Posted on
3/19/2008 3:37:37 PM
NCAA Invitational Basketball Betting Utah State at Illinois State
By Charles Jay
BetUS NCAAB betting odds: Illinois State -8.5, Total 129.5
The Utah State (24-10 SU, 14-14-1 ATS) will try to continue their hot shooting on Wednesday night when they visit Normal, IL to take on the Illinois State Redbirds (24-9 SU, 15-16 ATS) in first-round NIT action that is set to tip off at 10 PM ET at the Redbird Arena.
At BetUS Sportsbook, Illinois State is listed as an 8.5-point favorite, with a total of 129.5 points.
Here are some of the NCAA basketball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* UST has won and covered six of its last seven games
* UST has played five of its last six games OVER the total
* UST has covered four of its last six road games
* ISU has covered four of its last five games
* ISU has won six of its last seven games SU
* ISU has played six of its last seven games UNDER the total
* ISU has covered four of its last five home games
* ISU has won its last six home games SU
* ISU has played its last five home games UNDER the total
Statistically, Utah State was the leading shooting team in the country, hitting 51.5% of its shots. and sharp-shooting guard Jaycee Carroll, who averaged over 20 points a game, was 51% from beyond the arc. Illinois State certainly presents more of a defensive challenge than the Aggies are used to seeing. The Redbirds went on a run where they held teams to consecutive totals of 47, 46, 54, 49, 58, and 42 points, although they were slapped around by Drake in the Missouri Valley championship game and pretty much played their way out of NCAA at-large contention.
Nonetheless, and especially playing at home, Illinois State ought to not only get its smothering act going, they will also keep Utah State off-balance by controlling the pace. Yes, we do worry about Carroll's three-point shooting ability, and the fact that ISU has had plenty of problems making its free throws (just 64%), but we also doubt whether Utah State can handle much of the bump-and-grind they're about to experience.
We'll lay the points with Illinois State, the 8.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: ILLINOIS STATE
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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)