Posted on 3/6/2008 2:25:21 PM

NCAA Basketball Betting - CALIFORNIA at USC

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: USC -8.5, Total 144

The California Golden Bears (15-12 SU, 12-12 ATS) hope lightning will strike twice for them on Thursday night when they travel to Los Angeles to take on the USC Trojans (18-10 SU, 16-9-1 ATS) in Pac-10 action that will be tipping off at 10:30 PM ET at the Galen Center.

In the BetUS NCAAB betting odds, USC is listed as an 8.5-point home favorite, with a total of 144 points.

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

* CAL has covered two of its last seven games

* CAL has lost five of its last six games SU

* CAL has played 11 of its last 12 games OVER the total

* CAL has covered five of its last six road games

* CAL has won four of its last six road games SU

* CAL has played its last road games OVER the total

* USC has won and covered nine of its last 13 games

* USC has played four of its last six games OVER the total

* USC has played four of its last six home games

* USC has won 19 of its last 25 home games SU

* CAL has won and covered four of the last six meetings

* Six of the last seven meetings have gone OVER the total

* The home team has covered four of the last five meetings

* USC has had the shooting edge in each of the last three meetings

* CAL has had the rebounding edge in four of the last six meetings

OJ Mayo remembers his rude introduction into Pac-10 play, when the Cal Bears ran up and down the court on his Trojans and shot 49% en route to a 92-82 victory way back on January 3. More significantly, Cal had 11 three-pointers and was 21-of-29 from the free throw line.

Mayo had 34 points in that game, and had 37 points last time out against Arizona State. two of his four 30-point performances have come in the last four games. All he needs in some better support this time around. Daniel Hackett is back in action, and that's something of a positive, as Southern Cal's rotation no longer has to consist of the five guys on the floor.

There is a big edge on USC's part when it come to defense. The Trojans are permitting just 39% shooting, so expect that crafty head coach Tim Floyd will have a defensive scheme to negate much of what California was able to do from the perimeter last time around.

We're going to lay the points with USC, the 8.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: USC

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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)