Posted on 3/20/2008 6:01:43 PM

NCAA March Madness Betting - Western Kentucky vs. Drake

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: Drake -4, Total 139.5

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (27-6 SU, 17-13 ATS), champions of the Sun Belt Conference, take to the court on Friday afternoon against the Drake Bulldogs (28-4 SU, 20-7-1 ATS) of the Missouri Valley Conference in first-round West Regional action in the NCAA tournament that tips off at 12:30 PM ET at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.

At BetUS Sportsbook, Drake is listed as a four-point favorite, with a total of 139.5 points.

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

* WKU has won its last six games SU
* WKU has covered its last five games
* WKU has played six of its last nine games UNDER the total
* DRA has covered four of its last six games
* DRA has won 22 of its last 25 games SU
* DRA has played six of its last seven games OVER the total

The big challenge for Drake, which loves to shoot three-pointers (making 9.2 per game) is in dealing with a Western Kentucky defensive philosophy which demands its players get out on the perimeter to defend. Indeed, the Hilltoppers held opponents to just 33% shooting from beyond the arc.

The Bulldogs have players as versatile as Jonathan Cox, the 6'8" forward who hits 43% from three-point range and also leads this team in rebounding, and WALK-ON Adam Emmenecker, with 6.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds, the latter of which is kind of remarkable for a 6'1" guard. But we really wonder if any of the Drake defenders can contain Courtney Lee, WKU's do-everything guard who is a surefire future NBA'er and perhaps the best player in the Sun Belt (supporters of South Alabama's Demetric Bennett might take issue).

And let's not forget the emerging 6'9" forward Jeremy Evans, who scored 36 points on 88% shooting in the last two Sun Belt tournament games. WKU is a team that is much better than a #12 seed. We'll take the points, and the Hilltoppers, the four-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: WESTERN KENTUCKY

(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com gives it the old college try as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)

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