: Utah -15.5, Total 206

In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:

* UTAH has won five of the last seven meetings SU

* UTAH has covered five of the last seven meetings

* Seven of the last ten meetings have gone OVER the total

* UTAH has covered the last four meetings as the home team

* UTAH has had the shooting edge in five of the last seven meetings

* UTAH has had the rebounding edge in nine of the last ten meetings

Los Angeles shoots just 43.7% from the field, which ranks 28th in the league. The Clippers make only 4.2 shots from beyond the arc on an average basis, and pulls down less than ten offensive rebounds a contest. Also:

* LA has lost its last nine games SU

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

* LA has lost its last seven road games SU

* LA has covered four of its last five road games

* LA has played five of its last six road games OVER the total

Utah is the second most accurate shooting team in the NBA, hitting 49.6% of its shots. The Jazz is stingy on the boards, allowing opponents just 36.8 rebounds a game in the Energy Solutions Arena. Also:

* UTAH has won 10 of its last 13 games SU

* UTAH has covered three of its last eight games

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

* UTAH has won 20 of its last 21 home games SU

* UTAH has covered six of its last eight home games

Maybe a little revenge motive in the air for Utah? The Jazz went to the Staples Center a little over a month ago and found itself on the short end of a 114-104 defeat. In that one, Utah missed all 13 shots from beyond the arc. Those nights are a little more rare now that Kyle Korver is in the fold. Korver, while not pouring threes into the bucket, nonetheless gives Utah a threat way out on the perimeter, which it didn't necessarily possess before.

The Clippers have managed to cover three games in a row by staying within hefty imposts. But they haven't tasted victory in a while, and Utah is known as a pretty nasty team at home, covering at a 66% rate. Payback might not be as much of a motivator as being able to stay on top of things in the ultra-competitive Western Conference playoff race, where fourth place means a home playoff series, which obviously takes on more meaning in Salt Lake City.

The scheduling dynamic is fine for Utah, which has had a couple of days off, and the Clippers, with Elton Brand, Chris Kaman and Shawn Livingston all out with injuries and Sam Cassell off to Boston, have a serious personnel shortage.

We'll lay the points with Utah, the 15.5-point favorite in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: UTAH

You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!

(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)