posted March 18, 2008 at 16:06 in NCAA B Free Picks

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: Minnesota -3.5

One team that expected more and another which made a turnaround will do battle in the Williams Arena on Tuesday night at 9:30 PM ET as the Maryland Terrapins (18-14 SU, 11-15-1 ATS) visit the Minnesota Golden Gophers (20-13 SU, 14-14 ATS) in first-round NIT action.

In the BetUS Sportsbook, Minnesota is listed as a 3.5-point favorite.

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

* MD has covered one of its last six games

* MD has lost five of its last six games SU

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

* MD has covered six of its last nine road games

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

* MINN has covered one of its last five games

* MINN has played its last seven games UNDER the total

* MINN has covered three of its last ten home games

* MINN has own four of its last five home games SU

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

Maryland had four players who averaged in double digits this season, but we were completely unimpressed with the way the Terps performed in the ACC tournament, losing to a Boston College team that had dropped 12 of its last 13 games. And they did it by blowing a huge lead in that contest. Sure, Maryland has beaten North Carolina, but the Terrapins were mostly too mistake-prone, with almost 17 turnovers a game.

Minnesota went 9-22 last season, but turned things around this year under first-year coach Tubby Smith, who has seen success previously at Tulsa, Georgia and Kentucky. And we can imagine there is going to be a higher level of excitement on their side than with Gary Williams and Maryland.

However, fundamentals don't make a terribly strong case for the Gophers laying points here. First of all, they haven't exceeded 41% shooting in any of the last five games, during which time they have also failed to reach 60 points. They have freshmen playing key roles in the backcourt, and we're not so convinced they're going to have more offensive success against the Terps, who can at least count solid defense (39% FG's allowed) among its strengths.

We're going to take the points with Maryland, the 3.5-point underdog in the BetUS March Madness betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: MARYLAND

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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)