Posted on 3/14/2008 4:32:47 PM

NCAA March Madness Picks - Nebraska vs. Kansas

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: Kansas -14.5, Total 128

The Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-11 SU, 10-12 ATS) will go after their 20th win of the year on Friday night when they take on the Kansas Jayhawks (28-3 SU, 15-12-2 ATS) in the Big 12 tournament at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Game time is 7 PM ET.

In the BetUS Sportsbook, Kansas is listed as a 14.5-point favorite, with a total of 128 points.

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

* NEB has won five of its last seven games SU

* KAN has covered three of its last 11 games

* KAN has won 22 of its last 25 games SU

* KAN has played 12 of its last 18 games OVER the total

* KAN has won and covered the last eight meetings

* The last five meetings have gone OVER the total

* KAN has had the shooting edge in each of the last ten meetings

* KAN has had the rebounding edge in each of the last eight meetings

* KAN has made more three-pointers in six of the last seven meetings

Nebraska is to be admired for putting itself in a position where it can win 20 games. But they may have to wait until the NIT to make that aspiration a reality. The Huskers have a capable center in Aleks Maric and a style that allows it to "shorten" games by playing a deliberate offense and a smothering defense at times which has held opponents to just 38.3% shooting.

But Kansas has demonstrated that they present just too difficult a matchup. The Jayhawks have scored blowout wins by 21 and 35 points this season, and 20 and 53 points last year. In fact, the closest Nebraska has been in the last seven meetings was a 79-65 loss on 2006.

Kudos to the huskers for shooting better of late. But let's not forget that Kansas, in addition to scoring 82 ppg, plays a little defense as well, and in fact is ahead of the Cornhuskers in the NCAA rankings (at 38%). To compound matters for Nebraska, point guard Cookie Miller has made just one field goal in two games since coming back from injury.

We'll lay the points with Kansas, the 14.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAAB betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: KANSAS

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)