posted March 20, 2008 at 18:38 EST in NCAA B Articles

BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: Miami -1, Total 137.5

The Miami Hurricanes (22-10 SU, 15-7-3 ATS), who survived a tough Atlantic Coast Conference schedule to receive an NCAA at-large bid, start things off in the South Regional on Friday when they go up against the Gaels of Saint Mary's (25-6 SU, 16-12 ATS), who competed in the West Coast Conference, which was better than usual, in a game that begins at 12:30 PM ET at the Alltel Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas.

At BetUS Sportsbook, Miami is listed as a one-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:

* SM has covered one of its last five games
* SM has won 18 of its last 23 games SU
* SM has played nine of its last 13 games UNDER the total
* MIA is 2-3-1 ATS in its last six games
* MIA has won seven of its last ten games SU
* MIA is 6-3-1 ATS in its last ten games
* MIA has played three of its last four games UNDER the total

Miami had some highs and lows this season. The low may have come in Raleigh, when they gave away an overtime game to North Carolina State with an errant inbounds pass. But they rebounded to beat Clemson at home a couple of games later, and hung on to beat Duke after almost blowing a big second-half lead.

Other than that, however, Miami had a difficult time with the better teams on its schedule, and laid an egg in the ACC tournament, beating a weakened N.C. State team but losing by 14 points at the hands of Virginia Tech. In the last four games, the 'canes have shot just 36% from the field.

Saint Mary's was hammered by Southern Illinois and Texas, but proved itself to be a team worthy of at least being on the fringes of the national rankings, picking off teams like Drake, for example. But there were slip-ups against Kent State in a bracket-buster game and in the WCC tourney where they lost to San Diego. But the West Coast Conference was very competitive this year, sending three teams to the NCAA's. The Gaels haven't played in 12 days, but they put a lot of balance into play, with Patty Mills running the attack with aplomb and Diamon Simpson (13.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg) a force on both ends of the floor.

We're looking for Miami to continue having its problems against high-caliber opposition, and we'll grab a point with Saint Mary's, the underdog in the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY:  SAINT MARY'S

(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com gives it the old college try as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)

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