Sunday's Best WNBA Bets
Atlanta Dream at Seattle Storm (-7.5, 165)
The 2010 WNBA Finals kicks off Sunday, going head-to-head with Week 1 of the NFL season. Why the all-women’s basketball league is fighting a losing battle in the TV ratings, the Seattle Storm are confident they have the edge to win where it counts – on the basketball court.
Seattle, which won the WNBA title in 2004, will be relying on its experienced veteran core against the Atlanta Dream, who have only been in the league for three seasons.
“The one intangible advantage we may have over the Dream is the championship experience on this team,” Storm point guard Sue Bird wrote in special column for USA Today. “We have five titles between us on our roster, and we know that once you get to the final round, it's a very mental game.”
Seattle defeated Atlanta in both regular season meetings this season, covering the spread in each matchup. Over the past three years, the Storm are 5-1 straight up and 4-2 ATS in their six all-time meetings.
“Many fans and writers have pointed out that we beat the Dream in both of our matchups this season, but we're not even thinking about that as a predictor of how this series will turn out,” said Bird.
Both Seattle and Atlanta are undefeated in the postseason, posting identical 4-0 ATS marks.
Pick: Seattle -7.5
ATLANTA (23 - 15) at SEATTLE (32 - 6)
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in home games when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 3 seasons.
SEATTLE is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in home games after 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game this season.
SEATTLE is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 41-29 ATS (+9.1 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 13-6 ATS (+6.4 Units) in road games this season.
ATLANTA is 13-6 ATS (+6.4 Units) in a road game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 this season.
ATLANTA is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) in road games against Western conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 22-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) in road games after a division game over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) in road games revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 24-12 ATS (+10.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 22-9 ATS (+12.1 Units) in road games after scoring 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
SEATTLE is 17-37 ATS (-23.7 Units) off an upset win as an underdog since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 4-2 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
SEATTLE is 5-1 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA vs. SEATTLE
Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Seattle
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Seattle
Seattle is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Seattle is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games