Sean Murphy – Sports Handicapper

Big West Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Cal-Irvine minus the points over Cal-State Fullerton at 10 pm et on Thursday.

This price has shifted right into our lap on Thursday as the Anteaters look to snap out of a 1-4 slide at home against red hot Cal-State Fullerton. Irvine started the season with a very manageable schedule but things have gotten a lot tougher lately. They're coming off an outright loss by double-digits at Hawaii one week ago tonight so they've had ample time to sit and stew over that setback and get ready for this very winnable matchup against Fullerton. The Titans have won five straight games but that's had as much to do with a weak schedule rather than anything else. While Irvine was projected by most to finish top-two in the Big West at the outset of the season, Fullerton was pegged as a middle-of-the-pack team. There's certainly still time for that to play out and I look for the Anteaters to take a step in the right direction with a convincing win on Thursday. Take Cal-Irvine (10*).

Thursday NHL Free play. My selection is on Philadelphia over Columbus at 7:05 pm et on Thursday.

The Flyers are obviously in desperate need of a victory as they enter Thursday's game riding a nine-game slide. I think they get it. Columbus comes into this game having lost five of its last seven contests, including a 9-2 beatdown at the hands of the Panthers last time out. The Jackets have been hopeless on the road this season, going 6-12 and allowing a whopping 4.1 goals per game, outscored by an average margin of 1.2 goals. You would have to go back five meetings in this series, all the way to February of 2019 to find the last time the Jackets defeated the Flyers. They haven't won a game in Philadelphia since December of 2018, losing their last two games here by a combined 12-5 score. Here, we'll note that Columbus is a woeful 6-23 the last 29 times it has played consecutive road games, as is the case here, outscored by 1.8 goals on average in that spot. Take Philadelphia.

My selection is on the 'over' between Ottawa and Pittsburgh at 7:05 pm et on Thursday.

The Senators are coming off a low-scoring game at home against the Sabres two nights ago and that actually sets us up well with a play on the 'over' on Thursday. Here, we'll note that the 'over' has gone a perfect 8-0 with the Sens coming off a game that totalled four goals or less over the last two seasons with that situation producing an average total of 8.9 goals. The 'over' is also 16-6 with the Sens playing on the road after scoring one goal or less in their last game over the last three seasons with that spot leading to an average total of 7.8 goals. As for the Pens, they average 4.2 goals and have seen an average total of 6.5 goals when seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent by two goals or more over the last two seasons (13-game sample size). Pens goaltender Tristan Jarry has been having a terrific season but has struggled a bit lately, posting an .899 save percentage over his last four games. Take the over (10*).