Sports Handicapper Sean Murphy's Picks & Predictions

My selection is on Duke minus the points over TCU at 5:15 pm et on Saturday.

Duke got its scare in the opening round of this tournament, narrowly avoiding a massive 'upset' against Siena. I don't expect the Blue Devils to struggle nearly as much getting past TCU on Saturday. We won with the Horned Frogs in their 'upset' victory over Ohio State on Thursday but it certainly didn't come easy. Of all the first round winners, I was perhaps least impressed by TCU. The Horned Frogs had so many chances to put the Buckeyes away in that game but just couldn't do it and ultimately needed a game-winning shot in the closing seconds to prevail. I think the Horned Frogs are going to have a difficult time staying out of foul trouble against the Blue Devils in this one. Even with Duke's injuries, there's still a wide talent gap and I fully expect the Blue Devils to ultimately pull away for a convincing victory. Take Duke (8*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Tampa Bay and Edmonton at 10:05 pm et on Saturday.

The Oilers are coming off a shutout loss at home against the Panthers two nights ago. Even as they continue on without Leon Draisaitl, I do think we'll see Edmonton bounce back offensively on Saturday. With that being said, I question whether the Oilers can keep the red hot Lightning offense in check. Tampa Bay has scored 12 goals over its last two games and draws another favorable matchup here. Note that Oilers home games have averaged 7.2 total goals this season. I think there is reason for pause for bettors when it comes to the 'over' in this matchup, however. Note that the first meeting between these teams needed overtime to decide and reached only three total goals. And of course the fact that the Oilers were shut out by the Panthers last time out is concerning. Sometimes it's that pause that sets up a good play, however, and I simply feel this sets up as a high-scoring, back-and-forth contest on Saturday night. One final note, Lightning road games have averaged 6.7 total goals this season. Take the over (8*).

My selection is on Charlotte minus the points over Memphis at 7:10 pm et on Saturday.

Few teams are left with as short of a rotation as the Grizzlies right now and they're certainly not a team we want to get behind in a back-to-back situation, as is the case here. Credit Memphis for giving Boston all it could handle at home last night. I think we'll see a different story on Saturday though. The Hornets have gotten the wheels turning offensively again, pouring in 136 and 130 points in consecutive home wins over the Heat and Magic. There's still plenty of runway for this team as it continues a long seven-game homestand. After tonight's game, the Hornets will be idle until Tuesday so there's little reason to hold anything back in this one. Memphis' volume shooting from three-point range is all that has kept it competitive lately. Note that the Grizzlies have knocked down 42 or fewer field goals in five straight games and that's despite hoisting up 90+ field goal attempts in three of those contests. Memphis has actually done a pretty good job of defending the perimeter lately, holding three of its last four opponents to 11 or fewer made threes, impressive by today's NBA standards. We'll lay the points here. Take Charlotte (8*).

Second Round Game of the Year. My selection is on Arkansas minus the points over High Point at 9:45 pm et on Saturday.

High Point pulled off one of the biggest 'upsets' of the first round, taking down Wisconsin by a single point in a classic 12-5 matchup. Perhaps the Badgers weren't quite as good as most thought and the fact that they were a five-seed ended up telling us all we needed to know. Regardless, I like the way this sets up as a fade spot for the Panthers. Of note, High Point has now covered the spread in consecutive games. That puts it into uncharted territory as it has yet to deliver three straight ATS wins at any point this season. While the Panthers do own the better overall record in this matchup this season, the Razorbacks have faced the considerably more difficult schedule. Arkansas didn't overlook Hawaii in the opening round, turning in a near-flawless 97-78 victory. The Hogs have delivered the cash in consecutive games and have three previous ATS winning streaks lasting three games or longer. They've quite simply been one of the best bets in the country over the course of the entire season and I'm not sure the oddsmakers can set this line high enough on Saturday as High Point is sure to draw plenty of dog-hungry backers. Take Arkansas (10*).

My selection is on Vanderbilt minus the points over Nebraska at 8:45 pm et on Saturday.

This line opened as high as +3 at some books but bettors have stepped in and backed Nebraska to push it lower. We'll go the other way and lay the short number with the Commodores as they look to spoil the Cornhuskers party in Oklahoma. Nebraska figures to have a lot of support again on Saturday after it earned its first ever NCAA Tournament victory in blowout fashion over Troy on Thursday. Vandy will offer a much more difficult challenge and I think bettors are sleeping on the Commodores a little bit after their bandwagon cleared following last weekend's SEC Championship loss against Arkansas. Note that while Nebraska does own the slightly better overall record in this matchup this season, Vandy has faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Take Vanderbilt (8*).

My selection is on Houston minus the points over Texas A&M at 6:10 pm et on Saturday.

The knee-jerk reaction from most bettors will probably be to grab what looks like a generous helping of points with Texas A&M off its 'upset' win over Saint Mary's in the opening round of this tournament. We'll go the other way and lay the points with Houston - a team we won with in its rout of Idaho in the opening round. Credit the Aggies for defeating the Gaels in a defensive-minded affair on Thursday. They're still just 5-7 SU over their last 11 games, however, and I think this is a tough matchup for them stylistically. While Houston still carries a reputation for being a defensive powerhouse, its offense has been along for the ride this season as well. The Cougars enter this contest having connected on 28 or more field goals in five of their last seven contests. They continue to make opponents uncomfortable by pushing the pace, hoisting up more than 60 field goal attempts in five of their last eight games. Prior to Thursday's game, Texas A&M had yielded 30+ made field goals in three straight and four of its last five contests. Take Houston (8*).