Sports Handicapper Sean Murphy's Picks & Predictions

Conference Championship Game of the Year. My selection is on Ohio State minus the points over Indiana at 8 pm et on Saturday.

Indiana has obviously had a phenomenal season, running the table to this point with a 12-0 record - identical to that of Ohio State. However the Hoosiers are just 7-5 ATS compared to the Buckeyes 10-1-1 ATS mark and Ohio State has faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Indiana's 'upset' win on the road against Oregon back in October was impressive but apart from that, the Hoosiers simply took care of business in games where the result was rarely in doubt ahead of proceedings. Ohio State book-ended its regular season with impressive wins over Texas and Michigan and was rarely challenged in-between. The Buckeyes lone pointspread defeat came in a 24-point romp over Purdue. This is being pegged as a 'Clash of the Titans' of sorts with the two teams ranked number one and two in the country but I'm not convinced it will be the barn-burner most are expecting. It's been five years since Ohio State has been in the Big Ten Championship Game and I don't think it will take this one for granted. Take Ohio State (10*).

My selection is on Sacramento plus the points over Miami at 8:10 pm et on Saturday.

While it's true the Kings have been one of the league's worst teams this season, sporting a 5-17 record, I do think they can stay competitive against the Heat on Saturday. Miami just played last night, dropping its second straight games - a 106-105 loss in Orlando. The Heat are just 2-4 ATS over their last six games following a 7-2 ATS run. Sacramento has been idle since Wednesday's 121-95 loss in Houston. The Kings hung tough for a half in that game before fading late. I do like that Sacramento has shown a little more consistency at the offensive end of the floor lately, connecting on 40 or more field goals in six straight games - its longest such streak of the season. The defensive warts are certainly there but I'm not convinced the Heat can take full advantage with a slumping offense in a back-to-back situation. Take Sacramento (8*).

My selection is on Southeast Missouri State plus the points over Chattanooga at 4:30 pm et on Saturday.

While Chattanooga owns the better overall record in this matchup so far this season, Southeast Missouri State has faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. We'll grab all the points we can get with the Redhawks in this matinee affair on Saturday. While Chattanooga has played tough defense in the early going this season, it figures to have its hands full with an experienced Southeast Missouri State team that pushes the pace at every opportunity (60+ field goal attempts in eight of nine games to date) and can back it up (26 or more made field goals in seven of nine contests). It's going to be tough for the Mocs to ever pull away noting that they've connected on 25 or fewer field goals in all six games against Division-I opponents this season. Of note, the Mocs haven't played since November 30th while the Redhawks at least got their shooting legs under them in a glorified scrimmage against little-known SMWC on December 2nd. Take Southeast Missouri State (8*).

ACC Game of the Year. My selection is on Duke plus the points over Virginia at 8 pm et on Saturday.

These two teams just met on November 15th as Virginia rolled to a 34-17 'upset' victory on the road. The pointspread has flipped ahead of this rematch in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday. We'll grab all the points we can get with the Blue Devils. While Virginia owns the better overall record this season, Duke has faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. I like the way the Blue Devils picked themselves up and dusted themselves off following that defeat at the hands of the Cavaliers, rallying for wins over North Carolina and Wake Forest. Virginia couldn't have looked much better in last Saturday's 27-7 rout of in-state rival Virginia Tech. I can't help but feel that's left the Cavaliers overvalued in this rematch with the Blue Devils. Look for Duke to take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take Duke (10*).

Saturday CFB Free play. My selection is on Western Michigan minus the points over Miami-Ohio at 12 noon et on Saturday.

We'll back the Broncos as they look to avenge an earlier 26-17 loss to the Redhawks. That game was played in Ohio. This MAC Championship affair will take place at Ford Field in Detroit. Western Michigan has been the class of the MAC this season. The loss to the Redhawks marked their only defeat in-conference. Miami-Ohio did wrap up the regular season with consecutive wins over Buffalo and Ball State but it was favored in both contests so not unexpected. The difference in the first meeting between these teams was a single Western Michigan turnover. Apart from that, these two squads were very evenly-matched. With that in mind, we'll back the Broncos as I can't help but feel the Redhawks are in for a letdown offensively after scoring 37 and 45 points in their last two games. Take Western Michigan (8*).