Saturday's best WNBA bets
By Covers.com
Los Angeles Sparks at Sacramento Monarchs (-3, 145.5)
As the Sparks conclude a seven-game road trip a short drive from their own gym, they learned an important lesson: They aren’t a good road team.
Los Angeles is just 2-9 on the road this season and has dropped four of six away games heading into the final test of its trip. The problem for the Sparks has been finding consistent scoring. With an injury to center Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker not fully in game shape as she returns from pregnancy leave, the club has struggled with veteran Tina Thompson as its most reliable player.
But help is on the way. Parker has led the team with double-digit rebounds each of the past two games. When her MVP shooting stroke returns, the Sparks should again be considered contenders.
For now, they must focus on a Monarchs team they already beat by 20 once this season. Sacramento has lost three of its past five games.
Pick: Sparks
San Antonio Silver Stars at Seattle Storm (-6.5, 140)
Home teams haven’t just held an edge when these two squads tangle – they dominate.
Since 2006, the home team has won eight of 10 meetings between these two sides, including splitting a pair of games won by the host team this year. But then again, the Storm are a tough opponent for any visiting club.
Seattle is 7-2 in its own gym this year, winning those games by an average of 8.5 points per game. The Silver Stars figure to have a slight mental edge over the Storm after beating them, 74-71 in Texas on Tuesday. San Antonio, however, won the game on a last-second, 21-foot three, and the Silver Stars are unlikely to shoot 41.4 percent from down town again.
Pick: Storm
NEW YORK (6 - 11) at ATLANTA (9 - 10)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 12-5 ATS (+6.5 Units) in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) off an upset win as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
NEW YORK is 45-26 ATS (+16.4 Units) on Saturday games since 1997.
ATLANTA is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) in home games after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 3-2 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 6-0 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX (14 - 6) at MINNESOTA (10 - 9)
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 13-6 ATS (+6.4 Units) in all games this season.
PHOENIX is 116-85 ATS (+22.5 Units) as a favorite since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 9-19 ATS (-11.9 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 6-4 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 6-4 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
10 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT (9 - 8) at CHICAGO (9 - 10)
Top Trends for this game.
CONNECTICUT is 12-22 ATS (-12.2 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 74-48 ATS (+21.2 Units) in road games since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 24-11 ATS (+11.9 Units) in road games in August or September games since 1997.
CHICAGO is 6-13 ATS (-8.3 Units) in all games this season.
CHICAGO is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
CHICAGO is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 5-4 against the spread versus CONNECTICUT over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT is 7-3 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES (5 - 10) at SACRAMENTO (5 - 15)
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 9-19 ATS (-11.9 Units) in road games vs. division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
LOS ANGELES is 9-22 ATS (-15.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 136-89 ATS (+38.1 Units) as a favorite since 1997.
SACRAMENTO is 39-23 ATS (+13.7 Units) in home games in August or September games since 1997.
SACRAMENTO is 28-15 ATS (+11.5 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 46-27 ATS (+16.3 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
SACRAMENTO is 54-34 ATS (+16.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record after 15+ games after 15+ games since 1997.
SACRAMENTO is 6-13 ATS (-8.3 Units) in all games this season.
SACRAMENTO is 3-10 ATS (-8.0 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
SACRAMENTO is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) after a division game this season.
SACRAMENTO is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) after scoring 75 points or more this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 5-3 against the spread versus SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 5-3 straight up against SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO (8 - 9) at SEATTLE (11 - 7)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) in road games vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in home games when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 15-4 ATS (+10.6 Units) in home games vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 7-2 against the spread versus SEATTLE over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 7-2 straight up against SEATTLE over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons