Sean Murphy

Friday CBB Free play. My selection is on Maine plus the points over American at 4 pm et on Friday.

Maine checks into this contest sporting an 0-7 record on the season but I look for it to hang tough against American on Friday afternoon. Note that Maine has faced the more difficult schedule to this point of the season by most metrics. The Black Bears have done a nice job of limiting their opponents' pace and scoring opportunities if nothing else and with this total continuing to drop, I think they have a good shot at taking this one down to the wire at the very least. American beat little-known Marywood University in blowout fashion last time out but has yet to deliver consecutive wins this season. The Eagles have thrived by pushing the pace but I'm not convinced they'll be able to do so in this particular matchup as the Black Bears look to 'ugly it up'. Take Maine.

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*).

Friday NHL Free play. My selection is on Montreal +1.5 goals over Vegas at 4:05 pm et on Friday.

The Canadiens have shaken out of their slump to deliver back-to-back victories including a 4-3 win to open this road trip in Utah on Wednesday. I like their chances of hanging tough with the Golden Knights on Friday as well. Note that Montreal has played some of its best hockey on the road this season where it has gone 6-2-2 and outscored the opposition by an average margin of 0.3 goals. Vegas checks in on the heels of three straight losses and has posted a 4-3-3 home mark, where it has only outscored opponents by 0.1 goals on average - not exactly a team you want to be laying an insurance goal with. Montreal's trip will wrap up with a more difficult matchup in a back-to-back situation in Colorado tomorrow. Look for the Habs to take advantage of being rested entering this clash and ultimately take it down to the wire at the very least. Take Montreal +1.5 goals.

My selection is on Los Angeles minus the points over Memphis at 10:10 pm et on Friday.

Bettors are down on the Clippers right now and for good reason as they've won just twice in their last 13 games and come off back-to-back SU and ATS defeats. I do like the spot they're in on Friday, however, as they're rested (idle since Tuesday's loss against the Lakers) and host a Grizzlies team that will be playing their fourth game in seven nights, in four different cities no less. We have seen a spark from the Clippers offensively in recent games but the problem has been the opposition has quite simply shot the lights out over the last two contests. Memphis comes off a blistering shooting performance in New Orleans two nights ago. The Grizzlies emptied the tank in that come-from-behind victory that needed overtime to decide. Note that Memphis has notched consecutive ATS victories only once previously this season. Take Los Angeles (8*).

Central Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Chicago over Nashville at 8:05 pm et on Friday.

The Predators snapped their three-game losing streak with a decisive 6-3 'upset' win in Detroit two nights ago. Note that Nashville has won consecutive games only once previously this season and that happened back in October. The Preds remain 3-11 over their last 14 games. Chicago will be looking to end its own losing streak on Friday. It blew a 3-0 lead in an eventual 4-3 loss at home against the red hot Wild on Wednesday. The Blackhawks have now dropped four straight games - a season-high - but I look for them to rebound here. Note that Chicago is a respectable 5-5-2 on home ice where it has outscored the opposition by an average margin of 0.3 goals this season. Nashville is 3-5-2 on the road where it has been outscored by 1.1 goals on average. Take Chicago (10*).

My selection is on Arizona State plus the points over Arizona at 9 pm et on Friday.

I don't think there's much at all separating these two in-state rivals, as evidenced by the narrow pointspread favoring Arizona (at the time of writing). I'll make a case for backing the Sun Devils, noting that they've faced the tougher schedule by most metrics this season and return home where they've gone 5-1 SU this season. Arizona is already in uncharted territory as it is riding a season-high four-game winning streak. Arizona State has won three games in a row - a feat it accomplished once before this season. On that occasion, it failed to register a fourth straight victory but it was in a difficult situation travelling to face Utah as a near-double-digit underdog. Arizona is just an even 2-2 on the road this season but those two victories have come in its last two road dates at Colorado and Cincinnati. We'll simply call for the Wildcats to suffer a letdown of sorts as they come off Saturday's 41-17 rout of Baylor in what was their regular season home finale. Take Arizona 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*).