Sports Handicapper Sean Murphy's Picks & Predictions

My selection is on Alcorn State plus the points over Indiana State at 2 pm et on Friday.

We'll grab the points with Alcorn State as it looks to avoid an 0-8 start to the season on Friday. While it's been a difficult start, that's had a lot to do with the team's strength of schedule. In fact, Alcorn State has faced one of the most difficult schedules in the entire country so far this season. Here, it checks in off four full days off after a 19-point loss (but second straight ATS cover) at Oklahoma. Indiana State had its two-game winning streak snapped in a 75-73 loss against a revenge-minded Louisiana Tech team on Wednesday. I don't think we've seen the Sycamores find a defensive identity yet this season and the door should be open for Alcorn State to keep this one competitive on Friday afternoon. Take Alcorn State (8*).

My selection is on Ball State plus the points over Monmouth at 2 pm et on Friday.

There's not a lot separating these two teams in the early going this season as both enter this matchup sporting identical 2-3 records with similar strength of schedules by most metrics. With that in mind, we'll grab the points with Ball State as they've had nearly a week to chew on a disappointing 70-52 loss at Indiana State last time out, marking its third straight loss both SU and ATS. The Cardinals certainly had their opportunities in that most recent contest, getting off 65 field goal attempts but making good on only 22 of them. I do like their chances of bouncing back here, noting that Monmouth has endured similar shooting woes, connecting on 22 or fewer field goals in four straight games since its season-opener against little-known Caldwell University. The Hawks haven't done a great job of containing the opposition, allowing 62 or more field goal attempts in four of five games. I think we'll see Ball State ultimately take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take Ball State (8*).

My selection is on Boise State minus the points over Utah State at 4 pm et on Friday.

This season hasn't gone exactly as planned for Boise State but it did manage to snap a two-game slide with a resounding 49-21 win over Colorado State on Saturday and I'm confident it can build on that performance as it wraps up the regular season at Utah State on Friday. The Broncos offense took out weeks of frustration on the Rams last time out. They'll face another beatable defense in the Aggies on Friday. Utah State has played some of its best football lately, reeling off three straight ATS victories. In fact, the Aggies are 9-2 ATS this season - one of the best bets in the country. I still don't like their defense and think they've benefited from a rather light schedule, padding their defensive numbers against pop-gun offenses in UTEP, FCS squad McNeese State, Nevada and most recently Fresno State. This is a team that also gave up 30 points against Air Force, 44 points against Hawaii and 33 points against New Mexico. While the Aggies do figure to inflict some damage offensively in this game, I expect them to be playing catch-up most of the day and never be able to run down the Broncos. Take Boise State (8*).

Big 12 Game of the Year. My selection is on Utah minus the points over Kansas at 12 noon et on Friday.

The Utes remain in the mix for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game as they travel to Lawrence to take on the Jayhawks in Friday's regular season finale. Utah has looked like a team on a mission since its 24-21 loss at rival BYU on October 18th. Since that game, the Utes have produced 53, 45, 55 and 51 points in reeling off four straight wins, going 3-1 ATS over that stretch. The lone ATS defeat came on Saturday as it narrowly avoided the 'upset' at home against Kansas State. After allowing 47 points in that game, I expect the Utes defense to enter this contest in a particularly foul mood. Kansas has never been able to regain the form that saw it open the season with four wins in its first six games, dropping four of its last five contests entering Friday's home finale. Running into the well-oiled machine that is the Utes offense spells trouble as the Jayhawks have played matador-like defense down the stretch, allowing 38 points or more points in three of their last five games. The Utes have yet to drop the cash in consecutive games this season, winning by 34 points at West Virginia and 46 points at home against Colorado in their last two games following an ATS loss, and we'll call for them to avoid that fate again on Friday. Take Utah (10*).