Wright State Raiders vs. Butler Bulldogs Betting Odds

Opening Line: Wright State +7 / Butler -7 O/U 122

Time: 9 PM EST Tuesday March 9, 2010 on ESPN

Tonight in the finals of the Horizon League conference tournament the 12th ranked Butler Bulldogs face the Wright State Raiders. Butler will be playing in the NCAA tournament regardless of the outcome of this game, but Wright State has to win to get an invite to the Big Dance, as if they lose they are NIT bound.

Wright State has a tall task beating Butler, as they lost both games against the Bulldogs this season and both losses were by 12 points. Not only that, but the this season the Horizon League conference tournament is being held at Hinkle Fieldhouse, which is Butler's home court and the Bulldogs are 14-0 there this season.

This season Butler is 12-19 ATS and Wright State is 11-15-3 ATS.

Butler currently has the nation's longest winning streak at 19 games and they went undefeated in the Horizon League this season.

In the semifinals of the Horizon League tournament on Saturday Butler beat Milwaukee 68-59 and Wright State beat Detroit 69-50.

The last time Wright State was in the league tournament finals was in 2007 where they beat 19th ranked Butler to advance to the Big Dance.

Both teams have solid defenses, as each is giving up an average of around 60 ppg.

To win this game Wright State has to shoot lights out and hit quite a few 3-point bombs. The Raiders are led by their backcourt, as the only players that are averaging in double figures are guards Vaughn Duggins (14.4 ppg) and Todd Brown (13 ppg).

The Raiders are thin inside, as F Cory Cooperwood (9.3 ppg 6.1 rpg) is the only frontcourt player that is averaging over 3 rpg. Wright State's 2nd leading rebounder is G Todd Brown (4.5 rpg). These 2 have to rebound well tonight, as if they allow Butler to dominate the boards they will lose this game.

Butler has a more well-balanced offense with a guard/forward, 2 forwards, and a guard averaging in double figures led by G/F Gordon Hayward (15.6 ppg 8.6 rpg).

Hayward, who was this season's Horizon League player of the year, may have a big day on the boards since Wright State does not have much of an inside presence.

Butler is 6-14 ATS in their last 20 home games, 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite, and has an Under record of 4-0 in their last 4 home games.

Wright State is 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games, 1-11-1 ATS in their last 13 road games, and has an Over record of 4-1 in their last 5 road games.

In the last 4 meetings between these two teams the total has gone Over 4 times.

Our Selection : We’re not too comfortable laying the 7 points in this game after watching a far superior Zaga team fall to the Gaels last night. However, we do think this game offers some value in a teaser form. We suggest taking a 4.5 point two event teaser at 5 Dimes. Take Butler -2.5 and the over 117.