Basketball Pick - August 18, 2009

We are coming off a winner on Sunday and today, we are all over the WNBA with four premium picks including a 5-unit play!

Today's WNBA Basketball Picks:

Game: Seattle at Detroit (7:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Seattle -170 (moneyline) (risk 4 to win 2.4)

The Seattle Storm has dropped six straight games ATS, but remain a top team in the league. I expect them to bring their "A" game to Detroit tonight as they will be out to revenge a three-point loss they suffered at home to the Shock. The Shock, WNBA Champs a year ago, are having problems of their own. The Shock are just 9-13 on the season, and not able to get anything going. They have not won more than two in a row all season long, and five of their nine wins have been by six points or less. They have been at their worst when playing on two days rest where they are 0-5 ATS in their last five. I think the better team, Seattle, will be focused for this one, so I'll go with the Storm here.

The Chicago Sky got off to a 6-2 start on the season and looked like big things were taking place, especially after a 5-0 start at home. Things have not come quite so easy since, as they are just 7-9 since that start. The Phoenix Mercury have proven to be for real. They are coming into this one off a loss, where they have been particularly tough all season. They have rebounded to go 6-1 after tasting defeat - a sign of a steady, consistent, good team. They are not only 6-1 SU but they have also turned in a 6-1 ATS mark after those losses. The Mercury have now gone 11-4 ATS in their last 15, and with two days rest are a perfect 5-0. The Sky have had difficulties after a straight-up win as they are just 2-8 ATS after winning. I'll go with Phoenix in this one.

The Washington Mystics remain in the playoff hunt despite three losses in their last four games. They will get a chance to right the ship against one that sank along time ago. Considered the frontrunner at the beginning of the WNBA season, the Sparks have completely disappointed and now must face playing out the string to close a frustrating season. The Sparks have fared poorly against the .500 teams or better in the league this season as there is just one team at or over the .500 mark they have beaten all year. To be a favorite in this one, certainly doesn't offer value taking them. The Mystics have already gone 7-4 ATS as a dog this season and have sprung the upset four times. Their 11 games as a dog have seen an average total points scored of 157.1 per game. These teams have played to the OVER 10 of their last 13 games, and in their last six in LA, five have toppled the total. I like Washington and the OVER here.

Results: 3-1

WNBA Basketball Picks Resources:

• Updated today: 2009 WNBA basketball pick results.
• Read our WNBA basketball pick here.
• Read our blog WNBA picks here.
• Don't forget to read our WNBA prior predictions here.
• View WNBA top teams here.
• Don't forget to read our basketball betting here.
• Updated today: WNBA ATS records.

Check out the last five WNBA Basketball Picks Newsletters:

WNBA-Basketball-Picks-August-16-2009
Washington is definitely the better team and playing at home. But, the Mystics allow 78 points per game (nearly 84 per game over their last five), and that's a bad defense to back when g...

WNBA-Basketball-Picks-August-15-2009
The Storm has dropped six straight games to the spread, but remain one of the top teams in the WNBA. They enter this one with a 13-10 mark, and certainly a viable playoff team. I think Atlanta has had...

WNBA-Basketball-Picks-August-14-2009
The Sky has been a no-show on the road this season as they have just three wins to show for 13 games. That is not a new trend for this team. The Sky has been part of the WNBA now for three years, and ...

WNBA-Basketball-Picks-August-13-2009
Neither of these teams resembles what they were a year ago, and has fallen short of expectations. Last year, these teams combined for a 43-25 mark, and this year just 24-19. Connecticut has really bee...

WNBA-Basketball-Picks-August-11-2009
When you compare these teams from what they were a year ago, there are no similarities. The Mystics were losing their last nine games, and last six at home, while the Shock were sweeping San Antonio o...