[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
The Los Angeles Sparks (16-22) travel to meet the New York Liberty (31-7) Thursday at Barclays Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (Prime Video). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Sparks vs. Liberty odds, and make our expert WNBA picks and predictions.
The Sparks look to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. Los Angeles is battling the Chicago Sky for the 8th and final playoff spot; the other 7 spots have already been clinched.
L.A. has done itself no favors lately, dropping 4 of the past 5 contests following a 6-game win streak from Aug. 6-25. The Sparks are just 1-4 against the spread (ATS) during the skid after having covered the previous 10 outings from July 27-Aug. 25.
The Commissioner Cup-winning New York Liberty are comfortably into the postseason, and they’re just a game back of the Las Vegas Aces for the top overall seed in the playoffs.
The Liberty streak in with 7 straight victories, while going a respectable 5-2 ATS during the span. The Over is 4-2 in the past 6 outings, too.
This is the 3rd and final meeting of the regular season. These teams met in a back-to-back set in SoCal July 30-Aug. 1, with the Liberty sweeping the set straight up, although the Sparks covered both outings. The Under also cashed in each of the contests.
Sparks at Liberty odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:52 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Sparks +600 (bet $100 to win $600) | Liberty -900 (bet $900 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Sparks +12.5 (-110) | Liberty -12.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 159.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
Sparks at Liberty picks and predictions
Prediction
Liberty 86, Sparks 71
Moneyline
The Liberty (-900) has been ringing up plenty of victories lately, but New York will cost you 9 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not enough reward.
The Sparks (+600) haven’t been playing great lately, but they did play the Lib very tough in SoCal last month.
AVOID, and look to the spread instead.
Against the spread
The LIBERTY -12.5 (-110) failed to cover in either of the games in a back-to-back set with the Sparks earlier in the season, but things are much different right now.
New York is playing great basketball lately, winners of 7 in a row, while going 5-2 ATS during the span. Los Angeles is in the midst of a nosedive at the most inopportune time, going 1-4 SU/ATS across the past 5 games to put its playoff hopes on life support. It needs a win against a top-notch Liberty team, and it’s just not going to come close to happening.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Over/Under
The UNDER 159.5 (-110) is the lean, but go lightly, as it could be a nail-biter.
The Under has cashed in 2 of the past 3 games for the Liberty, thanks mostly to the team’s defense. New York has allowed 69 or fewer points in those 2 Under results and the Under cashed in both games against the Sparks in Los Angeles earlier, too.
The Sparks might not be terribly consistent lately, but total bettors have enjoyed betting their games. L.A. has hit the Under in 4 of the past 5 outings, and 12 of the past 16 games overall, including that 2-game set vs. New York.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Access NBA coverage:
HoopsHype | Bulls Wire | Celtics Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Spurs Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | LeBron Wire | Rookie Wire | List Wire
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=3729]