Previewing Saturday’s Indiana Fever vs. Washington Mystics match up, with WNBA betting odds, picks and best bets.
The Indiana Fever and Washington Mystics get their WNBA regular season underway Saturday at 5 p.m. ET at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., in the league’s bubble site, or “Wubble” – which the players have been calling it. We analyze the Fever-Mystics WNBA betting odds and lines, with betting advice and tips around the matchup.
The Mystics embark on defense of their crown, and the WNBA champs can partially thank the Fever for their recent success. Winning the Eastern Conference by three games last season, Washington can point to its 3-0 straight-up record vs. Indiana, while going 1-1-1 against the spread (ATS) in those contests.
Fever vs. Mystics: By the Numbers
- Since the start of the 2017 WNBA regular season the Mystics have rattled off 10 consecutive victories over the Fever, going 6-3-1 ATS. The average margin of victory in last season’s three-game regular season sweep was 19.7 points per game, even with one battle decided in overtime.
- Seven of the past eight in this series have ended up going Over, and Washington has scored 82 or more points in seven of those outings. The Mystics averaged a gaudy 97.7 PPG in the three meetings in 2019.
- The Mystics (+250) are listed as the favorites to repeat as WNBA champions. The Fever (+4000) are long shots to win it all – only the Atlanta Dream and Dallas Wings (+6600 each) have longer odds.
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Fever vs. Mystics: Key injuries
Fever
- F Lauren Cox is out. She arrived Thursday evening to the bubble, and players have to quarantine in their rooms for four days after arrival.
Mystics
- F Tina Charles was deemed a high-risk individual by the league’s independent doctors and received a medical waiver, opting out for the season.
- C Elena Delle Donne, the 2019 MVP, has been battling the after-effects of Lyme disease for several years and did not receive a medical waiver, but she is not expected to play.
- F LaToya Sanders also elected to opt out due to health reasons.
- G Natasha Cloud elected to skip the 2020 season, focusing on social justice instead.
Fever vs. Mystics: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
WNBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Saturday at 10:35 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Mystics 87, Fever 78
The MYSTICS (-133) are missing some of their big guns, but they’ll still have enough to upend the Fever (+110) in the opener. The defending champs aren’t losing this one.
The spread is -1.5 for WASHINGTON (-110). Perhaps this one is close at halftime and into the third quarter, but look for the Mystics to pull away from Indiana (+1.5, -110) late.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 162.5 (-120) has hit in each of the three meetings last season, and seven of the past eight in this series. Even without Charles, Cloud and Delle Donne on the floor, the Mystics have a powerful offense. They won’t erupt for the 97.7 PPG they averaged in three games against the Fever last season, but Washington will do enough for the win and an Over result.
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