posted February 27, 2008 at 17:39 EST in NCAA B Articles

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: VCU -12.5, Total 137

The Seahawks of North Carolina-Wilmington (18-11 SU, 14-12 ATS), seeking a little retribution for a previous loss, visit Richmond on Wednesday night to play the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth (21-6 SU, 15-8-1 ATS) in a key Colonial Athletic Association rematch that gets underway at 7:30 PM ET at the Siegel Center.

In the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds, VCU is listed as a 12.5-point favorite, with a total of 137 points.

Here are some of the NCAAB betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* NCW has covered nine of its last 12 games

* NCW has won four of its last five games SU

* NCW has played its last seven games OVER the total

* NCW has covered four of its last five road games

* NCW has lost 19 of its last 25 road games SU

* NCW has played four of its last six road games OVER the total

* VCU has covered four of its last five games

* VCU has won 13 of its last 15 games SU

* VCU has played four of its last six games OVER the total

* VCU has won 11 of its last 12 home games SU

* VCU has played five of its last seven home games UNDER the total

* VCU has won five of the last seven meetings SU

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

* VCU has won four of the last five meetings SU as the home team

NC-Wilmington has had its ups and downs, sweeping teams like George Mason but losing games as they did last time out to Vermont. But there is no mistaking the fact that prior to that Vermont games, the Seahawks had really found their shooting eye, hitting 62%, 51%, 53%, and 57% in consecutive games.

VCU has scored three straight wins in this series by nine points or more, including a 72-57 win on January 5. The Rams are a rarity, in that they are a CAA team that could actually get an at-large bid to the NCAA's even if they don't win the conference tournament. But even though they skated by, they can't afford too many more performances like the one they put forth against Akron, where they hit just 41% from the field and 27% from beyond the arc.

Defense is the forte of VCU, which beat Duke in last year's NCAA's. The Rams are yielding just 38% shooting, but they'll have to get out pretty far on the perimeter to contain NC-Wilmington, which has hit 48% three-pointers in CAA conference play. However, with that kind of potency, and in something of a groove (the Vermont game notwithstanding), the Seahawks could take this to the wire.

So we'll grab generous points with NC-Wilmington, the 12.5-point underdog in the BetUS NCAAB betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: NC-WILMINGTON

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)