Doc’s Sports Free Picks & Handicapper Review

Both teams trend to the over on the season. The Sharks gave up 8 to Tampa Bay the last time we saw them, and Florida should be able to achieve their offensive goals here today. Florida have 21 goals in their last five matches, so the offense is humming. We think San Jose is capable of getting a couple goals here too, so this one should sail over the posted number.

The Grizzlies are playing as well as any team in the NBA right now and have won seven of their last eight games. We think they are in a good spot here for Saturday against the Celtics, who come in on a back-to-back after a tough game vs. Milwaukee, and this is their third game in four days, while the Grizzlies are rested. The Celtics have covered only two of their last 10 games, and it’s obvious their lines are being shaded at this time.

7 Unit Play. Take #308928 Montana State -17 over UT Martin (3p.m., Saturday, December 7 ESPN+) UT-Martin is coming off of perhaps the most dominating performance, defeating New Hampshire 41-10 last week in the opening round. Their reward, however, isn't much of a prize as they now must travel to Bozeman, Montana, to take on the number one seed, Montana State. The Skyhawks from UT-Martin have been impressive offensively, scoring 32.5 ppg (23rd in the country) and almost the same on the road, with 32.3 ppg. Their defense, however, is a different story, surrendering 22.3 ppg overall and 23 ppg as visitors. Perhaps an even more glaring statistic is their 2-4 SU record against teams above a .500 winning percentage, a stat Montana State (12-0) must be salivating at. The Bobcats have the highest-scoring offense in FCS, putting up 40.7 ppg and tied with Dayton for 6th at 17.0 ppg. Bobcat Stadium has been even more difficult for opposing teams to score in, as MSU's home points allowed per game is a stingy 13.2 ppg. UT-Martin has had difficulty all season against elite defenses, putting up a mere 9 points against Tennessee Tech and 6 against Kansas State. The Bobcats are somewhere in the middle of those respective teams. Another key factor to consider is travel and altitude. The Skyhawks have certainly earned their wings, traveling 1,266 miles last week to Durham, New Hampshire, and an even further 1,600 miles to Bozeman, Montana this week. Bobcat Stadium isn't quite a mile high, at an elevation of 4,940 feet, but the altitude is significant enough that visiting teams often struggle in the second half against MSU. We expect the weary travelers from UT-Martin to hang around in the first 30 minutes and melt under the blistering pressure of Montana State in the second half. Take MONTANA STATE GOOD LUCK!

5 Unit Play. Take #111 Ohio Bobcats +2 over Miami Ohio Redhawks (12p.m., Saturday, December 5 ESPN) The stats favor Ohio in this game and getting them as an underdog is too good to pass up. The underdog is 16-6 ATS (3 pushes) in the last 25 MAC Championship Games. These two teams met earlier this season and I just do not believe the Redhawks are good enough to beat the Bobcats twice in one season. The MAC is always full of upsets and revenge will be served on the field.

6 Unit Play. Take #621 Wisconsin over Marquette (1:30p.m., Saturday, December 6 FOX) This is just too many points to be giving for this in-state battle that has been dominated by the Badgers in recent years. Both teams are coming off losses during the week and I expect this game to go right down to the wire. Chase Ross went out in that game with an ankle injury for the Golden Eagles and did not return. Wisconsin struggled with size from Michigan, but Marquette does not have that to threaten them in this game. The Badgers have beaten the Golden Eagles three times in the last three years.

Free Soccer pick from Doc’s Sports for Saturday: Spanish LaLiga Take Las Palmas over Real Valladolid (8 a.m. EST, Saturday December 7) (Graded after regulation time - 90min - plus injury time - if game ends in a DRAW we have a LOSER) Las Palmas is playing as well as any squad outside of the top teams on the table of LaLiga. They toiled at the bottom of the table for much of the season and didn’t get their first win of the season until October 21 at Valencia. They followed that one up with a win vs. Girona and they have now won four of their last six games. Their losses were at Atletico Madrid and they suffered an extra time goal at Mallorca to rob them of a point. But their most impressive win of the season came last time out as they won 2-1 at top-of-the-table Barcelona. And now they have moved up comfortably out of the relegation zone. And guess who is at the bottom of the table now? Yes, that would be Real Valladolid. Theyn have taken points in just five of 15 matches this season and are the only side with single- digit points on the season. The price here is more than fair and we expect a big win from the home side this morning.

10 Unit Play. Take #120 Oregon Ducks over Penn State Nittany Lions (8p.m., Saturday, December CBS) BIG 10 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Penn State must be shocked that they made it to Indianapolis, but I see them losing this game by double-digits. Both teams are likely in the playoffs and are playing for a top seed and bye. Coach Franklin has struggled in games against top teams and Oregon is the No. 1 team in the country. Oregon has scored 30 points in 23 of their last 24 games and I just do not believe Penn State can keep up with them. Oregon got over a big hurdle last week beating Washington and I see them winning the Big Ten in their first season.