Top 5 WNBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sunday (8/31)
There are two contests across the WNBA throughout the day. Despite the smaller slate, there are still a plethora of options to consider. Here are our top WNBA picks & predictions for Sunday, August 31st.
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Sunday’s Best WNBA Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Washington has not flourished in the first 10 minutes of gameplay by any means over the course of the season. The Mystics are averaging the fewest amount of first-quarter points in the WNBA (19). Washington has held opponents to only 20.4 points per game on 43% shooting from the field over the initial 10 minutes.
The Sparks are on the opposite end of the spectrum, averaging a powerful 22.2 points in the first quarter. Los Angeles can certainly fill up the scoreboard, but their opponent may be the reason that the score falls below the suggested threshold.
Washington scored a total of eight points in the first 10 minutes of last night’s contest against Golden State. The Mystics have only exceeded 43.5 first-quarter points in one of their last three games. When these teams met last on August 17th, they combined for 41 points.
Washington Mystics @ Los Angeles Sparks Under 172.5 Points (-110)
This will be a back-to-back for the Mystics, and that may very well impact their ability to make shots and push the ball up the floor. Washington has struggled to score in two games played without rest, posting an average of 77 points in that situation. The Mystics are shooting 44% from the field when playing on consecutive days.
Los Angeles is shooting 33% from beyond the arc over the last four games, while only averaging 81.5 points per game. The scoring average for the Sparks decreases by one point in their previous three contests. Neither team is scoring at its best currently, and the Mystics are struggling mightily from an offensive standpoint through the second half of August.
Washington is coming off an absolute annihilation yesterday against the Valkyries, which resulted in the Mystics finishing with 62 points on 35.9% shooting. Washington is averaging 68.8 points at a 42.7% clip from the field, and a lowly 27.1% from deep over the last six games.
Los Angeles Sparks -7.5 (-110)
Los Angeles is presented with a tough task as they exhaust every effort to hopefully finish this season amongst the top eight teams in the WNBA. Yet, between Los Angeles and Washington, the Sparks seemingly have a firmer grasp on the offensive side of the floor.
The Sparks are 6-5 in August, boasting an average of 89.4 points per game, and 90.4 in their last seven home games. Washington is allowing 86 points per game over their last five contests, while only scoring 68.8 per game.
The -7.5 line seems like a stretch for two teams so close in the standings. However, this Washington team is conceding almost 18 more points than they are scoring over the last five games. When you factor in the poor previous performances with one day of rest or fewer, there's probably no way we can pass up on taking the Sparks for the points in this contest.
Golden State Valkyries Moneyline (+112)
The Fever showed tremendous fight in their last contest in Los Angeles on Friday, where Indiana held on through a low-scoring second half to best the Sparks by one point. Fast forward to Sunday, and the Fever head to Golden State to face a Valkyries team that continues to hold the last playoff spot with six games left.
The Valkyries are 2-0 on the season against the Fever, with a win differential of 30 points over those two contests. The Valkyries will be coming off a back-to-back, however. Golden State is 1-0 on the season when having to play on consecutive days. The Valkyries played three games in four nights from July 29th through August 1st, winning all three contests over that stretch.
The Fever have lost six out of their last 10 games, and two out of their last three when playing as the away team. Indiana is scoring under 80 points over the last four road games, while shooting 42.3% from the field and 29.3% from beyond the arc. Golden State is allowing a stringent 73.3 points in their last four games played.
Indiana Fever Team Total Under 79.5 Points (-111)
The Indiana Fever have faced Golden State on two occasions this season, and are averaging 69 points per game on a frightful 37.3% shooting from the field and 25% from outside the perimeter. When the Fever last played the Valkyries on July 9th, Indiana scored 61 points in a 19-point blowout loss.
Before the last game played at home for Golden State on August 19th, the Valkyries were only allowing an average of 69.1 points per game at the Chase Center over the prior seven contests. Golden concedes the fewest number of two-point field goals, holds opponents to the lowest shooting percentage in the WNBA and gives up the third-fewest amount of points.
Golden State has only allowed over 79.5 points to their opponents in one out of the last 10 games played on their home floor. Over that span, the Valkyries are holding the opposition to 41% shooting from the field and just below 34% from beyond the perimeter.