WNBA Picks
Another doubleheader in the WNBA is on tap for Thursday night, and we just found out that Caitlin Clark will sit this one out for the Fever as they take on the LA Sparks, and the Las Vegas Aces will host the Washington Mystics. It will be the second leg of a back-to-back for the Aces after pulverizing the Connecticut Sun Wednesday night. The injury bug has been running rampant across the W so far this season, taking out several key players for multiple games. Nonetheless, the games will go on, and there are lines to bet, so let’s get to today’s projections from the T Shoe Index.
Indiana Fever vs. LA Sparks
This game was lined with the Fever as 11-point favorites with a total of 174. However, we just found out Thursday morning that Caitlin Clark has a groin injury and will not play, so the line is currently all over the place. I won’t give an official play here, but I will give you my Clark-adjusted projections for you to do as you wish once the dust settles. Accounting for Clark’s absence, I’d make LA 3.5-point favorites with a total of 172. Indiana has been dreadful without Clark in the lineup, and they’ve got a back-to-back with Dallas and Paige Bueckers on deck for tomorrow. The Fever were 8 points worse without Clark in the lineup earlier this season, per TSI game grades.
Projection: LA Sparks -3.5, O/U 172
Las Vegas Aces (-8) vs. Washington Mystics, O/U 161
I’m not sure how much of a factor the back-to-back scenario is for Vegas, since they obliterated the pathetic Connecticut Sun last night, but it’s something to note nonetheless. This line opened -11 and has been bet down in favor of Washington, while the total has dipped from 163.5 to 161.5. TSI projects Aces -1 with a total of 159. I love the Mystics in this spot, and believe it or not, these teams have the same number of wins so far this year, so the perception gap is much wider than the production gap with these teams. I’m backing the Mystics with the points here, as they’ve been 3 points better on the road than at home so far this season.
WNBA Pick: Washington Mystics +8 (Play to +6)
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