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The Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun meet Tuesday in a WNBA regular-season opener at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Fever vs. Sun odds, and make our expert WNBA picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; Sun swept series 4-0 in 2023
The Fever take the court with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. G Caitlin Clark out of Iowa was the top pick and will make one of the most highly-anticipated debuts in WNBA history.
The Fever were awful last season, including a 76-59 loss in their final road game of the season Sept. 8 at Connecticut. With Clark, however, the Fever figure to be a much different team.
The Sun had a strong season, going 27-13 straight up (SU), but they flamed out in the playoffs in a 3-1 series loss to the New York Liberty, falling short of expectations.
Fever at Sun odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 7:39 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Fever +195 (bet $100 to win $195) | Sun -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Fever +6.5 (-115) | Sun -6.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 167.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
- Best Caitlin Clark prop bets and promos for WNBA debut
- WNBA championship odds: Las Vegas favored to 3-peat
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Fever at Sun picks and predictions
Prediction
Sun 87, Fever 78
Moneyline
The Sun (-250) will cost 2½ times your potential return, and that’s way too risky against Clark and the Fever (+195).
While Clark is an amazing player with a bright future, and her presence has brought a new light to the WNBA that is brighter than we’ve mostly seen before, the Fever are a below-average team. They aren’t going to get well overnight. Clark is a generational talent, but Indiana needs at least 2 or 3 more players to be a winning team.
PASS.
Against the spread
The SUN -6.5 (-105) are worth a roll of the dice at home. Not only will Clark give the Fever a little more energy, but the crowd at Mohegan Sun Arena will also be in a frenzy with the home team feeding off of the energy as well.
I expect Connecticut to have its hands full as Clark does Clark things, jacking up crazy 3-pointers and making off-balance shots to wow the crowd. But she can’t do it alone, and the Sun are a quality team, one Clark will get a rude awakening from in the 2nd half. This isn’t college basketball anymore.
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Over/Under
UNDER 167.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Fever allowed a lot of points last season, but the Indiana defense should be a lot better at both ends of the floor. This isn’t going to be a team which is embarrassed.
The Sun were the best defensive team in the WNBA last season in terms of scoring defense and 3-pointer defense. Clark will have a solid debut, but she’ll be coaxed into missing plenty of shots, too.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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