posted April 1, 2008 at 16:46 EST in NBA Free Picks

WHO: New York Knicks (20-53 SU, 32-40-1 ATS) at Milwaukee Bucks (24-48 SU, 31-40-1 ATS)

WHERE: Bradley Center in Milwaukee

WHEN: Tuesday, April 1 at 8 PM ET

BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: Milwaukee -7.5, Total 207

In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA betting trends:

* NY has covered four of the last six meetings

* NY has own five of the last six meetings SU

* Four of the last six meetings have gone OVER the total

* NY has covered four of the last five meetings as the road team

* Six of the last seven meetings in Milwaukee have gone OVER the total

New York is 28th in the league in shooting, hitting just 43.7% of its attempts. The Knicks are averaging just 18.4 assists per game. Also:

* NY has covered two of its last 11 games

* NY has lost seven of its last eight games SU

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

* NY has covered two of its last seven road games

* NY has lost nine of its last ten road games SU

Milwaukee is 29th in the NBA in field goal percentage defense, surrendering 47.5% shooting to opponents. The Bucks have made just 5.5 three-pointers per game. Also:

* MIL has lost 10 of its last 11 games SU

* MIL has covered three of its last 11 games

* MIL has played 16 of its last 20 games OVER the total

* MIL has covered two of its last seven home games

* MIL has lost six of its last seven home games SU

* MIL has played 10 of its last 13 home games OVER the total

The Knicks have beaten only D-League entry Miami in their last eight games, and they're not covering numbers either, even as an underdog (2-9 ATS last 11 games). The situation is perhaps more bizarre than it's been all year, as Donnie Walsh has been offered the job as team president (he hasn't accepted yet), which means Isiah Thomas is likely out the door, though he isn't conceding anything yet. Eddy Curry is gone and Zach Randolph has missed the last couple of games with the flu, which has left the team playing people like Jason Jeffries at center. Not that Randolph added much to team chemistry, but he did produce points and rebounds.

Andrew Bogut is listed as probable for this game, and he's averaged 14 rebounds over his last five contests. Milwaukee has less walking wounded than the Knicks, as Michael Redd and Mo Williams still comprise the backcourt, and Charlie Villanueva, who went through a stretch early in march where he averaged over 24 points over a five-game period, tallied 26 with nine rebounds against Chicago three nights ago.

Still, it's difficult to lay points with a Bucks squad that is only 5-11 ATS as a home favorite. Through the Knicks' personnel situation, recent pointspread performances, and the fact that many players (and perhaps the coach) have more or less hung it up, prevent us from siding with New York; we look to the total and find an opening. Both of these squads are trending toward the "over" (Milwaukee 16 of its last 20 and Knicks five of its last six, as well as five of the last six meetings), and they are two of the three worst defensive teams in the league.

Let's move OVER the total of 207 points, as it is posted in the BetUS NBA betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: OVER 207

You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!

(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)