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posted February 25, 2008 at 16:32 in NCAA B Free Picks

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: UNC-GREENSBORO -8.5, Total 143

The Cougars from the College of Charleston (12-15 SU, 14-12 ATS) desperately want to build some momentum going into the Southern Conference tournament. They'll try to make something happen on Monday night when they travel north to meet up with the UNC-Greensboro Spartans (15-11 SU, 10-12-1 ATS) in a SoCon game scheduled to tip off at 7 PM ET at the Fleming Gymnasium in Greensboro.

In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, North Carolina-Greensboro is listed as an 8.5-point favorite, with a total of 143 points.

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

* COC has lost seven of its last ten games SU

* COC has played six of its last eight games UNDER the total

* COC has covered four of its last six road games

* COC has lost four of its last five road games SU

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

* UNCG is 2-4-1 ATS in its last seven games

* UNCG has lost five of its last seven games SU

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

* UNCG has covered four of the last six meetings

* COC has won seven of the last ten meetings SU

* Four of the last five meetings have gone OVER the total

* COC has had the rebounding edge in three of the last four meetings

* COC has made more three-pointers in each of the last six meetings

It was UNC-Greensboro's misfortune that it ran into a hot Davidson team six days ago - a team that had won 27 straight SoCon regular season games. In the 75-66 defeat, Stephen Curry burned them for 30 points, spoiling a milestone night for UNCG's star.

Greensboro's Kyle Hines recently went over the 1000-rebound mark in his career, to go with 2000 points. That is rare company to be in. In fact, because he has 327 career blocks, he joined Derrick Coleman, Tim Duncan, Pervis Ellison, Alonzo Mourning and David Robinson as the only players with 2000 points, 1000 rebounds and 300 blocks. Hines was much too difficult to stop last time these two teams met, as he scored 32 points, leading a 67% barrage by the Spartans in an 88-71 win. No reason to believe he can't impose himself on the smallish Cougars once again, especially as Bobby Cremins admits his team is down emotionally after suffering a tough overtime loss to Elon last time out.

Certainly if Charleston commits 20 or more turnovers, as it had one in each of the three games previous to the Elon encounter, they're going to have a difficult time getting started. It's been a trying year for former Georgia Tech coach Cremins, who is in a rebuilding process at the school that earned itself a national reputation under legendary coach John Kresse (after whom their arena is named).

We'll look for Hines to be dominant in the paint once again, as there is little the Cougars have to really contend with him. We will lay the points with North Carolina-Greensboro, the 8.5-point favorites in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: NORTH CAROLINA-GREENSBORO

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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)