Posted on 3/24/2008 6:47:12 PM

NCAA NIT Basketball Betting Nebraska at Ole Miss

By Charles Jay

BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: Ole Miss -5.5, Total 137.5

The Nebraska Cornhuskers (20-12 SU, 12-12 ATS), who enjoyed home cookin' in its first-round NIT win over Charlotte, take to the road for their next test, as they face off against the Rebels of Mississippi (22-10 SU, 12-15 ATS) in second-round action in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), set to tip off at 9 PM ET at the Tad Smith Coliseum in Oxford.

At BetUS Sportsbook, Ole Miss is listed as a 5.5-point favorite, with a total of 137.5 points.

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

* NEB has covered its last five games

* NEB has played its last four games UNDER the total

* NEB has won six of its last nine games SU

* NEB has covered four of its last 15 road games

* NEB has lost 13 of its last 15 road games SU

* MISS has won four of its last five games SU

* MISS has covered four of its last six games

* MISS has played four of its last five games OVER the total

* MISS has won 22 of its last 25 home games SU

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

Ole Miss was a disappointment as the season progressed. The rebels got off to a 13-0 start, then folded up a bit as the SEC schedule commenced, losing nine league games and being ousted early in the conference tournament by Georgia. But there were some positives, to be sure. Dwayne Curtis, a bulky, 6'8" power forward, averaged 15 points, 9.5 rebounds and shot 65%, and he's going to pose a problem for Nebraska's 6'11" center, Aleks Maric.

Curtis is joined by Kenny Williams, who pulled down nine rebounds both in the SEC tourney game against Georgia and the first-round NIT matchup against UC-Santa Barbara, where the Rebs not only held UCSB to just 38% shooting, but had four starters in double figures, including Curtis, who added 16 rebounds to go with his 17 points.

It appears that even though Mississippi had played itself out of a guaranteed berth in the NCAA tournament, the team did manage to respond late in the year as a "bubble" team, winning impressive home outings against Arkansas and Georgia (that being before the Bulldogs went on their miraculous SEC title run). Conversely, the road was bumpy for Nebraska, which did beat Texas A&M at College Station but had only one other Big 12 win away from Lincoln.

The Huskers, who have surrendered just 38% shooting from the field, would love to be able to dictate the pace and turn this into a half-court game, but it's rather evident they can't do that so easily when traveling. And point guard Cookie Miller (11 points, seven assists in last four) has had a hard time coming back from injury. We're going to lay the points with Ole Miss, the 5.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: OLE MISS

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)