Posted on 3/24/2008 6:10:56 PM

NCAA Invitational Basketball Betting - Ohio at Bradley

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAAB betting odds: Bradley -6, Total 141

The Ohio Bobcats (20-12 SU, 15-14 ATS), who managed to weather a long-range assault from Brown in its opening-round game in the College Basketball Invitational, will travel to Peoria, IL on Monday night to take on the Bradley Braves (18-15 SU, 16-14-1 ATS) in second-round CBI action, which is set to tip off at 8 PM ET at the Carver Arena.

At BetUS Sportsbook, Bradley is listed as a six-point favorite, with a total of 141 points.

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

* OHIO has covered one of its last five games

* OHIO has played its last five games OVER the total

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

* OHIO has covered one of its last five road games

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

* BRAD has covered 10 of its last 14 games

* BRAD has won 10 of its last 15 games SU

* BRAD has played nine of its last 10 games OVER the total

* BRAD has covered five of its last seven home games

* BRAD has won seven of its last eight home games SU

* BRAD has played four of its last five home games OVER the total

Ohio was burned by Brown's starting guards to the tune of 54 points and FOURTEEN three-pointers (16 overall) in barely surviving its opening-round CBI game, 80-74. But there is no ignoring this team's ability to get the ball down low for the high-percentage shot, if the opponent cooperates.

Bradley has had problems this year in defending against inside scorers, and Ohio has trouble ready for the Braves in the form of Jerome Tillman and Leon Williams, who combined for 41 points, 23 rebounds and 80% shooting against Brown.

Local kid Daniel Ruffin, a 5'10" guard, has often been the difference-maker for Bradley this season, but there is a pending assault charge hanging over his head and has gone into the tank, it seems, in his last two games, going a horrendous 4-for-22 from the field (18%), which includes 2-for-13 from beyond the arc. Part of the reason involves back spasms, but Ruffin is reportedly in better shape for this one.

Right now Jeremy Crouch would appear to be the guy Ohio has to concentrate on stopping. Crouch has averaged 21.7 ppg over his last seven, stepping up his offensive production toward the end of the year.

We respect the ability of Ohio to get easy baskets, but the Bobcats average 15 points less on the road than they do in friendly environs, and Ohio has demonstrated difficulty getting out on the perimeter to defend, because Bradley has averaged nine three-pointers a game. And the Braves are healthier now in the backcourt since the return of Andrew Warren.

We'll lay the points with Bradley, the six-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: BRADLEY

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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)