Posted on 4/1/2008 2:09:44 PM

NCAA NIT Basketball Betting - Mississippi vs. Ohio State

By Charles jay

NIT Semi-final @ New York

BetUS NCAAB betting odds: Ohio State -2, Total 141

The Ole Miss Rebels (24-10 SU, 14-15 ATS) seem to be getting hot at just the right time, and on Tuesday night they will try to make it to the NIT finals by getting past the Ohio State Buckeyes (22-13 SU, 16-14-1 ATS) in the semi-finals of the tournament, which will get underway at approximately 9 PM ET at Madison Square Garden.

At BetUS Sportsbook, Ohio State is listed as a two-point favorite, with a total of 141 points.

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

* MISS has won six of its last seven games SU

* MISS has covered five of its last six games

* MISS has played six of its last seven games OVER the total

* OSU has won five of its last six games SU

* OSU has covered four of its last five games

* OSU has played four of its last six games OVER the total

You can sense the irony, can't you? If Ohio State and Florida win their respective semi-final games, that means the Buckeyes and Gators will not only have played for the national football title, then the national basketball title, but then the title of another national tournament, the NIT. For Ohio State to get there, however, they'll have to first get by a pesky Ole Miss squad that seems to have gotten a second wind of sorts after playing themselves completely out of NCAA contention during the SEC schedule. the Rebs started out like a house afire, with 13 consecutive wins, beating the likes of South Alabama, New Mexico, Winthrop and Clemson along the way. But after a disappointing two-point loss to Tennessee, things went downhill; that was the first of nine regular season conference defeats for Ole Miss.

But this program made some noise again toward the end, scoring wins over Alabama and Arkansas, then beating Georgia, which was right before the Bulldogs went on their storied SEC run, which included a two-point overtime win over Ole Miss (97-95). With three straight wins by nine or more points, all over hot teams, in the NIT, this team is playing as well as many of those who made the NCAA's.

It can be argued, however, that Ohio State may be taking more of a head of steam into this game. The Buckeyes, who had struggled with having to replace almost all of its key players from last year's Greg Oden-led team, responded to the desperation of the moment by scoring wins over Purdue and Michigan State at the tail end of the Big Ten sked, and have rolled through all opposition in the NIT, blasting out Dayton most recently. Always tough on "D" (38.5% FG's allowed), the Buckeyes have been red-hot from the floor, hitting 50% or better in every game of the tournament. Jamar Butler has had 20 points or more in four of the last six games, and freshman center Kosta Koufos has been dead-eye, shooting just a shade below 70% since the beginning of the Big Ten tourney.

With Koufos and Othello Hunter, Ohio State has a shot-blocking element that Ole Miss doesn't possess, and that might be enough to curtail what Dwayne Curtis and Kenny Williams can do in the lane. And despite Ole Miss' road win over Virginia Tech to get here, we still trust Ohio State a bit more at this neutral site.

We'll lay a bucket with Ohio State, the two-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: OHIO STATE

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)