Sports Handicapper Sean Murphy's Picks & Predictions

My selection is on Toronto plus the points over Cleveland at 7:10 pm et on Thursday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with the underdog Raptors on Thursday as they catch the Cavaliers returning home off an 'upset' win in Miami last night. Cleveland was severely short-handed in that game but still managed to rally in the second half for a double-digit victory. I think that performances leaves the Cavs in a bit of a tough spot here as they're feeling pretty good about themselves returning home and laying more points than they did the last time they faced the Raptors (in an eventual 112-101 home loss) on Halloween Night. Toronto is rested after securing a 119-109 win in Brooklyn two nights ago. Note that Toronto has failed to cover the spread (depending on your closing number in the game against the Nets - we'll call it a push) just once in its last six games and that came in a difficult back-to-back situation in Philadelphia following a double-digit win in Atlanta a night earlier. Take Toronto (8*).

AFC East Game of the Year. My selection is on New England minus the points over New York at 8:15 pm et on Thursday.

The Jets enter this game off back-to-back wins both SU and ATS but they're the very definition of 'paper tigers'. They're banged-up at key positions and sold off pieces prior to the trade deadline. The players that are still there aren't all that happy and while a divisional matchup in primetime is easy to get up for, I don't think they can hang with the Patriots for 60 minutes. Yes, New England is in a clear letdown spot off an 'upset' win in Tampa on Sunday. However, the matchup advantages are simply too plentiful for me to ignore in this game. The Patriots enter riding a seven-game winning streak, going 6-1 ATS over that stretch. They've blown out the teams they should, winning by 29 points against Carolina, 18 points against Tennessee and 19 points against Cleveland during that stretch. I expect the Pats defense to feast in this game and for it to serve as another breakout game for rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson in front of a national audience. Aaron Glenn's Jets simply won't have the answers. Take New England (10*).

My selection is on Indiana plus the points over Phoenix at 9:10 pm et on Thursday.

The Suns 'emptied the tank' so to speak in last night's 123-114 win in Dallas and they enter Thursday's home date with the lowly Pacers already in uncharted territory riding a season-high four-game SU and ATS winning streak. Phoenix has without question been one of the league's early season surprises, posting a 7-5 SU and 8-4 ATS record. I don't like the way this spot sets up for the Suns on Thursday, however. Indiana comes in rested after yet another beatdown in Utah two nights ago. The Pacers are dealing with a number of key injuries and that's certainly a big reason why they own just one victory on the season. I do think we'll see them leave it all on the floor in the finale of this four-game road trip though, noting they enter it having lost five games in a row SU and four straight ATS. Keep in mind, entering their current four-game ATS slide the Pacers had gone 5-2 ATS so they're definitely capable of rising to the occasion in an underdog role here. Take Indiana (8*).

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

The Hawks are rolling right now, riding a three-game SU and ATS winning streak despite missing some key contributors due to injury. They're in a tough spot on Thursday, however, as they play their third game in four nights, in three different cities, against a Jazz squad that has hung tough with a 7-4 ATS record so far this season. Utah has displayed a considerable home court edge, going 3-2 SU and a perfect 5-0 ATS in Salt Lake City. While they're also in a third game in four nights situation on Thursday, all three of those games have come at home and they're rested following an off day on Wednesday. We'll grab the points with the home underdog. Take Utah (8*).

Thursday NHL Free play. My selection is on Vegas over New York at 10:05 pm et on Thursday.

The Knights can't get out of their own way right now, losers of three straight games on their current homestand. I do like their chances of ending that slide in the finale of the homestand on Thursday, however. New York checks in off consecutive 'upset' wins over the Rangers and Devils to open its current seven-game road trip. This is a tough spot as it travels across the country to face a rested and desperate Knights squad. While the price is fairly steep, I believe it's warranted as Vegas certainly doesn't want to head out on the road riding an extended losing streak. Take Vegas.

Non-Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Detroit over Anaheim at 7:05 pm et on Thursday.

This is a game the Red Wings have surely had circled on their calendar after dropping a 5-2 decision in Anaheim on Halloween Night. The Ducks have been on a tear since then but they're playing a little over their heads in my opinion and do check in off a 4-1 loss in Colorado two nights ago. Of note, Anaheim will be playing its fifth game in the last eight nights, in five different cities, on Thursday. Detroit has been idle since Sunday's loss at home against the Blackhawks, marking its third straight defeat. The Wings are still 5-3 at home this season and I look for them to bounce back in this contest. Take Detroit (10*).