CBI Championship Game - Oregon State vs. UTEP

Oregon State Beavers (17-18 SU, 15-14-1 ATS) at UTEP Miners (23-13 SU, 19-13-1 ATS)

CBI Tournament Championship - Game 3

BetUS NCAA Basketball Odds: UTEP -9, Total 134

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

* OSU is 4-0-1 ATS in its last five games

* OSU has won four of its last five games SU

* OSU has played five of its last seven games UNDER the total

* OSU has covered two of its last six road games

* OSU has lost 21 of its last 25 road games SU

* UTEP has won four of its last five games SU

* UTEP has played six of its last seven games OVER the total

* UTEP has won four of its last five home games SU

* UTEP has played six of its last eight home games UNDER the total

In the rematch on Wednesday, Stefon Jackson had an outstanding game for UTEP, scoring 28 points with ten rebounds, and Randy Culpepper scored 17 off the bench, yet the Miners still couldn't get the cover. Maybe one of the reasons was that UTEP made just two of its twelve shots from three-point range, but really, the three-point shot is not a big part of the Miners' arsenal. They average only about five per game, but they have been able to cover enough games without it.

Oregon State, which shot 60.5% in Game 1 of this series, dipped to 43.6% in Game 2, and was just 27% from beyond the arc, but they were not out of this game by any means; in fact, they were ahead by five points at the half and had UTEP really worried. The Beavers are simply not an easy team to shoot against at this point in the season, as coach Craig Robinson has integrated the 1-3-1 zone to an extent that his team can play it with its eyes closed. I understand that UTEP has now faced that defense in two straight games, but I don't see them running wild, despite having the two best offensive weapons on the floor.

Remember that Oregon State has the best big man in this game, the fast-developing Roeland Schaftenaar, who has shot 61% in the last four games of this tournament. After getting stopped in the opener against Houston, he has scored 14, 14, 19 and 17 points in the last four. Calvin Haynes has been a decent weapon off the bench, and Oregon State is 10-5 since Robinson made the decision to take him back out of the starting lineup and bring him in for some occasional instant offense.

I like the way Oregon State has progressed this season; they are playing with a lot more confidence and have found a way to cover numbers when they are not playing near their best. It is clear that the deliberate offensive style employed by OSU is troublesome for UTEP to adjust to, and that the defense brings a lot of challenges. UTEP may win this, but Oregon State, which has covered four times as an underdog in the CBI, will not quit at any point in this game. We're going to grab the points with the Beavers, the nine-point underdog in the BetUS CBI Tournament college basketball sports betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: OREGON STATE +9 ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)