posted March 26, 2008 at 15:58 EST in NBA Betting Trends

WHO: Detroit Pistons (50-20 SU, 38-31-1 ATS) at Toronto Raptors (35-35 SU, 36-34 ATS)

WHERE: Air Canada Centre in Toronto

WHEN: Wednesday, March 26 at 7 PM ET

BetUS NBA betting odds: Toronto -1, Total 185

In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:

* DET has covered four of the last five meetings

* DET has won 10 of the last 12 meetings SU

* Eight of the last 11 meetings have gone OVER the total

* DET has won 17 of the last 25 meetings SU as the road team

* Five of the last six meetings in Toronto have gone OVER the total

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

* TOR has had the rebounding edge in five of the last seven meetings

* DET has made more three-pointers in sis of the last nine meetings

Detroit has allowed 91 points a game, which is second best in the NBA. The Pistons are third in the league in field goal percentage defense, at 44.1%. On the road they're surrendering a little less than 93 points per contest, which ranks second. Also:

* DET has covered four of its last six games

* DET has covered one of its last six road games

* DET has lost four of its last six road games SU

* DET has played four of its last five road games UNDER the total

Toronto has a 2-to-1 ratio of assists to turnovers. The Raptors rank second in the NBA in free throw percentage at 81.2%. They make 7.3 three-pointers per game, but allow 7.6 per contest. Also:

* TOR has covered one of its last seven games

* TOR has lost seven of its last eight games SU

* TOR has played its last five games UNDER the total

* TOR has covered one of its last five home games

* TOR has won six of its last nine home games SU

* TOR has played nine of its last 13 home games OVER the total

Detroit has solidly taken both meetings between these teams this season, winning a 101-85 decision at the Air Canada Centre on January 4 and chalking up a 103-89 victory at the Palace eleven nights later. In both of those games, the Pistons made more than half of their field goal attempts.

Based on the respective direction each team has taken, would things be any different here? Toronto has in fact regressed, losing 11 of its last 14 games, with its only wins during that period coming against Western Conference cellar-dweller Seattle and the Miami Heat, which resembles a D-League team these days.

Richard Hamilton scored 39 points in the last meeting, but he is likely absent with a hip injury, which kept him out last time against Phoenix, and that could make a difference, since Detroit is not blessed with great backups. Toronto has bright spots, like Jose Calderon, who's had 20 assists and two turnovers in his last three games. And Chris Bosh, despite shooting only 34% from the field since his return from injury, makes this team a bit tougher to score on, especially considering they gave up 50% or more in six of seven games while he was gone.

Are we supposed to be sold on Detroit's last two road outings, where the Pistons scored a total of 156 points? Don't think so. Toronto may have an opening to do better tonight, because the Raptors would take a Hamilton-for-Aaron Afflalo trade any day of the week.

We'll take Toronto minus the point in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: TORONTO

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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)