Meet Ryan Murphy, Our Managing Editor
Ryan Murphy
Managing Editor
26+ Years ExperienceRyan Murphy began his love affair with sports journalism at the age of nine when he wrote his first article about his little league baseball team. He has since authored his own weekly column for Fox Sports and has been a trusted voice within the sports betting industry for the past eight years with stops at XL Media and Churchill Downs. He’s been proud to serve as Managing Editor at Covers since 2022.
What makes Ryan Murphy an expert?
“Murph” began his journey in sports betting in 2017, and enjoyed a highly rewarding tenure at Churchill Downs, where he oversaw the creation of the TwinSpires Edge and served as the publication’s first editor-in-chief. His nose for news and ability to find and nurture talent helped turn the site into a major player within the online gambling industry.
Experience
Covers.com
- Managing Editor
- April 2022 - Present
- Which US Olympic Men's Basketball Team is The Greatest of All-Time?
- Publication
- 10 Ways to Improve the Super Bowl: Bold New Ideas for Super Bowl 59 and Beyond
- Publication
- Hornets vs Hawks Odds, Picks and Predictions Tonight: Hawks Fly High at Home
- Publication
Churchill Downs Incorporated
- Editor-in-Chief, Sports and Casino Content
- August 2019 - April 2022
XL Media
- Senior Writer and Editor
- August 2017 - July 2019
Education
Ryan attended McGill University, where he graduated with First Class Honours in English Literature. In addition to being a member of the Dean’s List, Ryan was also an editor with The McGill Tribune and Red Herring, and had his own weekly shows on CKUT 90.3 FM and McGill TV.
McGill University
- Bachelor of Arts (English Literature)
8+ years in sports betting
Ryan has been a trusted voice in the industry for nearly a decade.
26+ years in writing
Ryan has been a prolific writer for more than a quarter of a century and continues to create lively and insightful content.
Diverse experience
Ryan has written extensively in a variety of genres including sports, entertainment, and humor.
Passion for writing
Ryan’s critically acclaimed stories have been published in 23 books and have been featured on more than 170 radio stations and 40 newspapers.
How does Ryan stay up to date?
Ryan stays up to date with the latest news, injuries, line movement, and betting insights.
Basketball Reference
Basketball Reference offers a staggering amount of historical data and has a Player’s Splits feature that is second to none.
NBA.com
The league’s official site slices and dices stats in every way imaginable, but its best feature is the Lineups tool, which allows you to see the offensive production of team units from around the league.
Covers NBA Picks
Our Covers NBA Picks page contains all our best bets on a given game day. From moneyline wagers to spread picks to player props, our experts have you covered.
Q&A with Phil
Where does your love of sports come from?
I owe it all to my father, who was a Hall of Fame quarterback and, many years later, an athletic director at his alma mater. He was my first coach and my greatest supporter as I threw myself headlong into a variety of sports (including a few I probably should have avoided).
Did you play sports when you were younger?
I certainly tried. I flopped badly at football and baseball, but found my stride with basketball, where my lanky limbs and sharp elbows served me much better. I was also the commissioner of my local Wiffle Ball League and even produced a quarterly magazine detailing our exploits on the field.
What do you look for in a sportsbook?
There are two things really: competitive odds and a wide variety of markets. I like having a large menu of options to choose from and want to know that I’m getting the best prices available.
What’s your best advice for sports bettors?
Bet with your head, not your heart. It pains me to be pragmatic, but blind loyalty has no place in sports wagering.
Covers’ Scores & Matchup pages are the best in the business, hands-down. They contain everything you need to begin your handicapping journey from injury reports and head-to-head results to betting trends and the latest line movement. It’s a one-stop shop for every bettor and a great way to start your day.
Ryan's areas of expertise
Ryan specializes in North American basketball betting markets, with a focus on futures and player props.
NBA betting
Ryan has been covering the Association for more than a decade and prides himself on delivering well-researched bets and insights.
AI handicapping
Ryan has become an expert at harnessing the power of large language models like ChatGPT to create AI-generated picks for events like March Madness and the Masters.
Ryan's memories
🚀 Big wins
I’d be lying if I told you I jumped on Blake Snell’s 2018 Cy Young odds when they were parked at +28,000. I’d be writing this passage from my own private island if I had. However, I did recognize his value early on when he got off to a 4-1 start and nabbed him at +5,000. By the time Snell picked up his hardware in November, most books had the lefty listed at -400.
😭 Bad beat?
I hate to admit it, but I was one of the few people in Canada that picked the Philadelphia 76ers to win Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals straight-up over the Toronto Raptors. The betting gods punished me for my lack of patriotism that evening when Kawhi Leonard’s game-winner bounced off the rim an excruciating four times before settling into the basket. I’m still recovering from the heart attack.
Ryan has also been featured in:
- Ask Ryan weekly column | Askmen.com
- Publication
- Ask Ryan weekly column | Fox Sports
- Publication
- National Lampoon Sports Minute (Or So)
Ryan's Articles
It's not just Ryan doing the research
Jon Metler
Betting Analyst
Having played, coached, and officiated basketball, Jon naturally turned his focus to the NBA when he entered the sports betting world. With over 15 years of experience, he specializes in spreads, moneylines, and player propsalways chasing value through sharp market analysis. A firm believer in analytics, Jon trusts the numbers to guide his bets. He monitors NBA betting markets 365 days a year and uses 10+ sportsbooks to find the best prices. If there are NBA games on, Jons up early, caffeinated, and already placing his favorite bets.
Read More
Phil Naessens
Betting Analyst
Prior to joining Covers in 2022, Phil Naessens spent 38 years as a resident tennis pro in Las Vegas, Mykonos, and Corfu, Greece. Hes the past host of the Phil Naessens Show (Armed Forces Radio), and currently hosts the Crush and Rush Tennis Podcast. Phil is the author of the Betting 101 series (MLB, NFL, NCAAF, and Tennis) and has written for numerous publications, including Advance Local, SB Nation, FanSided, and Lenny Melnick Fantasy Sports. His favorite sports to bet on are tennis, MLB, WNBA, Euro mens and womens hoops, NCAA sports, NFL, and the NBA. Phil has numerous betting accounts in the US and Europe, and his best advice is to line shop for the best value possible.
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Rohit Ponnaiya
Betting Analyst
With a background playing soccer, rugby, and boxing, combined with a journalism degree, it's little surprise that Rohit gravitated towards the world of sports betting. He specializes in betting on UFC and college basketball, two sports where the eyeball test can tell you a lot more about matchups than analytics. Rohit has years of experience handicapping NFL and NBA games as well as niche betting markets such as politics. He's also the resident CFL expert and formerly hosted "The Chez and Ro Show" with former CFL star Davis Sanchez.
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