Sean Murphy

My selection is on Boston College plus the points over Vanderbilt at 9:15 pm et on Wednesday.

This line doesn't add up as Boston College heads out on the road to face Vanderbilt on Wednesday. The Eagles have actually faced the considerably more difficult schedule to this point this season - 157th toughest in the nation according to KenPom compared to Vandy's 298th ranking in that department. Yet Boston College has knocked down five more field goals per game (on the same number of additional field goal attempts) while holding the opposition to one less made field goal on one fewer attempt per contest. Take Boston College (8*).

My selection is on Bradley minus the points over Murray State at 8 pm et on Wednesday.

I like Bradley as it heads out on the Missouri Valley Conference road to face Murray State on Wednesday. The Braves have faced the considerably tougher schedule this season according to KenPom - 122nd most difficult in the nation according to KenPom. In stark contrast, the Racers have faced just the 259th toughest slate of opponents. In spite of that, Bradley has connected on just two fewer field goals per game on five fewer field goal attempts while holding opponents to five fewer made field goals on the same number of field goal attempts allowed. Take Bradley (8*).

My selection is on James Madison minus the points over Buffalo at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

This game has rout written all over it as James Madison hosts Buffalo on Wednesday. The Bulls have faced just the 258th most difficult schedule in the country according to KenPom yet they've gone a miserable 1-5 through six games. Meanwhile, James Madison has gone up against the 118th toughest slate of opponents and check in a perfect 6-0. The Dukes are averaging a whopping nine more made field goals per game compared to the Bulls, on just 11 additional field goal attempts per contest. Defensively, JMU has allowed four fewer made field goals per game on two additional attmepts. Take James Madison (8*).

Wednesday CBB Free play. My selection is on Morehead State plus the points over Austin Peay at 8 pm et on Wednesday.

I can't help but feel the wrong team is being favored in this matchup on Wednesday. Morehead State has faced the eighth most difficult schedule in the country so far this season according to KenPom. Meanwhile, Austin Peay has gone against the 91st toughest slate of opponents. Despite that, Morehead State has made good on one more field goal on average despite hoisting up two fewer attempts per game compared to Austin Peay. Defensively, Morehead State has allowed one less made field goal per game on three additional attempts by comparison. We'll grab all the points we can get with the visitors here. Take Morehead State.

My selection is on Gardner-Webb minus the points over Queens at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

Gardner-Webb has quietly faced the 11th most difficult schedule in the country this season according to KenPom while Queens has gone up against the 208th toughest slate of opponents. With that said, both teams check in sporting identical 3-4 records. All records aren't created equal though. Gardner-Webb has made good on two more field goals on one fewer field goal attempt per game than Queens while holding the opposition to seven fewer made field goals per contest. Queens has yielded those seven additional made field goals per game on only eight additional field goal attempts. Take Gardner-Webb (8*).

My selection is on Harvard minus the points over American at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

I think we have a blowout on our hands here as Harvard hosts American U on Wednesday. American has faced only the 330th most difficult schedule in the country so far this season according to KenPom. Compare that with Harvard, which has gone up against the 87th toughest slate of opponents. Despite that, the Crimson have averaged two more made field goals on the same number of field goal attempts per game. On seven fewer three-point attempts per contest the Crimson have knocked down just two fewer three-point field goals. Defensively, Harvard has yielded two fewer made field goals per game on seven more field goal attempts per contest. The Crimson roll on Wednesday. Take Harvard (8*).

Game of the Month. My selection is on VMI plus the points over Navy at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

I really like the way this spot sets up for the underdog Keydets as they face Navy on Wednesday. VMI checks in just 2-5 on the season but it has faced a fairly difficult schedule - the 110th toughest in the nation according to KenPom. Navy is 0-4 yet has faced only the 250th most difficult schedule by the same metrics. Note that the Keydets are averaging a whopping 10 more made field goals per game than the Midshipmen, despite getting off just six additional field goal attempts. From three-point range, VMI is knocking down two more shots while attempting just one more than Navy. It's a similar story defensively. VMI has held opponents to just 25 made field goals per game - just one more than Navy despite allowing nine additional field goal attempts per contest. VMI took this matchup by eight points as an 11-point home favorite last season. That 'revenge' angle is a big reason why Navy is installed as a considerable favorite at home on Wednesday. I believe the Midshipmen are laying too many points. Take VMI (10*).

Eastern Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Columbus over Montreal at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday.

The Canadiens have taken three straight meetings in this series - their longest such streak against the Blue Jackets since way back in 2015. I look for that run to come to an abrupt halt on Wednesday, however, as Montreal wraps up its long road trip in Columbus. Note that the Habs haven't taken the ice since Saturday when they suffered a 4-0 defeat in Los Angeles. This has been an interesting road trip as Montreal started in Boston on November 18th before travelling to California for a three-game in four-night set that saw it take four of a possible six points. Having been idle since Saturday, I believe the Habs are in danger of coming out flat against an opponent that doesn't draw a great deal of motivation on Wednesday. Montreal would be wrong to overlook the lowly Blue Jackets here as Columbus has been playing well. The Jackets check in winners of three of their last four games including a convincing 5-2 win over the first-place Bruins on Monday. Note that the Habs are a woeful 2-17 in their last 19 games following four or more consecutive road games. Take Columbus (10*).

My selection is on Memphis minus the points over Utah at 8:10 pm et on Wednesday.

The Grizzlies are mired in an incredible shooting slump, knocking down 37 or fewer field goals in each of their last four games - all losses (1-3 ATS). Of course, they've also faced a tough schedule over that stretch, going up against the Celtics, Rockets (who are much improved defensively), Suns and Timberwolves. The good news is, the Jazz will come knocking on Wednesday and Utah has been one of the league's worst defensive teams this season. The Jazz check in having allowed five of their last six opponents to make good on 44 or more field goals. On the flip side, Utah has connected on 38 or fewer field goals itself in four consecutive games. This is a double-revenge spot for the Grizzlies after the Jazz took each of the first two meetings this season. Also note that this is a critical spot for Memphis to bag a victory as it will head out on the road for a difficult back-to-back set in Dallas and Phoenix next. Take Memphis (8*).

My selection is on Tennessee plus the points over North Carolina at 7:15 pm et on Wednesday.

It's early in the season but this is a big spot for the Volunteers as they check in off consecutive losses against Purdue and Kansas in Hawaii. Tennessee has had a full week off to stew on that most recent defeat at the hands of the Jayhawks and I like the way the Vols match up against the Tar Heels on Wednesday. North Carolina has pushed the pace and shot reasonably well, knocking down 28 or more field goals in five of six games so far this season. Here, they'll run into the nation's top-ranked team in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency in Tennessee. While the Vols have gone up against the 15th most difficult schedule in the country so far this season, the Tar Heels have faced the 127th. Take Tennessee (8*).