posted February 28, 2008 at 18:54 EST in NCAA B Betting Trends

BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: ARIZONA -4.5, Total 134

The USC Trojans (17-9 SU, 15-8-1 ATS) and the Arizona Wildcats (17-10 SU, 14-10-1 ATS), two Pac-10 teams who could use a little help in securing a bid in the NCAA tournament, do battle on Thursday night at the McKale Center in Tucson, in a game set to tip off at 9 PM ET.

In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, Arizona is listed as a 4.5-point favorite, with a total of 134 points.

Here are some of the NCAA college basketball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* USC has won and covered eight of its last 11 games

* USC has covered five of its last six road games

* USC has won four of its last five road games SU

* USC has played 13 of its last 19 road games OVER the total

* ARIZ has covered eight of its last 12 games

* ARIZ has lost four of its last six games SU

* ARIZ has played seven of its last 10 games OVER the total

* ARIZ has won 10 of its last 13 home games SU

* ARIZ has played six of its last seven home games OVER the total

* USC has covered four of the last five meetings

* USC has won 13 of the last 18 meetings SU

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

* ARIZ has won 13 of the last 14 meetings SU as the home team

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

* ARIZ has had the rebounding edge in each of the last six meetings

* USC has made more three-pointers in four of the last six meetings

This game not only pits two teams together who are in about the same place as far as the conference is concerned, it also pits two of the national’s top freshmen against each other - USC's OJ Mayo and Arizona's Jerryd Bayless.

USC did well for itself in coming back in the second half to defeat Oregon last Thursday. But you still have to be very wary of the Trojans, because there simply is no depth. Mayo has been playing through a groin problem, but has managed to maintain his 20-point average. However, the Trojans are so challenged for able bodies that they are trying to rush Daniel Hackett, who missed a number of games with a stress fracture in his back, into action again.

Last time these teams met, Chase Budinger was a load to deal with for the USC defense, as he scored 29 points. And Bayless has been picking up the slack for the injury suffered to Nic Wise. Bayless is averaging 29 over his last five games. Bayless, who also averages 4.4 assists, could make Mayo work much harder than he wants to on the defensive end. And Budinger, if successful again, could put Taj Gibson into foul trouble (six DQ's this year).

We'll look for Arizona to pull off the series sweep, and lay the points with the Wildcats, the 4.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: ARIZONA

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)