posted March 22, 2008 at 14:40 in NCAA B Betting Trends

BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: Stanford -4.5, Total 133

The Marquette Golden Eagles (25-9 SU, 16-12 ATS) will try to spoil the party for the Stanford Cardinal (27-7 SU, 18-16 ATS) and gain a Sweet 16 spot for themselves when the two teams meet up at the Honda Center in Anaheim in the South Regional. Game time is 6:45 PM ET on Saturday.

At BetUS Sportsbook, Stanford is listed as a 4.5-point favorite, with a total of 133 points.

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

* MARQ has won and covered nine of its last 12 games SU

* MARQ has played five of its last seven games OVER the total

* STAN has covered four of its last five games

* STAN has won 14 of its last 18 games SU

* STAN has played five of its last six games OVER the total

A matchup of strength versus quickness in this one. Marquette did a great defensive job against Kentucky in the opening round. Sure, Joe Crawford ran wild for 35 points, but only four other Kentucky players scored at all. Here they have the Lopez brothers to contend with. Stanford was not taxed in its first round game, as it cruised past Cornell. But the Cardinal had 19 turnovers. How adequate are Stanford's outside people? And is the 18-point effort from Kenny Brown on Thursday a harbinger of things to come?

Well, Stanford had a load of trouble, if you recall, with the quickness of UCLA's backcourt in losing three meetings to the Bruins. And Siena, another small but quick team who just beat Vanderbilt, scored an upset over Stanford earlier in the season. Marquette comes at you with a lot of guards who have the class advantage, frankly, over what the Cardinal has to offer.

Excuse us for being a tiny bit skeptical, but Stanford went out in the first round the last two years and drew the Ivy League team this season. So they haven't shown themselves to be achievers in the Big Dance just yet. Despite Stanford's +9 rebounding margin, and its physical edges, I will take the points with Marquette, the 4.5-point underdog in the BetUS March Madness betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: MARQUETTE

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)