Posted on 3/19/2008 5:25:54 PM

NCAA March Madness Basketball Betting Odds - Georgia vs. Xavier

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: Xavier -8.5, Total 129.5

The Georgia Bulldogs (17-16 SU, 15-13-1 ATS) will try to continue some of their post-season magic when they take on the Xavier Musketeers (27-6 SU, 13-15-1 ATS) in the first-round of the West Regional of the NCAA tournament, scheduled for Thursday at 12:20 PM ET at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.

At BetUS Sportsbook, Xavier 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:

* GA has won and covered five of its last six games

* GA has played five of its last six games UNDER the total

* XAV has covered one of its last five games

* XAV has won 13 of its last 15 games SU

* XAV has played five of its last seven games UNDER the total

Four SEC wins in the regular season. Four SEC wins in the post-season conference tournament. It is an incredible story that culminated in a Georgia victory in Atlanta last weekend. At what point will the clock strike twelve on this Cinderella tale?

Xavier, which is 3-7 ATS as a favorite when not in its own building, declared itself on a mission in the post-season when none of its players was selected for the Atlantic 10 first team all-conference. But the Musketeers came up short in the conference tourney, losing to nemesis St. Joe's. Xavier has some lively elements that make it a possibility to make it deep into the competition - the smooth floor leader in Drew Lavender, the defensive stopper in Stanley Burrell, solid forward play from Josh Duncan & Co., and an ensemble of players who provide enough balance that it was indeed hard to pick out one or two that stood out - hence the voting problem for the all-conference team.

Lavender rested his ankle in the season finale and then scored 20 points in two games in the A-10 tourney. But we wonder whether Lavender will have all that much success keeping up with the likes of guards Sundiata Gaines, who shot 50% in the SEC tourney. And Dave Bliss (6'10", 255 pounds) is a load for any Musketeer defender to deal with.

We see no reason why Georgia, which is brimming with confidence at this point, shouldn't be able to able to wage war again for 40 minutes after having three days off, which must seem like heaven for the Bulldogs after three wins in 27 hours (give or take an hour) last weekend. Take the points with Georgia, the 8.5-point underdog in the BetUS March Madness betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: GEORGIA

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)