Posted on 3/14/2008 4:53:12 PM

NCAA March Madness Spreads - West Virginia vs. Georgetown

By Eric Williams

BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: Georgetown -4.5, Total 121

The West Virginia Mountaineers (24-9 SU, 14-12-1 ATS) will look to continue their great run in the Big East tournament when they face off with the Georgetown Hoyas (26-4 SU, 12-15 ATS) in the tournament semifinals, scheduled to get underway at 7 PM ET Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

In the BetUS Sportsbook, Georgetown is listed as a 4.5-point favorite, with a total of 121 points.

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

* WV has won six of its last seven games SU

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

* GEO has won its last six games SU

* GEO has covered four of its last six games

* GEO has played 10 of its last 14 games UNDER the total

* GEO has won 11 of the last 14 meetings SU

* WV has covered five of the last eight meetings

* GEO has had the shooting edge in seven of the last nine meetings

* GEO has had the rebounding edge in seven of the last eight meetings

* WV has made more three-pointers in six of the last eight meetings

It's all about Alexander the Great.

Joe Alexander is the hottest player in the country right now. West Virginia's 6'8" forward exploded once again last night, this time for 34 points against U-Conn, which means he is now averaging a shade under 30 points a game over his last five.

If Alexander was able to do that against shot-blocking sensation Hasheem Thabeet and the Huskies, we doubt Hoya center Roy Hibbert is going to offer substantially more resistance. Hibbert fouled out of yesterday's game and went scoreless, which kind of fuels our concerns that he is not as effective a player as many think. But the Hoyas were able to make up for that and then some by hitting 17 three-pointers at a dizzying 61% rate.

Of course, that's out of character for Georgetown. They'll find themselves struggling to keep up with West Virginia in terms of quickness, and Alexander has given all indications that he is going to tax John Thompson III's front line. Although we wouldn't count on another goose egg from Hibbert, we can't help but expect more inside scoring prowess from Alexander, who went to the line 14 times last night.

We'll grab points with West Virginia, the 4.5-point underdog on the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: WEST VIRGINIA

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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)