posted February 15, 2008 at 19:04 EST in NCAA B Articles

BetUS college basketball bettors will be witnessing one of the top teams in the country - and the best from a mid-major conference - on Saturday, as the Butler Bulldogs (23-2 SU, 12-11-1 ATS) play host to the Cleveland State Vikings (17-10 SU, 13-11 ATS) in a Horizon League game that tips off at 2 PM ET at the Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

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

* CSU has lost four of its last five road games

* CSU has lost five of its last eight games SU

* CSU has covered two of its last eight games

* CSU has played four of its last five games UNDER the total

* BUT has won its last seven games SU

* BUT is 3-8-1 ATS in its last 12 games

* BUT has played three of its last four games OVER the total

* BUT has won its last five home games SU

* BUT has covered three of the last four meetings

* BUT has won four of the last five meetings SU

* The home team has covered four of the last five meetings

* Four of the last six meetings have been played UNDER the total

* BUT has had the shooting edge in four of the last five meetings

* BUT has made more three-pointers in each of the last four meetings

Butler (just 10.2 turnovers per game) is ranked ninth in the latest Associated Press poll and #10 in the USA Today poll. And they're looking for some revenge here after Cleveland State dealt them their second conference loss in a 56-52 game at the Wolstein Center. Cedric Jackson and J'Nathan Bullock each scored 14 points in that one.

Things started to go downhill for Cleveland State after that one, as the Vikes lost five in a row before taking a step forward with three consecutive wins since, over Detroit, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Valparaiso. Jackson has been playing with a sore ankle, and his scoring has dipped to 10.7 points a game over the last six. But Bullock has stepped up in a big way, tallying 79 points in this recent three-game rebound.

Butler has had a difficult time covering numbers (3-8-1 ATS in last dozen), and with the sizable impost, we don't mid taking points with Cleveland State, the underdog in the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PREDICTION: BUTLER BY 9

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 www.eBookies.com gives it the old college try as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)