Up to NCAA B Betting Trends

posted March 31, 2008 at 20:21 in NCAA B Betting Trends

BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: Florida -4, Total 153.5

The Florida Gators (24-11 SU, 14-12 ATS) will have an opportunity to compensate somewhat for the disappointment of missing the NCAA field after two straight national titles when they play the semi-final game of the NIT against Minutemen of Massachusetts (24-10 SU, 16-15 ATS) in a game that tips off at 7 PM ET on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

At BetUS Sportsbook, Florida is listed as a four-point favorite, with a total of 153.5 points.

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

* MASS has won nine of its last ten games SU

* MASS has covered seven of its last ten games

* MASS has played five of its last six games UNDER the total

* FLA has won and covered its last three games

* FLA has played its last three games UNDER the total

Sometimes a team goes into the NIT after the disappointment of not making it to the NCAA tournament and they display a curious amount of indifference, despite the fact that there is a reward at the end. And sometimes the team that was slighted by the Selection Committee comes into the NIT "consolation" tournament with determination and fire. Certainly the latter applies in the case of the Florida Gators, although a swift kick in the butt by coach Billy Donovan contributed to it. After laying down against Alabama in the SEC tournament, the Gators were literally kicked out of their practice facility by Donovan, who insisted that they play as if they deserved to wear the uniform of the two-time defending national champions.

The Gators have responded, and have been, in our opinion, head and shoulders above any team in this tournament. Florida has crushed both San Diego state and Creighton, winning by margins of 24 and 28 points, respectively, then went to Tempe, always a killer venue, and beat up on an Arizona State team that was also playing with some determination after an NCAA snub. All told, the Gators have covered the poinstspread by a margin of over 14 points per game, which is absolutely phenomenal.

U-Mass has done well to get here, but the Minutemen have had it comparatively easy in beating Stephen F. Austin and Akron, then going to Syracuse and winning at a venue where they had already scored a victory this season.

Florida freshman guard Nick Calathes got an unusual triple-double against Creighton, with 11 points, 11 assists and 13 rebounds, and no doubt his brother Pat (all-conference A-10 player at St. Joe's) has clued him in as to how to handle U-Mass' game. More importantly, however, Massachusetts, which is sometimes compromised in the rebounding department, may find itself bested at its own up-tempo style by Donovan's "baby Gator" crew, which averages 80 points a game, hits 49% from the field (54% in the NIT thus far) and defends the three-pointer pretty well (under 35% allowed), which is important, since U-Mass hoists up 26 shots per game from tripleville.

We will lay the points with Florida, the four-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: FLORIDA

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)