Posted on 3/12/2008 2:02:23 PM

NCAA Basketball Betting - DUQUESNE vs. LaSALLE

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAAB betting odds: DUQUESNE -7, Total 162

The Dukes of Duquesne (17-12 SU, 10-12-1 ATS) have high hopes coming into the Atlantic 10 tournament. They can act on those hopes starting on Wednesday when they take on the LaSalle Explorers (14-16 SU, 13-7-1 ATS) in the first round of tournament action, tipping off at 6:30 PM ET at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, Duquesne is listed as a seven-point favorite, with a total of 162 points.

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

* DUQ is 1-4-1 ATS in its last six games

* DUQ has lost five of its last six games SU

* DUQ has played seven of its last 12 games OVER the total

* LAS has won five of its last eight games SU

* LAS has covered seven of its last 11 games

* LAS has played nine of its last 14 games OVER the total

* LAS has covered four of the last six meetings

* LAS has won 10 of the last 14 meetings SU

* LAS has had the shooting edge in six of the last seven meetings

* LAS has had the rebounding edge in four of the last five meetings

* LAS has made more three-pointers in seven of the last ten meetings

Duquesne is one of those teams that has the potential to be extremely dangerous, no matter who the opponent, because of its ability to score points. Though not necessarily eye-popping in terms of shooting stats (46% FG's, 7.2 three-pointers a game), the Dukes play at an accelerated pace that can also blow lesser teams out of the arena. On February 9 they rang up 101 points on 56% shooting in a 17-point victory in Philadelphia, then turned around 15 days later and threw bricks in a 75-72 home loss.

The Dukes are coming off two standout shooting performances, as they hit 52% against Temple in a narrow five-point road loss and 56% in a blowout win against Saint Louis. Since LaSalle is allowing a lot of points lately (91, 100, 85 in consecutive games), this may be a little too much for them to handle. The Explorers are sieve-like on defense as it is, giving up 46% shooting to opponents.

And speaking of defense, even though neither of these teams is particularly adept at stopping foes, Duquesne has the operative advantage with the presence of shot-blocking center Shawn James, who swats away four shots a game and will be a factor as long as he can stand the pain from his sore shoulder (count on about 20 minutes from him).

We'll look for a more impressive showing by Duquesne in this one, and lay the points with the Dukes, the seven-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: DUQUESNE

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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)