Sports Handicapper Sean Murphy's Picks & Predictions

My selection is on Houston minus the points over Dallas at 8:30 pm et on Saturday.

You can see the wheels starting to turn for the Rockets. They got off to a terrific start this season but really struggled in the earlier part of this month. In fact, they haven't covered the spread in consecutive games since December 25th and 27th. I look for them to end that streak of futility here, however, following Thursday's rout of the short-handed Hawks. Houston has now won three of its last four games and hosts a Mavericks team that is mired in a three-game losing streak. Rookie Cooper Flagg has been a standout to be sure and he almost willed the team to an 'upset' victory over the red hot Hornets on Thursday. Still, the Mavs are just 1-2 ATS over their last three contests and face a Rockets team that will be bent on 'revenge' after dropping a 110-104 decision as 7.5-point favorites in Dallas back on January 3rd. Take Houston (8*).

Pacific Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between San Jose and Calgary at 4:05 pm et on Saturday.

Both of these teams are rested following off days on Friday and I think this game has the potential to be tighter-checking than most are expecting. The Sharks have seen their last two games go 'over' the total but needed overtime to get there in a 4-3 loss in Edmonton on Thursday. The 'under' remains 5-2 over their last seven contests and I think this is a matchup they can manage against a Flames team that has been held to a single goal in four of its last five contests and on seven different occasions since January 5th. Calgary has seen the 'under' go 8-3 over its last 11 contests. The Flames have been a disappointment this season but they have defended well here at home where they've allowed just 2.5 goals per contest. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Gonzaga minus the points over Saint Mary's at 10:30 pm et on Saturday.

We'll lay the points with Gonzaga as these two teams renew their rivalry in the first of two regular season meetings this season. The Bulldogs enter this game having lost just once all season - that coming in blowout fashion against Michigan back on November 26th. With that being said, they have dropped the cash in consecutive games and have had a week to stew over a poor shooting performance in a narrow two-point victory over San Francisco last Saturday. They still knocked down 27 field goals in that victory and prior to that had connected on 28 or more in an incredible 13 straight games. Saint Mary's has been a little more vulnerable defensively than we've been accustomed to seeing over the years this season. It has allowed eight of its last 12 opponents to knock down 24 or more field goals and has yielded 30+ made field goals on three different occasions over its last 14 contests. Also of note, it has allowed eight of its 22 opponents to get off 60+ field goal attempts so there's a window of opportunity for Gonzaga to still play at its preferred pace here, even against a tough opponent. The Bulldogs enter having held four straight and five of their last six opponents to 22 or fewer made field goals. Finally, we'll point to the fact that the Bulldogs not only own the better overall record in this matchup this season but they've faced the considerably more difficult schedule by most metrics. Take Gonzaga (8*).

Mountain West Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on San Diego State plus the points over Utah State at 1 pm et on Saturday.

There's not a lot separating these two teams and both enter riding winning streaks. While the Aggies do own the better overall record this season, the Aztecs have faced the more difficult schedule. I like the consistency San Diego State has shown at both ends the floor. It enters this contest having connected on 25 or more field goals in 10 straight games. Meanwhile it has held 11 of its last 14 opponents to 23 or fewer made field goals. Utah State comes off a blistering 33-for-60 shooting performance in a rout of Wyoming three nights ago. Of note, three of the Aggies last eight foes have knocked down 25 or more field goals so there is a window of opportunity for the Aztecs offense here. We'll grab all the points we can get with San Diego State in a game that has the potential to go down to the wire. Take San Diego State (10*).

Saturday CBB Free play. My selection is on Ohio plus the points over Buffalo at 2 pm et on Saturday.

We'll grab the points with Ohio on Saturday as it looks to shake off a two-game losing streak and earn a split of this two-game road trip. Buffalo on the other hand figures to be breathing a sigh of relief after it avoided a sixth straight loss with an 'upset' win at Bowling Green last time out. The Bulls shot a blistering 29-of-52 from the field to secure that victory. Note that Buffalo faces an Ohio team that has been rounding into form defensively, holding three of its last four opponents to 24 or fewer made field goals. The problem for the Bobcats has been their inability to take advantage of their scoring opportunities. They hoisted up 61 and 64 field goal attempts over their last two games but connected on only 20 and 19. That's certainly uncharacteristic of them as they had made good on 25 or more field goals in eight straight games prior to that. They'll certainly be afforded their share of opportunities against a Bulls team that has yielded 34, 31, 38, 27, 26 and 31 made field goals over their last six contests. While Buffalo does own the better overall record in this matchup this season, Ohio took the previous meeting by double-digits and has faced the more difficult schedule this season. Take Ohio.

My selection is on Florida A&M plus the points over Alabama A&M at 5 pm et on Saturday.

We cashed a ticket fading Florida A&M last time out as it was 'upset' by Jackson State. The Rattlers have had four days to stew over that defeat that snapped their five-game winning streak. We'll call for them to get right back on track on Saturday. While Alabama A&M does own the better overall record in this matchup this season, Florida A&M has faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. I like the defensive edge the Rattlers have in this one, noting that they've held four straight and five of their last six opponents to 22 or fewer made field goals. It's been a much different story for Alabama A&M as it has yielded 24, 28, 25, 30 and 24 made field goals over its last five contests. The two offenses are a virtual wash but the home side is in a letdown spot after connecting on a blistering 57-of-110 field goal attempts during a 1-1 road trip that concluded on Tuesday. Take Florida A&M (8*).