posted March 12, 2008 at 12:32 in NCAA B Free Picks

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: ST. JOE'S -8, Total 129.5

The Rams of Fordham (12-16 SU, 8-15-1 ATS) will try to have better luck than it has had in the past against the St. Joseph's Hawks (18-11 SU, 16-11 ATS), as the two meet up in the first round of action in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, set to tip off at 2:30 PM ET on Wednesday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, St. Joseph's is listed as an eight-point favorite, with a total of 129.5 points.

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

* FORD has covered one of its last five games

* FORD has lost four of its last six games SU

* STJ has covered two of its last six games

* STJ has won 14 of its last 21 games SU

* STJ has lost four of its last six games

* STJ has played 11 of its last 16 games UNDER the total

* FORD has covered four of the last six meetings

* STJ has won 13 of the last 14 meetings SU

* The last five meetings have gone UNDER the total

* STJ has had the shooting edge in each of the last nine meetings

* STJ has had the rebounding edge in four of the last five meetings

* STJ has made more three-pointers in seven of the last ten meetings

Fordham has one of the better players in the conference in Byrant Dunston, but St. Joseph's has some muscle up front to counter that in another all-conference performer, Pat Calathes. Dunston does not get enough support from his teammates, who as a team are shooting just 42%. But that's just part of the story.

There has to be a sense of urgency around the St. Joe's camp because of the fact that the Hawks will probably have to win this tournament to get an NCAA bid. that much has been virtually assured due to their struggle down the stretch, which included losses to Saint Louis, Temple and Dayton in the season's last ten days. Ironically, there was also a win over Xavier last Thursday, and that is likely who St. Joe's will have to get by in order to win this conference.

A key trend here has St. Joe's winning 13 of the last 14 meetings between these two schools. That, the sense of urgency, and another interesting trend that has seen the Hawks covering seven of their last eight following a straight-up defeat, point us toward the guys from Philly here.

We will lay the points with St. Joseph's, the eight-point favorite in the BetUS NCAAB betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: ST. JOSEPH'S

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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)