Posted on 1/28/2008 3:50:02 PM

NCAA Basketball Betting - St. Mary’s at San Diego

By Charles Jay

The St. Mary's Gaels (17-2 SU, 10-6 ATS), currently ranked #24 in the country, will try to extend their winning streak to six games on Monday night when they visit the Jenny Craig Pavilion (that's right, the Jenny Craig Pavilion) to play the San Diego Toreros (10-11 SU, 10-7 ATS) in West Coast Conference action tipping off at 10 PM ET.

In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, St. Mary's is listed as a eight--point road favorite, with the total posted at 132.5 points.

Here are some of the NCAAB betting trends relative to this matchup:

* SM has won its last five games SU

* SM has covered four of its last five games

* SM has played five of its last seven games UNDER the total

* SD has won three of its last four games SU

* SD has covered eight of its last 12 games

* SD is 2-5 ATS at home this season

* SD has played three of its last four games UNDER the total

* SM has covered three of the last five meetings

* SM has won six of the last eight meetings SU

* SM has had the shooting edge in six of the last eight meetings

Eighty years ago, Notre Dame alumnus Slip Madigan built the St. Mary's Gaels into a national football power. Now, Randy Bennett is trying to do the same on the basketball court, and thus far he is succeeding, with the Gaels ranked #24 in the latest coaches' poll. They are also sitting at #17 in the RPI rankings, the most powerful reference in terms of seeding the NCAA tournament field.

St. Mary's has shot 53% or better in three of its last five games. The Gaels like to keep games in the 70's at least, so San Diego faces a bit of a challenge to slow things down and get St. Mary's in a deliberate, half-court game. San Diego has had mixed results thus far, scoring big wins at home against Hawaii and AT Kentucky, but the Toreros have also faltered against teams like Stephen F. Austin and Cal-Bakersfield.

St. Mary's has lost only to Southern Illinois and Texas, after vaulting into national prominence at the start of the season with wins over Drake (currently 9th in the RPI), Oregon and Seton Hall. They have a defensive presence (allowing 40% shooting) and the rebounding edge over the quick but smaller Toreros. The Gaels have the three-point shooting ability (8.2 per game) to extend the margin here. And San Diego has been a little too slippery with the ball (15.9 TO's per game) to get a hearty recommendation from us here.

In a game that will likely be all about tempo, we like St. Mary's, which has some lockdown capabilities, to force their own will. We lay the points with the Gaels, the eight-point favorite in the BetUS NCAAB betting odds.

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: ST. MARY'S -8, Total 132.5

JAY'S PLAY: ST. MARY'S

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(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com gives it the old college try as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)