Basketball Free Picks - July 22, 2009

We had had a perfect day in all sports yesterday, going 6-0 overall.  The 2-0 WNBA day puts our season total to 47-34 for +31 units.  Tonight we have four premium picks including a 5 unit night game.

WUNDERDOG 2009 RECENT RESULTS ($100/bet)
SPORT	WINS-LOSSES	%	NET
WNBA	47-34 last 81 picks	58%	+$3100
MLB	86-63 last 149 picks	58%	+$6130
NBA	299-237 last 536 picks	56%	+$12460
NFL	72-44 last 116 picks	62%	+$7320
TOTAL			+$29010

Today's WNBA Basketball Picks:

Game: Atlanta at Detroit (12:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Atlanta +5 (+100) (risk 3 to win 3)

The Detroit Shock have been a front runner in the WNBA East for a few years now, but this team has suffered losses that are showing up in the win loss column resulting in a 5-8 mark on the season. The Atlanta Dream had a disgraceful inaugural season in the league which saw them post just four wins, but what a difference a year makes as they enter here approaching the midway point of the season with almost double that total. The telltale of the Shock is the WNBA has been a home dominant league since its inception and this year no exception as home teams have converted 67% of the time, but the Shock have a losing record on their own court, and within the Conference, just 1-7 ATS in their last eight overall, while the Dream is 5-1 ATS vs the East. I will back Atlanta here.

The Chicago Sky are a vastly improved team from that of a year ago and have really been able to take charge on their homecourt where they are 6-1 on the season. The defense has not made the same strides as the offense, so it is clear that this team is going to score and allow points and the results are proof. The Sky has played in just three games all season long that put up less than 145 points and the result is a 12-4 mark to the over. The Liberty played this Dream team to a game that featured 175 points scored in their last outing, and this one I believe will be another open court game, with it going OVER the posted total.

The Sacramento Monarchs are 3-13 and look like the lemon of the league this season. The record, however, is a bit misleading as this team has played a schedule of titans and, although they aren't a top team, they certainly are better than the record would lend credence to. Sacramento has already played the Phoenix Mercury four times, the Seattle Storm four times, the Minnesota Lynx twice, at San Antonio who has been lethal on its homecourt, as well as the Chicago Sky on the road in Chicago where the Sky are 6-1. That represents 75% of their schedule to date which are virtual unwinnable games for them. That pumps the line up in this one to a lofty but unrealistic height vs a Connecticut team that has been historically good in the league, but not quite at the same level this season. I'll grab Sacramento and the points here.

The Phoenix Mercury have all the credentials of a champion as the WNBA season apporaches the midway point they have compiled a 12-4 mark, have now won six straight and at home have just about been unbeatable at 9-1. Often times when teams climb to the top of the mountain they take with them all the bettors, especially when they have a high octane offense, which is more embracing by would be gamblers. So now is the perfect storm, to ride against them. The Mercury played without do-all Diana Turasi and won, so confidence grows that this team can win without her. The problem is teams quite often rally around a fallen teammate the first game of their absence and the second game becomes the game where the loss really kicks in. The Minnesota Lynx have the firepower to match the Mercury, who were extended to OT at home without Turasi by the Shock and even with the game going to OT the Mercury had just six players put up points. They won it from three, shooting 43.5%, and the dreadful shooting of the Shock from the line at 61%, and for the game in general. The Mercury were hammered off the glass at -12, allowed 17 offensive rebounds and the competent #2 ranked offense of the Lynx is going to be a very difficult task without Turasi. The public is lining up on Phoenix like they already know the final score, but this one goes to the Lynx.

WNBA Basketball Picks Resources:

• Don't forget to visit our 2009 WNBA prior pick season results.
• Check out free WNBA picks here.
• Hop over to our basketball blog here.
• Take a look at our basketball prior picks here.
• Read our WNBA top teams here.
• View our updated sportsbook reviews basketball.
• Updated today: basketball ATS recrds.

Check out the last five WNBA Basketball Picks Newsletters:

WNBA-Basketball-Picks-July-21-2009
Sometimes a team is under the radar to start the season, only to emerge as a top team in the sport. We saw that in MLB last year with the Tampa Bay Rays, and we are seeing one emerge in the WNBA in th...

WNBA-Basketball-Picks-July-19-2009
When these teams met earlier this month, 157 points were scored. The total in that game was 140 so the oddsmakers have made a big adjustment here. But, it's not big enough. Chicago games are avera...

WNBA-Basketball-Picks-July-18-2009
This league has changed considerably over the last four years as you can go back just to 2005 and find that just two teams were able to average 70 points a game. The change has been so dramatic in the...

WNBA-Basketball-Picks-July-17-2009
Two teams that have made quantum leaps forward square off in Indiana as the Atlanta Dream are in town to face the Fever. The Fever, after an 0-2 start have rattled off 10 straigh wins and are by far t...

WNBA-Basketball-Picks-July-15-2009
What a difference a year makes. San Antonio was the best team a year ago in the regular season finishing with a 24-10 mark, while Washington limped out of the season at 10-24. There is a clear differe...