WNBA betting trends, odds and predictions for Wednesday, September 21st, 2016 from various handicappers and websites
Wednesday's 1st Round Matchups
Vegasinsider.com
A look at the two first-round series in the WNBA playoffs. The league changed the format for this postseason with both the first and second round being one game each.
No. 5 Indiana (17-17) vs. No. 8 Phoenix (16-18)
Season Series: Fever won 2-1.
Indiana: Tamika Catchings will have at least one more chance to play in front of her home fans. The 10-time All-Star who is retiring after the playoffs had a wonderful celebration after her final regular season home game Sunday.
Now she's trying to win a second WNBA championship in her illustrious career. The Fever have been up-and-down all season and will need to put together a strong effort for 40 minutes against the Mercury.
Phoenix: The Mercury might have been the biggest disappointment in the regular season.
Predicting by the league's GMs to win the title, Phoenix had to make a push in the final few weeks to even make the postseason.
Despite having Brittney Griner in the middle, the Mercury have been inconsistent on defense this season, giving up 83.3 points a game. Like Catchings, Penny Taylor has announced she'll retire after the playoffs.
The Australian guard has helped the Mercury win three championships.
Prediction: Phoenix
No. 6 Atlanta (17-17) vs. No. 7 Seattle (16-18)
Season Series: Storm won 2-1.
Atlanta: This is the Dream's seventh playoff appearance overall and first since 2014. The game will be played at Georgia Tech where Atlanta will play its home games for the next two seasons.
Angel McCoughtry has led the Dream all season in scoring (19.5). The offseason additions of Elizabeth Williams and Layshia Clarendon really have bolstered the team this season.
Seattle: The Storm are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2013 after going 7-3 since the Olympic break. Breanna Stewart has already had a rookie season to remember.
She set the WNBA record for defensive rebounds in a season, had the third most points ever by a first-year player and was third in blocked shots. The Storm won in Atlanta on Sept. 4.
Prediction: Seattle
PHOENIX (16 - 18 ) at INDIANA (17 - 17) - 9/21/2016, 6:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 29-41 ATS (-16.1 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) in road games in August or September games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 10-20 ATS (-12.0 Units) against Eastern conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 10-20 ATS (-12.0 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 3 seasons.
INDIANA is 35-20 ATS (+13.0 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 5-2 against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 4-3 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SEATTLE (16 - 18 ) at ATLANTA (17 - 17) - 9/21/2016, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 9-23 ATS (-16.3 Units) in road games on Wednesday since 1997.
SEATTLE is 10-22 ATS (-14.2 Units) in road games after 3 or more consecutive unders since 1997.
SEATTLE is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in August or September games this season.
SEATTLE is 112-81 ATS (+22.9 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 4-3 against the spread versus SEATTLE over the last 3 seasons
SEATTLE is 4-3 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX vs. INDIANA
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Phoenix's last 9 games when playing Indiana
Phoenix is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Indiana
Indiana is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Phoenix
Indiana is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games when playing at home against Phoenix
SEATTLE vs. ATLANTA
Seattle is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Atlanta
Seattle is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games when playing at home against Seattle
StatFox Super Situations
PHOENIX at INDIANA
Play Under - Home teams where the total is greater than or equal to 150 average 3PT shooting team (30-35%) against a poor 3PT defense (>=35%), in a game involving two good ball handling team (=35%) against an average 3PT defense (30-35%), after 2 straight games - allowing a shooting pct. of 45% or higher 59-26 since 1997. ( 69.4% | 30.4 units ) 3-1 this year. ( 75.0% | 1.9 units )