Posted on 2/12/2008 9:40:08 PM

NCAA Basketball Betting – Saint Mary’s at Santa Clara

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA College Basketball Betting Odds: SAINT MARY'S -6, Total 128.5, Money Line: Saint Mary's -260, Santa Clara +220

The nationally-ranked Saint Mary's Gaels (20-3 SU, 13-7 ATS) have a potentially dangerous West Coast Conference encounter on Monday night when they travel to Santa Clara to face the Broncos (12-10 SU, 10-10 ATS) at Leavey Center in a game that is slated to start at 11 PM ET.

In the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds, Saint Mary's is listed as a six-point road favorite, with a total of 128.5 points. On the BetUS money line, Saint Mary's is -260, with Santa Clara at +220.

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

* SM has covered five of its last six games
* SM has won eight of its last nine games SU
* SM has played four of its last five games UNDER the total
* SM has played five of its last seven road games UNDER the total
* SC has covered five of its last six games
* SC has won four of its last six games SU
* SC has played seven of its last nine games UNDER the total
* SC has won 18 of its last 25 games SU at home
* SC has played four of its last six home games UNDER the total
* SC is 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings
* SC has won and covered eight of the last 12 meetings as the home team
* SC has had the shooting edge in seven of the last ten meetings
* SM has made more three-pointers in five of the last seven meetings

Saint Mary's has suffered three losses this season - one of those was to slow, methodical San Diego, and the other two against Texas and Southern Illinois. Right now the Gaels, who won a thrilling 89-85 overtime game against Gonzaga a week ago, are rated #25 by the AP, #23 in the USA Today rankings, and #22 in the RPI, which is an important determinant of seeds in the NCAA tourney.

I mention all that because Saint Mary's has to fight complacency. yes, having four full days off after this will help. But the ease with which they beat Santa Clara the first time around should be a cause of concern - for them, that is. In that game, Santa Clara hit just 31% from the field in the 76-45 blowout. But in this very heated rivalry, there might not be a more important game this season for the Broncos than avenging that defeat, or at least playing to the level of non-embarrassment.

Remember a few things - that Santa Clara's John Bryant (17.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg) is one of the very best big men in the WCC, and played well in that first encounter, with 18 points and 11 rebounds. And that Brody Angley, who was a dreadful 3-for-16 from the field in the initial rout, recently lit up Gonzaga for 28 points. Finally, Santa Clara is perfectly capable of playing the slow-down, deliberate pace that got Saint Mary's into trouble against the three teams it has lost to - SIU, Texas and San Diego.

We're going to take the points with Santa Clara, th six-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: SANTA CLARA

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)