Posted on 3/3/2008 6:54:45 PM

NCAA Basketball Betting - LOYOLA MARYMOUNT at SAN DIEGO

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: SAN DIEGO -20.5, Total 129.5

The San Diego Toreros (17-13 SU, 17-9 ATS), looking forward to hosting the West Coast Conference tournament, don't want to be caught looking too far ahead when they play at home Monday night against the Loyola Marymount Lions (5-24 SU, 6-19 ATS) in the conference regular season finale that will tip off at 10 PM ET at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, San Diego is listed as a 20.5-point favorite, with a total of 129.5 points.

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

* LMU has covered one of its last five games

* LMU has lost its last six games SU

* LMU has played four of its last five games UNDER the total

* LMU has covered two of its last six road games

* LMU has lost its last nine road games SU

* SD has covered five of its last six games

* SD has won nine of its last 11 games SU

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

* SD has won five of its last six home games SU

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

* LMU has covered four of the last six meetings

* SD has won 12 of the last 18 meetings SU

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

* SD has had the rebounding edge in seven of the last ten meetings

* SD has made more three-pointers in six of the last eight meetings

This could literally be called a "sandwich" for San Diego. After all, it is the last regular season game, and they will host the West Coast Conference tournament, in which their only hope of making it to the NCAA's is to beat Gonzaga, or Saint Mary's, or both.

And we have mentioned in the past that San Diego's style of play does not lend itself to putting a lot of distance between itself and the opposition. Since this is the biggest number they've laid all season, there might be reason for some concern for USD backers.

But if you took the best teams in the WCC (Gonzaga, Saint Mary's, San Diego, Santa Clara), LMU has not once come within 20 points of any of them. Included among their ignominious defeats was a 72-48 home loss to San Diego on February 2. Top scorer Orlando Johnson, who's had 20 points or more on four different occasions this year, has shot 14 for 52 in his last five games. That's 27% (and 10.5% from beyond the arc!), and that's a far cry from what it used to be in LMU's glory days.

Let's lay the points with San Diego, the 20.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAAB betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: SAN DIEGO

Go to the BetUS.com online sportsbook today to bet on NCAA basketball. We have the most current NCAA basketball odds and lines, as well as player and game props. Join BetUS.com to experience the best in online sports betting action!

(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com gives it the old college try as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)