Sports Handicapper Sean Murphy's Picks & Predictions

My selection is on Troy minus the points over Louisiana-Monroe at 7:30 pm et on Wednesday.

Troy has had three days to stew over its second straight loss and I expect it to take its frustrations out on Louisiana-Monroe on Wednesday. The Trojans own the vastly superior overall record in this matchup this season and have also faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. While they've hit a bit of an offensive lull over their last couple of games, they've still connected on 25 or more field goals in three of their last four contests and figure to be brought to life by what is potentially the nation's worst defense on Wednesday. The Warhawks have allowed each of their last two opponents to knock down more than 40 field goals. Going back further, they've yielded 62+ field goal attempts in five straight and seven of their last eight contests. With that type of volume, the Trojans should have no trouble bouncing back. Troy has limited six of its last seven and 10 of its last 13 opponents to fewer than 60 field goal attempts. The Warhawks did connect on 31-of-56 field goal attempts in their loss but cover at Texas State on Saturday. That type of performance has been the exception rather than the rule, however, as they've been held to 24 or fewer made field goals in seven of their last 10 contests. Take Troy (8*).

West Coast Conference Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Saint Mary's and Seattle at 9 pm et on Wednesday.

The first meeting between these two teams this season produced a whopping 169 points as Saint Mary's ran away for a 93-76 victory. We'll call for a different story to unfold in Wednesday's rematch. Saint Mary's is an elite defensive team. It has held four straight opponents to 23 or fewer made field goals and seven of its last eight foes to 24 or less. The lone opponent to eclipse that mark over that stretch was Gonzaga and that contest still reached 'only' 138 total points. On the flip side, the Gaels have been lights out offensively in recent games, pushing the pace and connecting on 30, 32, 31 and 26 field goals over their last four contests. I do think they'll face a challenge here, however, noting that Seattle has limited eight of its last 10 opponents to 25 or fewer made field goals. The Redhawks have done a good job of limiting their opponents' pace since that blowout loss at Saint Mary's, holding seven of their last nine foes to 58 or fewer field goal attempts. Considering Seattle has connected on 26 or fewer field goals in three straight and 14 of its last 16 contests, it's doubtful that it will want to get involved in another track meet here. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Army plus the points over Loyola-Maryland at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with Army in this rematch of an earlier Loyola-Maryland overtime victory this season. The Black Knights have had three days to stew over their fourth straight loss, suffered at the hands of American University on Saturday. Here, Army will look to snap that skid, earn some revenge, and salvage the finale of its two-game road trip. The scoring opportunities should be there for the Black Knights on Wednesday. They've gotten off 58 or more field goal attempts in four of their last six contests and face a Loyola-Maryland team that hasn't had much interest or success in slowing its opponents' pace. Note that the Greyhounds have yielded 58 or more field goal attempts in four of their last five games. On the flip side, Loyola-Maryland wants to get out and run but faces an Army defense that has held the opposition to 54 or fewer field goal attempts in three of its last four contests. Finally, we'll note that while Loyola-Maryland does own the better overall record in this matchup this season, Army has faced the more difficult schedule. Take Army (8*).