WNBA Basketball Betting: The Best And Worst - Updated July 2nd 2009

Article courtesy of Alex Smart, If you are betting on WNBA basketball this season, be sure to purchase Alex Smart’s expert WNBA picks from Touthouse.com

With the WNBA betting season having almost a month’s worth of games under its belt, enough data has been accrued to help sports bettors decipher which teams have been kind to the betting public and which haven’t. The following is a list of the best and worst WNBA teams ATS, as well as the best ‘over’ and ‘under’ teams:

Who’s Hot?
1) Indiana Fever (6-2 ATS, 6-2 SU) The Indiana Fever has proved to be the most lucrative wager in the WNBA throughout their first eight games by getting decent production at both ends of the court. The offense comes in ranked 7th in the league scoring an average of 74.9 points per game shooting 39.2% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the arc, while the defense ranks 3rd limiting opponents to 71.1 PPG on 42.2% shooting from the field. Purdue Boilermaker product Katie Douglas is the team’s best scoring threat averaging 18.1 PPG, while Tennessee standout Tamika Catchings leads the team in rebounding (6.5/game) and steals (3.1/game).

2) Washington Mystics (5-2 ATS, 4-3 SU) The second best bet in the women’s league is surprisingly the Washington Mystics led by Head Coach Julie Plank. This franchise struggled enormously a year ago winning 10 of its 34 lined games while covering the number just 12 times. This past season’s overhaul of the team, which included replacing the general manager and head coach, has seen the Mystics already win four games. They started the season off 3-0 both SU and ATS with wins against two of the Eastern Conference’s best teams from a year ago in the Detroit Shock and Connecticut Sun. Duke sensation Alana Beard is the offensive standout averaging close to 20 PPG (19.3), while Crystal Langhorne leads the league in rebounding hauling down an average of 8.4 per game.

Who’s NOT Hot?
1) Sacramento Monarchs (1-7 ATS, 1-7 SU) Since winning the WNBA Championship back in 2005 and losing to the Detroit shock in the Finals the following season, the Monarchs have struggled losing in the Conference Semifinals each of the last two seasons. After compiling 18-16 SU and 18-15-1 ATS marks a year ago, the Monarchs have stumbled out of the gates losing seven of their first eight games both SU and ATS. Since dropping a 71-61 decision in their season opener as two-point home chalks against Seattle, the Monarchs have been “dogged” every game since. Both the offense (72.4 PPG on 38.7% shooting from the field) and defense (79.8 PPG on 45.3% shooting allowed) ranks in the bottom half of the league. Look for Sacramento to continue to struggle if they don’t at the very least find their way at one end of the court.

2) Detroit Shock (2-5 ATS, 2-5 SU) The Shock closed out their respective 2008 WNBA betting campaign in style by sweeping the San Antonio Silver Stars to capture the third championship in the franchise’s history. The defense of the title has been rough to say the least. Though it’s only been outscored by an average of 2.4 PPG throughout its first seven games, Detroit’s won and covered just two games for its wagering supporters. The offense has averaged just 72 PPG on 40% shooting from the field, while the defense has allowed opponents to score an average of 74.4 PPG at a 41.5% conversion rate. In the early going, it looks as if WNBA bettors should look to fade the Shock on the road (0-3 SU & ATS) and only look to play them at home (2-2 SU & ATS).

Lighting it up!
1) Phoenix Mercury (8-2 O/U) The Mercury have closely resembled Phoenix Suns teams from the past that were all about outscoring their opponents and leaving a ton to be desired at the defensive end of the court. Through their first 10 games of the season, the Mercury have scored a league best 90.4 PPG mostly due to having the league’s second highest scorer in former UCONN Husky Diana Taurasi. That said; they’re the worst ranked defense of the 13 WNBA teams allowing opponents to score an average of 89.7 PPG on 43.8% shooting from the field. If you’re looking for some fast paced high scoring action, set your sights on the desert where the Mercury are 5-1 to the ‘over’ on the year.

Snooze alert…
1) Los Angeles Sparks (2-6-1 O/U) The Sparks have been all about defense to start their respective 2009 WNBA campaign. This ultimately has allowed sports bettors to cash the under at a 75% clip throughout their first nine games. LA boasts the 2nd best defense in the league allowing an average of just 69.9 PPG while allowing opponents to convert at a 41.1% clip from the field. With the offense just barely surpassing the 70-point plateau (70.4 PPG), it’s no wonder the Sparks have been the best ‘under’ team to kickoff the WNBA season. With the Sparks first six games averaging out to a 154-point ‘total’, oddsmakers have since released each of their last two games at 137 meaning they’ve caught onto the Sparks ‘under’ tendency. Be on the lookout for some value on the ‘over’ in the coming weeks; especially against teams that are flawed defensively and excelled offensively.