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posted March 12, 2008 at 20:24 in NCAA B Free Picks

BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: ARIZONA -19, Total 131

The Arizona Wildcats (18-13 SU, 16-12-1 ATS) almost certainly have to get to the finals of the Pac 10 tournament in order to get any consideration as an at-large team by the NCAA Selection Committee. They begin that quest on Wednesday night, when they take on the bottom-feeding Oregon State Beavers (6-24 SU, 10-19 ATS) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Tipoff time is 11:30 PM ET.

In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, Arizona is listed as a 19-point favorite, with a total of 131 points.

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

* OSU has lost its last 20 games SU

* OSU has lost its last seven games ATS

* OSU has played eight of its last nine games OVER the total

* ARIZ has lost five of its last seven games SU

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

* OSU has covered four of the last six meetings

* ARIZ has won the last five meetings SU

* ARIZ has had the shooting edge in four of the last five meetings

* ARIZ has had the rebounding edge in eight of the last ten meetings

* OSU has made more three-pointers in three of the last four meetings

Normally, we might say that Oregon State is trying to salvage its season with a win. But the truth is, the Beavers limped all season long - not just toward the finish line. They were the first team in 32 seasons to go winless in this conference. They went through a coaching change, not to mention the dismissal of C.J. Giles, who was supposed to become their best player.

Arizona is indeed the team that has something it can salvage. The Wildcats, because the strength of their schedule (Kansas, Texas A&M, UNLV, Memphis were on the non-conference slate), still have a chance to get an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament even with 13 or 14 losses, but they will have to win four games in four days to capture the Pac 10 crown. This might result in coach Kevin O'Neill (who gives way to Lute Olson at season's end) emptying his bench to give the starters some rest.

But even considering that, it is worthwhile to look at the contrast between these teams in the last five games, where Arizona has shot 48% from the field, while Oregon State has shot less than 35%. And in the March 6 game between these two, Arizona had an insane 50%-32% shooting advantage. Oregon State, in fact, has not reached 40% in any of its last eight games.

Arizona has point guard Nic Wise back, which makes this a more complete lineup. With the "do-or-die" atmosphere, let's look for a big effort.

We lay the points with Arizona, the 19-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: ARIZONA

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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)