Posted on
2/28/2008 3:48:01 PM
NCAA Basketball Betting - DETROIT at VALPARAISO
By Charles Jay
BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: VALPARAISO -11.5, Total 129.5
The Crusaders of Valparaiso (17-12 SU, 12-12-1 ATS), in the midst of a late-season revival that may end up with some surprises in its maiden voyage in the Horizon League, take another step in that direction on Thursday night when they play host to the Detroit Titans (7-20 SU, 11-11-2 ATS) in conference action that tips off at 8:05 PM ET at the Athletic-Recreation Center on the Valpo campus.
In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, Valparaiso is listed as a 11.5-point favorite, with a total of 129.5 points.
Here are some of the NCAA basketball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* DET has covered four of its last five games
* DET has lost 18 of its last 21 games SU
* DET has played six of its last seven games UNDER the total
* DET has lost its last nine road games SU
* DET has played six of its last eight road games UNDER the total
* VALPO has won and covered three of its last four games SU
* VALPO has won 12 of its last 16 home games SU
* VALPO has played five of its last eight games UNDER the total
Valpo is trying to build on a string of three impressive wins in four games, though none of these has been against a conference world-beater. The Crusaders have demonstrated that they can play in a more up-tempo game (99-94 over Miami-Ohio in the bracket-buster) as well as something much slower (66-57 over Wisconsin-Milwaukee). So we're wondering if they will really fight the pace Detroit tries to implement.
Interestingly enough, Detroit, in the process of losing all six of its road games in the conference, has kept things relatively close in the last six. The Titans lost by a point to conference contender Wright State, four to another contender, Cleveland State, seven to Youngstown State, five to Illinois-Chicago, two to Wisconsin-Milwaukee. However, Detroit is now without a backcourt, with Jon Goode (a 45% shooter from Tripleville) and Woody Payne both out for the year.
That leaves this team without much hope of firepower. And being short-handed, one might expect coach Perry Watson to slow things down a little. With his team scoring just 56.5 ppg on the road, his best chance is to shorten the game. And considering that the Titans are trending very strongly in that direction (six of last seven, six of last eight on road), we're going to move with the "under" in this one. That's UNDER 129.5 points, as is posted in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: UNDER 129.5
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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)