Thursday's best WNBA bets
By Covers.com
Indiana Fever at San Antonio Silver Stars (+2.5, 141.5)
The Fever wants opponents to expect a certain style of play when they prepare to face the team with the league’s best record.
"Defense is what we want to be known for," Fever star Tamika Catchings told the Associated Press. "The first two games of the season we are 0-2 off the bat. One of the things we talked about in the locker room was what do we want to be known for. Play defense. Sounds so simple, but it's just so hard. Once we made the commitment to one another to be there and have each other's back, that's how we play."
And defense has been the team’s trademark the past 13 games, as it is 12-1 over that span. The Fever are allowing just 69.3 points per game, the best mark in the WNBA, to go with its fourth-ranked field goal percentage defense (41.3 pct).
Meantime, San Antonio has lost its past two games by an average of nine points and is just 3-4 ATS at home this season.
Pick: Fever
Chicago Sky at Washington Mystics (-5.5, 155)
If there’s one thing these two teams should be able to do, it’s put points on the board.
Washington is among the league’s best offensive teams, averaging more than 77 points per game and shooting better than 37 percent from beyond-the-arc. The team’s defense, however, is mediocre at best, allowing 76.9 points per game.
The Sky are very similar. Chicago’s defense is terrible, yielding more than 80 points per night. And while the team’s offense isn’t incredible, it does what it can to offset a lackadaisical approach on defense, averaging 74.5 points per game.
The Sky’s over/under record of 8-1 on the road also is an impressive number and blends well with Washington’s over/under home record of 4-3. The number is high, but expect scoring to soar.
Pick: Over
INDIANA (12 - 3) at SAN ANTONIO (6 - 8)
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 68-95 ATS (-36.5 Units) in road games since 1997.
INDIANA is 19-34 ATS (-18.4 Units) in road games in July games since 1997.
INDIANA is 44-70 ATS (-33.0 Units) against Western conference opponents since 1997.
INDIANA is 37-61 ATS (-30.1 Units) in road games after a division game since 1997.
INDIANA is 44-70 ATS (-33.0 Units) in non-conference games since 1997.
INDIANA is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 3-1 against the spread versus INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 3-1 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO (8 - 8) at WASHINGTON (7 - 7)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 166-215 ATS (-70.5 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 6-17 ATS (-12.7 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 54-77 ATS (-30.7 Units) in July games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 104-137 ATS (-46.7 Units) vs. division opponents since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) in home games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 48-71 ATS (-30.1 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 6-3 against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 5-4 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SACRAMENTO (3 - 13) at NEW YORK (5 - 8)
Top Trends for this game.
SACRAMENTO is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) in all games this season.
SACRAMENTO is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) as an underdog this season.
SACRAMENTO is 29-53 ATS (-29.3 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points since 1997.
SACRAMENTO is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) in May, June, or July games this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
SACRAMENTO is 3-1 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
SACRAMENTO is 3-1 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons