Posted on 3/20/2008 5:40:27 PM

NCAA Basketball Betting Picks American vs. Tennessee

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: Tennessee -19.5, Total 140.5

The Eagles of American (21-11 SU, 0-1 ATS) make their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon when they take on the Tennessee Volunteers (29-4 SU, 15-13-1 ATS) in an East Regional opening round matchup that is set to tip off at 12:15 PM ET at the BJCC Arena in Birmingham.

At BetUS Sportsbook, Tennessee is listed as a 19.5-point favorite, with a total of 140.5 points.

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

* AMER has won 10 of its last 11 games SU

* TENN has covered two of its last six games

* TENN has won four of its last five games SU

* TENN has own 13 of its last 15 games SU

* TENN has played three of its last four games OVER the total

American was the champion of the Patriot League; this team has an eight-point win over Maryland as well as a 21-point win over Mount St. Mary's, which survived the play-in game to play North Carolina. Against Georgetown the Eagles were smoked, losing by 27 points.

What American will try to do to its opponents is slow the pace down and shoot enough three-pointers to stay in contention, or in the case where they outclass a team, extend the lead. Here there is little hope of extending a lead, but how will they do in forcing their own tempo on a Tennessee team that lives by the run-and-gun? Likely not very well, considering that good teams like Xavier, Gonzaga, Florida, Vandy, and Mississippi State were unable to do it. The Vols not only sit fifth in the country at 83 ppg, but that they have upped the ante in recent outings, averaging 89 ppg over the last four and shooting at least 52% in each one.

There are too many athletes on the Tennessee side, to be sure. And this season, in order to accommodate a more talented group of teammates, All-American Chris Lofton scaled back on his scoring to give the team more balance. Sure, this team does not make its foul shots with any degree of consistency. And that might hurt Tennessee in later rounds. But it probably won't come down to a free throw shooting contest.

We'll lay the points with Tennessee, the 19.5-point favorite in the BetUS March Madness betting odds, a team who won its first-round game last year by a robust 35-point margin.

JAY'S PLAY: TENNESSEE

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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)