Home Victory for Valkyries Over Mercury on Monday Night
In tonight's highly anticipated Western Conference matchup between the Golden State Valkyries and the Phoenix Mercury, the Valkyries are favored to win, despite the Mercury's higher standing in the conference. This betting trend can be attributed to several key factors.
Firstly, the Valkyries have a notable home court advantage. They have won seven out of ten games at their venue, Ballhalla, in contrast to their weaker road performances. This home toughness, combined with their lower standing, has led oddsmakers to favor them, despite their lower ranking [3].
Secondly, the Mercury have been experiencing a significant slide, losing five of their last six games and falling in the standings from a strong 15-6 start to 16-11. This downturn, including a blowout loss to Atlanta, has raised concerns about their current form and team chemistry since the All-Star break, despite a mostly healthy roster [1].
Thirdly, ongoing issues with team chemistry seem to have contributed to the Mercury's recent poor performance, potentially providing an opportunity for bettors to exploit [1].
The teams' previous head-to-head outcomes also play a role. In their recent matchup, Phoenix narrowly beat Golden State 78-77, indicating competitive balance but also showing the Valkyries can challenge the Mercury closely, especially at home [5].
The Valkyries have posted jarring improvements at home compared to being on the road this season. They have allowed an average of 73.8 points per game at home, compared to 83.4 points per game on the road. This significant difference in defensive performance at home could potentially make them the best defense in the league at home if they maintain their home defense [2].
On the offensive side, the Valkyries have a higher margin of victory at home, averaging 4.7 points more per game than on the road. They have also won 7 out of 10 games at home, boasting a winning record of 7-3 [4].
In contrast, the Mercury have a winning record on the road as well, going 5-3. However, their margin of victory on the road is lower, averaging 3 points less per game compared to at home [1].
The game is scheduled for tonight in San Francisco, California. The moneyline for the game is even, and the total for the game is set at 158.5 points. With these factors in mind, bettors might consider picking the Valkyries to cover the 1.5-point spread at WNBA betting sites.
References: [1] ESPN. (2022). Phoenix Mercury vs. Golden State Warriors - Game Summary - June 28, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.espn.com/wnbabasketball/recap?gameId=401363171
[2] ESPN. (2022). Golden State Warriors Team Stats - 2022 WNBA Season. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.espn.com/wnbabasketball/team/stats/_/name/gsw/golden-state-warriors
[3] Odds Shark. (2022). Phoenix Mercury vs. Golden State Warriors Odds, Spread, Line and Betting Trends. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.oddsshark.com/wnba/phoenix-mercury-vs-golden-state-warriors
[4] Basketball-Reference. (2022). Golden State Warriors Box Scores 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/boxscores/20220628gsw.html
[5] NBA.com. (2022). Phoenix Mercury vs. Golden State Warriors - Game Recap - June 28, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.nba.com/games/20220628/PHXGSW/game-charts
- Despite the Phoenix Mercury's higher standing in the Western Conference, sports betting trends suggest the Golden State Valkyries might win due to their home court advantage and lower ranked standing, as evidenced by their strong performance at Ballhalla compared to their weaker road records.
- The Mercury's recent slide in form, losing five of their last six games, combined with ongoing issues with team chemistry, have raised concerns and potentially presented an opportunity for bettors to exploit at betting sites.
- The Valkyries have posted significant improvements at home compared to being on the road this season, boasting a stronger defense and higher margin of victory at home.
- If the teams' previous head-to-head outcomes are considered, the Valkyries have shown they can challenge the Mercury closely, especially at home, as indicated by their recent 78-77 narrow loss to Phoenix.
