Posted on
3/12/2008 10:47:20 PM
NCAA March Madness Betting - FLORIDA STATE vs. WAKE FOREST
By Charles Jay
BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: FLORIDA STATE -1, Total 138.5
The Florida State Seminoles (18-13 SU, 10-17-1 ATS) showed some real progress toward the end of the season, and they'll take a little momentum into their first-round game in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament as they take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (17-12 SU, 14-9-1 ATS) in a game that begins at Noon ET Thursday at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.
In the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds, Florida State is listed as a one-point favorite, with a total of 138.5 points.
Here are some of the NCAA basketball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* FSU has covered four of its last 16 games
* FSU has won four of its last five games SU
* WAKE has lost four of its last five games SU
* WAKE has covered one of its last five games
* WAKE has played six of its last seven games OVER the total
* WAKE has covered five of the last six meetings
* WAKE has won 12 of the last 16 meetings SU
* Four of the last six meetings have gone UNDER the total
* WAKE has had the shooting edge in three of the last four meetings
* WAKE has had the rebounding edge in seven of the last ten meetings
* WAKE has made more three-pointers in four of the last six meetings
Wake Forest came back and won its season finale against North Carolina State, but these teams have been going in different directions as we head into the tournament. Look at the Deacons and the way they shot the ball previous to that, against Maryland (38%), Georgia Tech (39%) and Virginia Tech (34%). FSU scored wins over Clemson and Miami to improve their own position relative to the NIT, or even the NCAA's, depending on whether they can pull off a big surprise in this field.
You can't ignore Wake's dominance in two meetings this season against the 'Noles, winning by eight and 19 points, and holding FSU down to 37% shooting and extending its covering streak to four games. Leonard Hamilton was worrying about his job (at least that's what we've read), but we thing perhaps he's done enough to hold onto it for now.
James Johnson, the outstanding Deacon freshman, wants to become a factor again. Before Wake lost four of five, it had scored a win over Duke, and Johnson lit up the Devils for 24 points. He also had 26 against FSU the first time around, though only seven in the rematch. It's time for him to step up, and for the Demon Deacons to cover as the one-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: WAKE FOREST
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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)