Sean Murphy

Wednesday NBA Free play. My selection is on New Orleans plus the points over Chicago at 7:10 pm et on Wednesday.

We won with the Pelicans the last time these two teams met right here in Chicago on December 14th and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play on Wednesday. New Orleans checks in off four straight losses but it hasn't been for lack of trying. The Pelicans did cover the spread in Monday's five-point home loss against the red hot Knicks. Chicago is dealing with a number of key injuries right now and comes off back-to-back home losses to the Bucks and Timberwolves. While the Bulls are stepping down in class in this matchup, I question whether they have the legs to end their slide. Note that they've been held to fewer than 40 made field goals in three straight and seven of their last 12 games overall. Take New Orleans.

My selection is on San Antonio moneyline over New York at 7:10 pm et on Wednesday.

The Spurs will have an opportunity to avenge their NBA Cup Final loss to the Knicks on Wednesday and they get the chance to do it at home, where they're 11-4 on the season. San Antonio enters this game on the heels of consecutive home losses against the Jazz and Cavaliers but I like the situation here as the Knicks have won three games in a row and will have one eye on a return home to host the Hawks and 76ers on consecutive nights on Friday and Saturday. Note that in the last meeting between these two teams San Antonio simply couldn't make good on its opportunities, getting off 99 field goal attempts but connecting on only 41. I like the bounce-back spot for the Spurs here and we'll keep it simple and back them at a virtual pk'em price on the moneyline. Take San Antonio moneyline (8*).

My selection is on Charlotte plus the points over Golden State at 1:10 pm et on Wednesday.

The Hornets will look to salvage the finale of their brief two-game homestand in a matinee affair against the Warriors on Wednesday. Charlotte checks in off a 10-point loss against the surging Bucks on Monday. That snapped the Hornets two-game SU and three-game ATS winning streak. This is a bit of a tough spot for the Warriors as they successfully bounced back from a loss in Toronto on Sunday by securing a 13-point victory in Brooklyn on Monday. So now they'll play a third road game in four nights before heading back home for back-to-back games against the Thunder and Jazz on Friday and Saturday. Take Charlotte (8*).

My selection is on Oklahoma City minus the points over Portland at 8:10 pm et on Wednesday.

These two teams met twice in late November and the Thunder took it relatively easy on the Trail Blazers, playing at a slower pace than we've seen them play at lately and ultimately winning those games by 27 points at home and eight points on the road. Here, Oklahoma City checks in having really been pushing the tempo, most recently hoisting up 98 field goal attempts (and making good on 53 of them) in a 140-129 win over Atlanta on Monday. That game against the Hawks only stayed competitive thanks to the Hawks being willing to trade blows, getting off 97 field goal attempts themselves. That's an anomaly against the Thunder as they had limited each of their previous four opponents to 84 or fewer field goal attempts. The Blazers have gotten off fewer than 90 field goal attempts in five of their last six and 13 of their last 16 contests. On the flip side, Portland has had little success containing opposing offenses, allowing nine of its last 15 foes to hoist up 90+ field goal attempts. I think it's only a matter of time before the Thunder stretch out the margin of victory in this one. Take Oklahoma City (8*).

My selection is on Boston University plus the points over Navy at 1 pm et on Wednesday.

These two teams sport opposite overall records this season with Boston University sitting at 5-8 and Navy at 8-5. With that being said, the visiting Terriers have faced the considerably more difficult schedule by most metrics. I don't think there's a lot separating these two teams at all and both come in feeling rested and good about themselves following victories on December 21st. Navy is actually riding a four-game winning streak which marks uncharted territory as it is its longest winning streak of the season to date. Despite the fairly soft schedule, the Midshipmen have had a difficult time just getting shots off let alone knocking them down lately, hoisting up 49, 46, 53, 55 and 51 field goal attempts over their last five games. Even last time out against little-known Rosemount College they connected on just 23 field goals. Boston does figure to limit Navy's scoring opportunities as it has held three straight opponents to 53 or fewer field goal attempts and nine of its 11 foes to 56 or less. Offensively, the Terriers can hang having made good on 30 or more field goals on four different occasions over their last eight contests. In stark contrast, Navy has knocked down 30+ field goals just once previously this season and that came against little-known Washington College of Maryland on November 14th. Take Boston University (8*).

Metropolitan Division Game of the Month. My selection is on New Jersey over Columbus at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday.

These two teams are clearly heading in opposite directions right now with New Jersey coming off four straight losses and Columbus riding a three-game winning streak. The Devils did play last night but it was a rather lifeless effort in Toronto as they fell by a 4-0 score. I question whether they used everything they had in the tank in that one, especially considering they were idle the two days' previous. Columbus endured travel troubles to secure a 4-1 'upset' win in Ottawa on Monday. Of note, the Blue Jackets are just 8-6-3 on home ice this season, where they've been outscored by an average margin of 0.4 goals. The Devils have likely had this matchup circled on their calendar after dropping a 5-3 decision on home ice in their lone previous meeting with the Blue Jackets this season back on December 1st. Take New Jersey (10*).

My selection is on Ohio State minus the points over Miami at 7:30 pm et on Wednesday.

We'll lay the points with Ohio State as it looks to bounce back from its first and only loss of the season to date and advance to the College Football Playoff semi-final round. Miami is of course coming off a first round 'upset' win over Texas A&M at College Station. The Aggies had every opportunity to win that game but their offense fizzled in big moments. The Hurricanes leaned on their defense and did just enough offensively to secure the victory but I'm not sure they'll be so fortunate here. These two teams actually faced identical strength of schedules this season by most metrics. But of course, Ohio State posted the slightly better record. The Buckeyes loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game certainly stung but that was always going to be a difficult turn-around after blowout out hated rival Michigan the previous Saturday. I certainly don't think Ryan Day's squad is hanging its head entering this showdown on Wednesday and I like the Buckeyes to ultimately win by margin. Take Ohio State (8*).

Wednesday CFB Free play. My selection is on Nebraska plus the points over Utah at 3:30 pm et on Wednesday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl on Wednesday. This is certainly not the game Utah wanted to be playing in as it had lofty expectations, albeit somewhat derailed by an early loss against Texas Tech. Nebraska will look to salvage a season that started strong but finished a mess with consecutive blowout losses to Penn State and Iowa to close out the regular season. Of note, the Cornhuskers did face the more difficult schedule of these two teams this season by most metrics. While they also finished with a predictably inferior record, I simply feel they're catching too many points on the fast track at Allegiant Stadium on Wednesday. Take Nebraska.