Saturday's Best WNBA Bets
Seattle Storm at Los Angeles Sparks (+2, 151)
As far as WNBA rivalries go, this is probably the best.
However, this war in the West could be a little lopsided in 2010. Seattle looks to be heads-and-shoulders above L.A., serving the Sparks an 81-67 season-opening beating in the Emerald City back in mid May.
The Storm have been at the top of their game, going 6-1 and coming off a huge statement win over the Atlanta Dream earlier this week. Seattle handed Atlanta its first loss of the season, winning 90-72 as 5.5-point home favorites. That has the Storm sitting first overall in the WNBA.
"Well, we've been good and obviously you want to be good," guard Tanisha Wright told reporters following the win over Atlanta. "But at the same time I don't think we've been our best, you know what I mean? Even tonight, we weren't our best."
Star forward Lauren Jackson was huge in the most recent win, scoring 32 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Jackson went 5-for-8 from beyond the arc as well, making her the toughest matchup in the league. She poured in 23 points and pulled down 10 boards in the season-opening win over the Sparks.
Pick: Seattle
Atlanta Dream at Washington Mystics (-2.5, 157)
The Mystics have left bettors in limbo the past two games, finishing with a push against the WNBA pointspreads in back-to-back outings. Washington knocked off the Connecticut Sun, 69-65, as a 4-point home favorite Sunday night.
The Mystics have a great chance to finally make some money for bettors when they host the Atlanta Dream Saturday.
The Dream, who lead the Eastern Conference with a 6-1 record, suffered their first loss of the season Tuesday and are coming off a tough home game with the Chicago Sky Friday night before making the trip to DC. That’s three games in five days, which is rare for the WNBA schedule.
Washington, which has been off all week, will also have starters Lindsey Harding and Katie Smith back for Saturday. Harding practiced this week after a hard fall in Sunday’s win. Smith missed that matchup with a sore back but is expected to return against the Dream.
Pick: Washington
ATLANTA vs. WASHINGTON
Atlanta is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Washington
Atlanta is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Washington
Washington is 6-1-1 ATS in its last 8 games
Washington is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
NEW YORK vs. INDIANA
New York is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Indiana
New York is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Indiana is 20-4 SU in its last 24 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Indiana's last 5 games at home
TULSA vs. CHICAGO
Tulsa is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Tulsa is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Chicago is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games at home
SEATTLE vs. LOS ANGELES
Seattle is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Seattle's last 9 games
Los Angeles is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Seattle
Los Angeles is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Seattle
NEW YORK (2 - 3) at INDIANA (3 - 3)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 46-27 ATS (+16.3 Units) on Saturday games since 1997.
INDIANA is 16-29 ATS (-15.9 Units) after scoring 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 6-1 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 6-1 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA (6 - 2) at WASHINGTON (4 - 3)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) in May, June, or July games over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 27-14 ATS (+11.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) in May, June, or July games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 182-227 ATS (-67.7 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 24-41 ATS (-21.1 Units) as a home favorite of 3 points or less since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 30-50 ATS (-25.0 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 113-147 ATS (-48.7 Units) vs. division opponents since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 3-3 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 5-2 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
TULSA (3 - 3) at CHICAGO (3 - 4)
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) off an upset win as an underdog since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 4-3 against the spread versus TULSA over the last 3 seasons
TULSA is 5-2 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SEATTLE (6 - 1) at LOS ANGELES (1 - 5)
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 34-21 ATS (+10.9 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 32-12 ATS (+18.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 10-4 against the spread versus SEATTLE over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 8-6 straight up against SEATTLE over the last 3 seasons
7 of 13 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons