Sports Handicapper Sean Murphy's Picks & Predictions

My selection is on New York minus the points over Sacramento at 7:40 pm et on Tuesday.

We've seen a lot of big upsets in the NBA lately but the Kings haven't been a part of it in recent weeks as they've lost five straight games, going 1-4 ATS over that stretch. The Knicks have shaken off a rough stretch to deliver back-to-back wins (and covers) against Brooklyn and Philadelphia. They're as healthy as they've been all season and ahead of a difficult back-to-back situation in Toronto tomorrow, I look for them to take advantage of this matchup on Tuesday. Keep in mind, New York was caught flat-footed in an 'upset' loss in Sacramento earlier this month. The Knicks actually hoisted up 100 field goal attempts in that game but connected on only 39 of them in an abysmal shooting performance. Sacramento, on the other hand, was smothered to the tune of just 74 field goal attempts but made good on 35 and cruised to a double-digit victory. I expect a much different story to unfold at the Garden on Tuesday. Take New York (8*).

My selection is on Kansas State plus the points over West Virginia at 8:30 pm et on Tuesday.

Both of these teams are coming off blowout losses on Saturday with Kansas State falling against rival Kansas and West Virginia getting drummed by the number one team in the country, Arizona. I don't think the Mountaineers are really built to win a lot of games by margin against tough competition and I don't believe there's as much separating these two teams as being indicated by the pointspread. While Kansas State does own the worse overall record it has faced the tougher schedule by most metrics. Note that West Virginia had hoisted up 56 or fewer field goal attempts in seven straight games before getting off 64 in Saturday's loss. It only managed that shot volume thanks to game script as it trailed big most of the way. The Mountaineers have connected on 27 or fewer field goals in seven straight contests. Kansas State's issue has been its defensive play, or lack thereof, but again I'm not convinced it will be pushed quite as hard pace-wise here. The Wildcats have made good on 28 or more field goals in nine of their last 11 contests. While West Virginia is a good defensive team, it hasn't been lights out in that department lately, allowing 29, 22, 26, 25, 22, 24 and 31 made field goals over its last seven contests. I think there's a path for the Wildcats to at least take this one down to the wire on Tuesday in Morgantown. Take Kansas State (8*).

Tuesday CBB Free play. My selection is on Kentucky plus the points over Vanderbilt at 9 pm et on Tuesday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with Kentucky as it travels to Nashville to challenge Vanderbilt on Tuesday. The Commodores own the better overall record in this matchup this season but the Wildcats have faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Vandy is likely breathing a sign of relief after it avoided a fourth straight loss with a blowout win at Mississippi State on Saturday. It certainly can't afford to let down its guard against a good Kentucky team here, however. The Wildcats turned in a dismal offensive effort (18-of-50 shooting) but still prevailed by nine points against Ole Miss on Saturday. Save for a poor performance in a game they won against Texas, the Wildcats have held up well defensively in recent weeks, limiting three of their last four opponents to 25 or fewer made field goals. Meanwhile, Vandy has connected on 27 or fewer field goals in four of its last six contests. Look for Kentucky to take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take Kentucky.

Atlantic-10 Game of the Year. My selection is on Loyola-Chicago plus the points over Saint Joseph's at 9 pm et on Tuesday.

Loyola-Chicago has been an undesirable bet so far this season and enters Tuesday's game riding a seven-game losing streak SU and having dropped the cash in three straight and five of its last six contests. We'll back the Ramblers on Tuesday, however, as they've had a couple of days off to stew over Saturday's double-digit defeat at home against Duquesne. They'll look to salvage the finale of their two-game homestand here. Saint Joseph's has reeled off four wins in its last five games, delivering the cash in all five of those contests. While the Hawks do own the better overall record in this matchup this season, the Ramblers have faced the more difficult schedule. Loyola-Chicago has really struggled offensively over its last few games but I like the setup here. Note that the Ramblers want to get out and run but have been bogged down lately. Here, they'll face a St. Joe's team that has yielded 63+ field goal attempts in five straight games. Opponents have been 'filling it up' against the Hawks, connecting on 38, 21, 34, 22, 25, 27 and 28 field goals over their last seven contests. On the flip side, there's a ceiling when it comes to St. Joe's offense as it has knocked down 27 or fewer field goals in four straight and 16 of its last 19 games. Prior to its most recent three-game stretch, Loyola-Chicago had connected on 28, 23, 26 and 29 field goals over its previous four contests. Take Loyola-Chicago (10*).