WUNDERDOG
Game: Connecticut at Detroit (7:35 PM Eastern)
Pick: 5 units on Detroit -7 (-105) (risk 5 to win 4.8 )
These teams will meet for the second time in three days and ultimately they will play three times over a six-game period. This series will go a long way to determine who comes out of the Eastern Conference as the top team. Connecticut took the opener in rather easy fashion, coming away with an impressive 17-point win in Uncasville Tuesday night. So why are they suddenly a six-point underdog here? Good teams don't forget embarrassing losses very quickly. Their loss occurred in their last game, so the mental edge changes for this one as well as the home court. These are two huge and decisive factors in the WNBA this year. Also worth noting is that the Shock have been an average team on the road at 5-4. At home they remain the only unbeaten team in the WNBA at 5-0, winning each game by an average of 10 points. The WNBA has also featured a huge edge to teams that allowed 80 points in their last game when matching up against a team that scored 80 in their last game. These teams, which are represented by Detroit tonight, have been 51-18 ATS over the last 69 games. Plenty of reasons for the Shock to keep working their home-court magic and come away with an impressive home win.
Game: Connecticut at Detroit (7:40 PM Eastern)
Pick: 5 units on Detroit -244 (moneyline) (risk 5 to win 2.1)
For all the reasons we like the Shock to cover this game, it also presents value on the moneyline. When coming off a road loss by 10 points or more, WNBA teams that have a winning record on the season, have gone 111-31 against the moneyline. Add in revenge as we stated above and you have the makings of a lot of value here.
Game: San Antonio at Houston (8:35 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total UNDER 141 -105 (risk 3 to win 2.9)
San Antonio lost their first home game of the season to Houston in their last game. It is easy to look back and see what happened. Mentally they took the court thinking if they showed up they would win. San Antonio had won their previous five games and for one reason. They made a defensive commitment. They had allowed just 64.6 points per game in those five, so what do you think the mindset will be here? Lesson learned! They are going to come out playing the type of game that turned a 3-4 start into a 5-0 run. Houston dropped their first five games of the season allowing 78 ppg. They have now tightened things up on the defensive end are now allowing just 68.6 ppg in their last three home tilts. This game certainly looks like one of those games with a defensive signature and mindset so we will play the UNDER here.
Game: Phoenix at Chicago (9:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total OVER 175.5 +100 (risk 3 to win 3)
Is there a total that can hold this Phoenix team to playing under? Not in this range and in this type of matchup. As the season has progressed the pace has gotten faster, especially when the emphasis has been run, run, and run. They are perfecting this type of play. Over the last four games, they have featured 765 points or 193 a game. The Sky has been no stranger to high-scoring games either, as they have allowed over 90 a game in their last three. These teams played in the 100s last time they met, and we don't see this one staying out of the 90s, so OVER gets the call.
Game: Washington at Los Angeles (10:35 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total OVER 143.5 -105 (risk 3 to win 2.9)
This is a Sparks? team that scores and scores consistently. They have yet to be held under 70 points in any of their 13 games thus far, and their lowest output at home has been 76 and has averaged 82 at home this year. A simple way to look at this one is if they get their average of 82, as a 12-point favorite, that says 70 for Washington or a game that should play in the 150s. Interesting side note to this one is that Washington has played 19 straight OVERS when they allow 79 or more in a game, so if the Sparks score even three points less than their average, there are still lots of signals for playing the OVER here. The Sparks are also 25-7 to the OVER against bad teams, those winning at a rate between 25-40% of their games. We will back the OVER here