posted March 12, 2008 at 12:19 EST in NCAA B Free Picks

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: WEST VIRGINIA -8, Total 138.5

The Providence Friars (15-15 SU, 12-16 ATS) have had a tough season, but on Wednesday afternoon they have an opportunity to make up for some of the disappointment, and at the same time put themselves in possible position for an NIT or CBI berth, when they tackle the West Virginia Mountaineers (22-9 SU, 13-11-1 ATS) in first-round action of the Big East Conference tournament, tipping off at 2 PM ET at Madison Square Garden in New York.

In the BetUS NCAAB betting odds, West Virginia is listed as an eight-point favorite, with a total of 138.5 points.

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

* PROV has covered two of its last eight games

* PROV has lost 10 of its last 13 games SU

* WVU has won four of its last five games SU

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

* WVU is 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings

* WVU has won seven of the last eight meetings SU

* WVU has had the shooting edge in five of the last seven meetings

* PROV has had the rebounding edge in six of the last eight meetings

* WVU has made more three-pointers in five of the last six meetings

Providence is the last seed in the Big East tournament, certainly not coming in with one of its stronger editions. Meanwhile, West Virginia thinks it's ready to make a move under Bob Huggins, the long-time Cincinnati head coach who is in his first year at the helm in Morgantown.

Few players in the Big East finished the season with such a flourish as Joe Alexander of West Virginia, who broke loose for 32, 32 and 29 points in the last three games. West Virginia is very good at taking care of the ball (10.6 turnovers a game), which helps it stay out of long runs by the opposition highlighted by cheap transition points.

Neither team is very potent from the line (68% each), although it needs to be mentioned that guard-oriented Providence, which has had to play virtually the whole season without genuine leader Sharaud Curry, has the ability to keep things competitive with its potency from beyond the arc (7.8 three-pointers per game).

Even so, losses by 12 and 27 points in the two regular season meetings, and ten losses in the last 13 games, give us no empirical evidence that Providence can make things any more competitive here. And the Mountaineers have a certain defensive edge (41% FG's against). Some people are giving Bob Huggins a good shot to go to the final in this tourney, especially if his long-range bombers like Alex Ruoff can get hot.

Let's lay the points with West Virginia, the eight-point favorite in the BetUS NCAAB betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: WEST VIRGINIA

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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)