Sports Handicapper Sean Murphy's Picks & Predictions

MLB Playoff Game of the Year. My selection is on New York over Houston at 8 pm et on Saturday.

I believe this line is completely out of whack. Yes, this has been a home-dominated series and the Astros seemingly grabbed back momentum with last night's victory. However, it's the Yankees that have the edge on the mound in terms of talent and experience on Saturday night as CC Sabathia takes on Charlie Morton. My money is on Sabathia and the resilient Yankees here, keeping in mind he was already on the hill for a series-clinching, series-deciding victory against the Indians in the ALDS. Charlie Morton's numbers are pedestrian at best, and he was already shelled by the Yankees in this series. While I'm not expecting a rout here, I am confident that the Yanks will deliver a victory and set up a World Series for the ages against the Dodgers. Take New York (10*).

My selection is on Ottawa over Toronto at 7:05 pm et on Saturday.

I like the Senators to bounce back from a discouraging 5-4 overtime loss to the Devils on Thursday night. Ottawa carried the play for much of that game but suffered a number of lapses along the way, allowing the upstart Devils to steal a victory. I expect a much sharper effort from Ottawa against its chief rival on Saturday night. Toronto is off to an incredible start to the season, seemingly scoring at will. But the Leafs haven't enjoyed much success in Ottawa in recent years and I'm not sure they'll match the Sens intensity in this one. At the time of posting, the Leafs have crept into a favorite role, and I believe the oddsmakers have got it wrong in this particular case. Take Ottawa (10*).

CFB MAC Total of the Year. My selection is on the ‘over’ between Akron and Toledo at 12 noon et on Saturday.

I’ll back the ‘over’ at the Glass Bowl on Saturday afternoon. Akron is coming off back-to-back strong defensive performances, giving up just 16 points combined in victories over Ball State and Western Michigan. I look for the Zips to struggle to contain the Rockets offense on Saturday, however. Akron can certainly put points on the board itself, even if it has been inconsistent in that regard this season. I see this as a favorable spot for the Zips offense to get rolling again after getting bottled up for much of the game against Western Michigan last week. The only blip on the Rockets schedule so far was a 52-30 road loss against Miami. Like Akron, Toledo has put forth a couple of solid defensive showings lately, giving up just 25 points combined in wins over Eastern and Central Michigan. But again, I’m not sure that’s sustainable. Last year’s meeting between these two teams totaled 65 points. I believe the potential is there for this one to eclipse that number. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Georgia Southern plus the points over UMass at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

We’ll go ahead and fade UMass again on Saturday as it finds itself as a home favorite against winless Georgia Southern. While Georgia Southern does check in with an ugly 0-5 record, it hasn’t exactly faced a breeze of a schedule. I’m not even sure the Eagles have had a winnable game to this point, but this one does fall into that category in my opinion. Note that just last week, Georgia Southern actually led New Mexico State by a 27-21 score entering the fourth quarter before allowing two unanswered touchdowns. I do believe that narrow loss will serve to give them some confidence here, keeping in mind UMass has also yet to notch a victory this season, going 0-6. The Minutemen have been idle since September 30th which I don’t see as a positive given they put 50 points on the board in a losing effort on that day. UMass has been competitive in all of its six games this season but hasn’t been able to come up with the big plays in crunch time. I believe the oddsmakers are asking a lot for them to cover a touchdown spread here. Expect another tightly-contested affair. Take Georgia Southern (10*).

CFB Blowout Game of the Week. My selection is on Appalachian State minus the points over Coastal Carolina at 3:30 pm et on Saturday.

I’ll lay the points with Appalachian State as it aims for its third consecutive victory on Saturday afternoon. The Mountaineers survived a trip to Idaho to defeat the Vandals by a less than impressive 23-20 score last Saturday. Keep in mind, just two weeks ago, Appalachian State put 45 points on the board in a two-touchdown win over New Mexico State. The Mountaineers have the opportunity to really build some momentum here before they hit the road for back-to-back games against UMass and Louisiana-Monroe, and I expect them to do exactly that. Coastal Carolina has just one win on the season, and that came in its season opener at home against UMass. Last week, the Chanticleers were throttled by a 51-17 score at Arkansas State. This is a team that was rolled 52-10 at home against Western Illinois earlier this season. I just don’t see them picking themselves up off the mat in this spot. While we’re dealing with a lofty pointspread here, I do believe it’s warranted. Take Appalachian State (10*).