Sports Handicapper Sean Murphy's Picks & Predictions

My selection is on North Alabama plus the points over Jacksonville State at 7 pm et on Monday.

I don't think there's much separating these two teams at all - certainly not enough to warrant the lofty pointspread in favor of Jacksonville State. North Alabama has actually faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics and has hung tough including ATS wins at Mississippi State and Clemson. In what projects as a relatively slow-paced affair, I expect the Gamecocks to have difficulty pulling away. Jacksonville State enters this game on a three-game SU and four-game ATS losing streak. Note that against Division-I opposition, the Gamecocks have topped out at 25 made field goals in their four contests to date. There's a lot of continuity on the North Alabama roster with its top five scorers so far this season all returning players. Expect a down-to-the-wire affair at the very least. Take North Alabama (8*).

Monday NBA Free play. My selection is on Indiana plus the points over Cleveland at 7:10 pm et on Monday.

The Pacers will look to avenge a double-digit loss suffered in Cleveland back on November 21st and they'll do so playing arguably their best basketball of the young season. Indiana has notched back-to-back outright 'upset' victories and is a perfect 6-0 ATS over its last six contests. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have lost three games in a row including a home defeat against the Celtics yesterday. With the rest advantage, I don't think the Pacers have any business being spotted this many points in a game that figures to go down to the wire at the very least. Take Indiana.

My selection is on Utah plus the points over Houston at 9:10 pm et on Monday.

The Rockets steam-rolled the Jazz in the front half of this two-game set in Salt Lake City yesterday. We'll call for the Jazz to bounce back with a much better performance in Monday's rematch. It's a long season and even the best teams have difficult getting up for every game. This is a very difficult spot for Houston as it wraps up what has already been a very successful four-game road trip (3-0 so far). Utah is not on the same level of Houston by any means, but it hasn't been an awful bet this season with its longest ATS losing streak reaching only two games. Earlier in the season, the Jazz lost by 40 points in Minnesota before taking the same Timberwolves down to the wire in a seven-point loss the very next game. Take Utah (8*).

MNF Game of the Month. My selection is on New York plus the points over New England at 8:15 pm et on Monday.

The Patriots were severely undervalued following a 1-2 SU and ATS start to the season and went on to win five straight games ATS following that stretch and enter Monday's game on a nine-game SU winning streak. With that being said, they're just 1-2-1 ATS over their last four contests. Pointspread success isn't coming easy for Mike Vrabel's squad right now as the cat is out of the bag, so to speak - the Patriots are the real deal and casual bettors are well aware of that. I think they're overvalued in this spot as they host a Giants team that's seemingly in a constant state of flux. New York hasn't quit on the season as it has pushed the Bears, Packers and Lions - all potential playoff teams - hard in its last three games, going 2-0-1 ATS along the way. It gets a boost here with the return of rookie QB Jaxson Dart. With recent changes to the coaching staff, there's a renewed sense of urgency for the Giants right now. The pressure lies squarely on the Patriots shoulders here as they're expected to win this game after the division-rival Bills took care of business yesterday. Take New York (10*).