Posted on
3/25/2008 11:34:25 AM
NCAA NIT Sportsbook Basketball Betting Massachusetts at Syracuse
By Charles Jay
BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: Syracuse -7.5, Total 163.5
The Minutemen of U-Mass (23-10 SU, 15-15 ATS) will try to advance to the Final Four of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on Tuesday night when they take on the Syracuse Orange (21-13 SU, 15-17 ATS) in quarterfinal NIT action that will tip off at 7 PM at the Carrier Dome.
At BetUS Sportsbook, Syracuse is listed as a 7.5-point favorite, with a total of 163.5 points.
Here are some of the NCAA basketball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* MASS has covered six of its last nine games
* MASS has won eight of its last nine games SU
* MASS has played four of its last five games UNDER the total
* MASS has won four of its last six road games SU
* SYR has won four of its last five games SU
* SYR has played five of its last seven games OVER the total
* SYR has won four of its last five home games SU
* SYR has played its last five home games OVER the total
This is a rematch of a game from November, when U-Mass came to the Carrier Dome and scored what was considered at the time to be a substantial upset, overcoming a double-digit second-half deficit to register a wild 107-100 decision as a 7.5-point underdog. In that game the Minutemen hit 14 three-pointers and scored more points than any other visiting team at the Dome.
So there is something of a revenge angle. Donte Greene, the outstanding freshman forward for Syracuse, says, "I think we're more hungry. We understand what we need to do." Greene states that his team has something to prove in the NIT after losing in the Big East tournament to Villanova, a result that may have cost them an NCAA berth.
Great news for Syracuse was that Jonny Flynn came back to action against Maryland and scored 23 points. Scoop Jardine, who had filled in at point guard when Flynn went out of the NIT opener against Robert Morris with a back injury, has four assists with just one turnover. And Paul Harris, who came to Syracuse amidst a lot of fanfare but has disappointed somewhat, has scored 19 points in each of the NIT games.
Syracuse has exhibited a high-powered offense in the NIT thus far, with totals of 87 and 88 points. But U-Mass' ability to hit three-pointers (9.2 per game, and 10.4 over the last five contests) has to be respected. That's how Robert Morris, who hit sixteen shots from beyond the arc, stayed in the game against the Orange's 2-3 zone.
We're looking for a raucous crowd (Syracuse holds the all-time attendance record for an NIT game) and another wide-open contest, and as the styles meshed the first time to produce a lot of points, we're looking for that to repeat itself, at least to a certain extent.
We're going to move with the total here, and go OVER the 163.5 points, as it is listed in the BetUS NCAAB betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: OVER 163.5
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)