posted March 4, 2008 at 15:20 EST in NCAA B Betting Trends

BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: KENT STATE -7, Total 124.5

The Redhawks of Miami of Ohio (14-13 SU, 14-12 ATS) look to spoil the party for the Kent State Golden Flashes (23-6 SU, 13-10-1 ATS) when the two teams meet up in a Mid-American Conference matchup that is slated to begin at 7 PM ET on Tuesday night at the Memorial Athletic Center in Kent, O.

In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, Kent State is listed as a seven-point favorite, with a total of 124.5 points.

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

* MIAO has won and covered seven of its last ten games

* MIAO has played six of its last eight games OVER the total

* MIAO has covered four of its last five road games

* MIAO has lost seven of its last ten road games SU

* KENT has covered four of its last five games

* KENT has won six of its last seven games SU

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

* KENT has played four of its last five home games OVER the total

* KENT has won four of the last five meetings SU

* KENT has covered the last five meetings

* Three of the last four meetings have gone OVER the total

* KENT has won and covered seven of the last eight meetings as the home team

* MIAO has had the shooting edge in four of the last six meetings

* KENT has had the rebounding edge in each of the last four meetings

Can Kent State not stand success? The Golden Flashes pushed their way into the Top 25 after an upset in the bracket-buster against Saint Mary's, but turned around and forgot how to play defense, losing by six to Bowling Green this past weekend. Despite its recent ranking, Kent State may have to scratch and claw to get themselves into the NCAA tourney, because the Committee (I capitalize that because some ascribe God-like qualities to this group) has been hesitant in the past to award two berths to Mid-American Conference teams. Unless the Flashes can win the MAC tournament, they will have to make a very strong case for themselves as an at-large entry.

So this game is critical for them, because a slip could disqualify them. Things were easy first time around, as KSU won a 12-point decision at Oxford on January 17 behind sizzling 63% shooting. Can't say they'll hit at that kind of accuracy rate here, but you can't discount that shooting has been the real strength of this team, which is 47% on the year and even better lately, exceeding that in four of its last five.

Miami was expected to be a major MAC contender, but the Redhawks have been a disappointment since conference play began. After scoring wins over Xavier, South Alabama, Mississippi State and Illinois in its non-conference schedule, Miami has proceeded to lose six MAC games. Then again, they were good enough to beat those accomplished squads earlier, weren't they? And no one is blowing them away lately (last four losses by a total of 15 points).

We're going to take a shot with Miami of Ohio, still hopeful of going to the NIT and shooting almost 47% themselves. They're the seven-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: MIAMI OF OHIO

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