Sean Murphy Handicapper Review & Free Sports Picks

My selection is on Brooklyn minus the points over Washington at 3:10 pm et on Saturday.

The Wizards 'emptied the tank' in their 126-117 'upset' win in Detroit two nights ago. Washington is a team playing for the future after making some more savvy moves prior to the trade deadline but the situation right now is that it is missing, or potentially missing, a number of key contributors for Saturday's game in Brooklyn. The Nets exerted little energy in a 118-98 loss in Orlando on Thursday - their third straight defeat both SU and ATS. They're certainly not a team bettors are lining up to get behind and definitely not as a favorite. I like the spot here, however, as they look to get back on track to open this three-game homestand. While they've been going through a difficult stretch they've also faced a very tough slate of opponents in recent weeks. This game offers a brief reprieve as the Wizards are undoubtedly satisfied off Thursday's win. Take Brooklyn (8*).

ACC Favorite of the Year. My selection is on Stanford minus the points over Georgia Tech at 8 pm et on Saturday.

Stanford has inexplicably dropped five straight games following a 14-4 start to the season. I say 'inexplicably' although it has a lot to do with a very difficult stretch of ACC opponents. I think the Cardinal will welcome the opportunity to 'get right' against a weaker foe in Georgia Tech on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets have lost four games in a row but did cover the spread in a five-point loss at California on Wednesday. Note that Stanford not only owns the better overall record in this matchup this season but it has also faced the tougher schedule. Georgia Tech stayed within arm's reach of Cal thanks to getting off a whopping 71 field goal attempts on Wednesday. It will be hard-pressed to approach that number against a disciplined Stanford defense that has limited eight straight and 12 of its last 13 opponents to 58 or fewer field goal attempts. We've actually seen the wheels start turning again for the Cardinal offense lately as they've connected on 27, 31 and 24 field goals over their last three contests. I like the matchup here as the Yellow Jackets have played matador-like defense at times, allowing five of their last six and 13 of their last 15 foes to get off more than 60 field goal attempts. They've yielded 25 or more made field goals in two straight and 15 of their last 18 contests. Take Stanford (10*).

Mountain West Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Nevada minus the points over Fresno State at 10 pm et on Saturday.

We'll lay the points with Nevada as it returns home off an overtime loss at Boise State on Tuesday. Fresno State comes off a thrilling 98-96 win over UNLV on the same night. The Bulldogs rode a blistering shooting performance to that 'upset' victory. I think they'll be hard-pressed to repeat that effort here. Note that prior to that 'outlier' offensive performance and before that a game against a bad Air Force team, Fresno State had connected on 18, 24, 21, 21 and 16 field goals over a five-game stretch. The Bulldogs are a good defensive team, but not a great one, and I think they can be exploited in this matchup. Nevada has knocked down 27, 29, 25, 21, 29 and 32 (boosted by overtime) field goals over its last six games. It still won the outlier by six points against a good Grand Canyon team in overtime. On the flip side, I see this as a 'get right' spot for the Wolf Pack defensively. They're just two games removed from a stretch that saw them hold five straight and 14 of 17 opponents to 24 or fewer made field goals. Finally, we'll note that Nevada not only owns the better overall record in this matchup this season but it has also faced the more difficult schedule. Take Nevada (10*).

My selection is on Quinnipiac minus the points over Niagara at 2 pm et on Saturday.

We'll lay the points with Quinnipiac on Saturday as it hosts Niagara. The visiting Purple Eagles can breathe a sigh of relief after they ended their five-game losing streak with a win (and cover) against Canisius on Tuesday. I expect their success to be short-lived, however. This will mark the first meeting between Niagara and Quinnipiac this season and I think the oddsmakers are having a tough time setting the line as a result. Quinnipiac checks in off back-to-back wins but is just 2-6 ATS over its last eight contests. I do like the spot here, noting that the Bobcats not only own the much better overall record in this matchup this season but they've also faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Niagara likes to slow things down to a crawl but on the road I look for it to struggle to do so against a Quinnipiac team that has gotten off more than 60 field goal attempts in five of its last six games. The Bobcats shot poorly in their last game on Thursday, knocking down only 22 field goals but they still won by 15 points. Note that despite holding their last four foes to 54 or fewer field goal attempts, the Purple Eagles still allowed those four opponents to make good on 25, 28, 21 and 22 field goals. Prior to Thursday's performance, the Bobcats had knocked down 28, 23 , 32 and 32 field goals over their last four contests. Take Quinnipiac (8*).

Saturday CBB Free play. My selection is on Eastern Washington plus the points over Montana State at 8 pm et on Saturday.

The knee-jerk reaction from most bettors will almost certainly be to fade Eastern Washington after it 'upset' Montana on the road on Thursday. I think the Eagles are on a revenge tour of sorts this weekend, however, and I like their chances of coming up with another strong performance (and cover) against Montana State on Saturday. Note that Eastern Washington has connected on 26, 27, 27 and 29 field goals over its last four games. That's despite playing at a reasonably methodical pace (no more than 58 field goal attempts in any of those contests). On the flip side, the Eagles have held five of their last six opponents to 27 or fewer made field goals. Montana State doesn't have all that high of an offensive ceiling to begin with and it has struggled a bit lately, connecting on 26, 19 and 22 field goals over its last three contests. On the flip side, we've seen its opponents expose some cracks defensively, making good on 31, 32, 24 and 27 field goals over its last four games. Montana State does own the better overall record in this matchup this season, but Eastern Washington has faced the considerably more difficult schedule. We'll grab the points. Take Eastern Washington.