posted January 28, 2008 at 19:28 EST in NBA Free Picks

WHO: San Antonio Spurs (28-14 SU, 20-22 ATS) at UTAH JAZZ (26-18 SU, 22-22 ATS)

WHERE: Energy Solutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT

WHEN: Monday, January 28 at 9 PM ET

BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: UTAH -2, Total 195.5

In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA betting trends:

* SA has won and covered six of the last seven meetings

* The home team has covered nine of the last ten meetings

* Seven of the last eight meetings have gone OVER the total

* SA has made more three-pointers in each of the last five meetings

San Antonio has allowed 91.7 points a game, which is the third lowest figure in the NBA. The Spurs have a 1.8-to-1 ratio of assists to turnovers. And they have averaged 41.2 rebounds per game. Also:

* SA has won five of its last eight games SU

* SA has covered three of its last 13 games

* SA has covered one of its last six road games

* SA has played its last seven games UNDER the total

* SA has played eight of its last nine road games UNDER the total

Utah shoots 49.3% from the field, which is first in the NBA. They are last in the league with 4.1 three-pointers made per contest. And only one team holds the opponent to less rebounds than the Jazz (just 38.5 per game). Also:

* UTAH has won eight of its last nine games SU

* UTAH has covered seven of its last nine games

* UTAH has played four of its last seven games OVER the total

* UTAH has covered five of its last six home games

* UTAH has covered eight of its last 11 home games

If you recall, San Antonio blew Utah out of the playoffs last season in five games. Then on December 7, the Spurs pearl-harbored the Jazz by a 104-98 score at the AT&T Center, and they did it without Tim Duncan. Carlos Boozer was able to chip in with 28 points and 17 rebounds for the Jazz in that one, and logic would dictate he'd have a harder time running wild this time around.

But this is exactly where the Jazz wants to be when they are playing the Spurs. That's because they have covered 14 of their last 20 games as a home favorite. And this is not bad timing for the club either; Utah's won eight of its last nine games, and has shot 52%, 57%, 58% and 47% in their last four, while San Antonio has looked strangely disinterested in the last two, almost losing to a Miami team that had dropped 14 in a row, and being blown out at home by New Orleans on Saturday.

With Gregg Popovich's team having covered just three of its last 16 games, we're lacking confidence in its ability to cover this number. Having averaged 113 points over their last four, Utah is going to make it hard for the Spurs to keep up.

We'll lay the points with the Jazz, the two-point favorite in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: UTAH

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 TotalActionExtra.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)