Posted on 3/28/2008 6:57:26 PM

NCAA March Madness Basketball Betting - Xavier vs. UCLA

By Charles Jay

NCAA Tournament - West Regional final @ Phoenix

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: UCLA -6, Total 130

The Xavier Musketeers (30-6 SU, 16-15-1 ATS) will go after a spot in the Final Four when they take on the UCLA Bruins (34-3 SU, 21-14-1 ATS) in the finals of the NCAA Tournament's West Regional on Saturday night at 6:40 PM ET at the US Airways Arena in Phoenix.

At BetUS Sportsbook, UCLA is listed as a six-point favorite, with a total of 130 points.

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

* XAV has covered four of its last six games

* XAV has won 16 of its last 18 games SU

* XAV has played five of its last six games OVER the total

* UCLA has won its last 13 games SU

* UCLA has covered one of its last five games

* UCLA has played five of its last eight games OVER the total

If you have watched the NCAA tournament thus far, you are familiar with the Xavier story, and as you know by now, it is hardly one of a Cinderella team. The Musketeers, in fact, have been rated among the top dozen or so teams for most of the year, so it should be no big surprise to anyone that they have made it to the Elite Eight.

This team carved out a mission for itself after the all-conference team in the Atlantic 10 was announced. Miffed because no one on its squad made it as a first team selection, the Xavier squad vowed to get national recognition for all of them. Now, after St. Joe's and Temple and Dayton and Rhode Island have departed the scene in their respective tournaments, here is Xavier, still standing and actually giving the A-10 a chance to win both the NCAA and NIT (U-Mass remains in the NIT semis).

This team has been battle-hardened, with difficult wins over Georgia, Purdue and West Virginia already under its belt. The return to form of sparkplug point guard Drew Lavender has been a real key, as he has registered 18 assists against only six turnovers thus far in the tourney. And Xavier's extraordinary balance, with six players averaging between 9.8 and 12.4 points, has the effect of preventing a team like UCLA from playing "lockdown." You can't zero in on any particular Xavier player, because everyone is a "go-to" guy.

Certainly if there is a big difference in this matchup, it's that UCLA has the considerable services of Kevin Love, the big freshman center, who had 29 points and four blocked shots against Western Kentucky. Xavier might have a hard time matching up with him, but by the same token, Love may find himself being drawn outside by Xavier's versatile big man, Josh Duncan.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute had seven points and seven rebounds in the last round, but also had four turnovers to go with the six he had against Texas A&M. The Bruins had 19 turnovers in total on Thursday night.

UCLA has had a tendency to turn things on and off all year long, preventing themselves from putting distance between themselves and opponents. They make things a little tougher than they should be. Xavier, which does a good job at controlling the ball, converts its free throws (75% on the season) and has shown its mental toughness again and again (illustrated most recently in the come-from-behind OT win over West Virginia) should have every chance to keep themselves within earshot. UCLA could well advance, but it won't be easy.

We'll take the points with Xavier, the six-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: XAVIER

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)