Toronto's brutal recent schedule may create betting value, while Marina Mabrey's scoring prop stands out in a high-total matchup
The casual fan might be challenged to get excited about watching a basketball game between two clubs on extended losing streaks, but experienced bettors frequently gravitate towards them.
That’s the situation tonight in the WNBA, as the Toronto Tempo (10-20, 4-9 away) travel to Portland to play the Fire (11-19, 6-9 home), at 10 p.m. EST. The Fire have lost five straight. The Tempo have lost seven in a row. Both are expansion teams.
Most bettors in this situation would gravitate to the home team. Experienced bettors will seek value and more favourable betting opportunities rather than marquee games featuring players like Caitlin Clark. Has Toronto really played that terribly over those seven games? Is the team playing hard?
In basketball betting at Betway, the Fire are Moneyline favourites at -140, the Tempo +120. The Spread is Toronto +2.5 (-105), Portland -2.5 (-115). The Total is 186.5 (Over is -115, Under is -105).
Portland averages 86.2 points per game, 7.4 fewer points than the 93.6 points that Toronto allows. Toronto averages 87.5 points per game, 4.6 fewer points than the 92.1 Portland allows to opponents.
Marina Mabrey is Toronto’s top performer – averaging 20.6 points per game, along with 3.8 assists. Laura Juskaite has been hotter of late – an average of 13.2 PPG over the last 10 games. For the Fire, it’s Bridget Carleton, averaging 14.4 points and 1.6 steals per game.
Brittney Sykes (foot) is out for the Tempo.
I am going to take Toronto +2.5 (-105), since they’re more tested, having played more top-level teams of late, including the first-place Minnesota Lynx, losing 88-73 on the road on July 28 and 87-75 at home on July 30.
I am also taking the Over 186.5 (-115), given that Portland has allowed 101, 101, 98, 112, and 106 points over those five losses.
The Tempo recently added forward Aneesah Morrow in a trade with the Connecticut Sun, one of the league’s better rebounders (8.7 average per game this season), to address what had been a weak part of their game. She had five rebounds in her first game with the team, a 92-81 loss to Golden State on Tuesday.
Portland is another rebuilding expansion club, so lean Toronto tonight on the road.
Best prop of the night is Mabrey on the Over Points, especially if you like the Over 185.6 Total as I do. She has the ball in her hands all the time, as the team’s go-to scorer and offensive creator.
