posted March 13, 2008 at 12:37 in NCAA B Free Picks

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: MIAMI-FL -5, Total 139

The Miami Hurricanes (21-9 SU, 14-6-3 ATS) consider their first-round game in the ACC tournament to be critical, as they are teetering on the edge of NCAA tourney consideration. On Thursday at 2:30 PM ET they will take on the Wolfpack of North Carolina State (15-15 SU, 6-20-1 ATS) at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, Miami is listed as a five-point favorite, with a total of 139 points.

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

* NCS has lost its last eight games SU

* NCS has covered one of its last eight games

* NCS has played six of its last nine games OVER the total

* MIA has won six of its last eight games SU

* MIA has covered five of its last eight games

* MIA has played four of its last six games OVER the total

* NCS has won three of the last four meetings

* The last four meetings have gone OVER the total

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

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

* NCS has made more three-pointers in four of the last five meetings

Miami has had to live with the bitter memory of the January 19 meeting at Raleigh, when they literally gave the game away in the final seconds of overtime. After some sulking, Miami came back to chalk up wins against teams like Clemson, Virginia Tech, Duke and Maryland to bolster their chances of getting one of the NCAA at-large bids. So even though most of their best work has been done on the home court, points nonetheless have to go to the 'Canes for mental toughness.

Meanwhile, not too many positives to report these days for the N.C. State side, as it has lost eight in a row and managed only one covering effort (admittedly against Duke) during that time. And with defense apparently not a priority (allowing 79.5 points per game over this eight-game streak, nearly ten points above its season average), they are going to have an extra special problem with Miami's extra special scorer.

Jack McClinton lit up the Wolfpack for 26 points in that disappointing defeat, and he is in fine form again, scoring 76 points and shooting 15-of-29 from beyond the arc (wow!) in the last three games.

More incentive exists on the Miami side for sure, including a little "payback" and redemption for the previous loss. We'll take the Hurricanes and lay the five points as it is posted in the BetUS NCAAB betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: MIAMI-FL

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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)