Odds and Bets: WNBA’s Atlanta Dream Jostle for Playoff Positioning

Seattle Storm vs Atlanta Dream: Atlanta Dreams Up a Win

The Seattle Storm (4-15) play on back-to-back nights when they visit the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday evening. On Tuesday Seattle were in Washington to face the Mystics. The Storm worked up what trouble they could against the team from the nation’s capital, but it was all for nought. While they made it a seven-point game late, they had been down by as many as 25 in the second half.

The Atlanta Dream (10-8) have rested since Sunday when they handed the Chicago Sky its second defeat in a row, both games in Illinois. At this stage of the season for Atlanta, it’s about playoff seeding. Unless they fall off a cliff, they’ll get into the postseason, but they only rank fifth at the moment. The Dream will have to be weary of The Storm’s Jewell Loyd, who leads the WNBA with 25.7. points per game. Atlanta can depend on Rhyne Howard’s blistering 40.3 three-point efficiency.

Best Bet: Atlanta Dream with the -8.0 spread

Vancouver Whitecaps vs Austin FC: Goal Festival

Over in the MLS’ Western Conference, the Vancouver Whitecaps are holding for dear life onto the ninth and final playoff spot with 25 points. Sporting Kansas City tails them with 25 points of their own but a poorer goal differential (Vancouver’s +3 to KC’s -4). The B.C.-based club stays at home after a heartbreaking loss to Seattle over the weekend to host Austin FC Wednesday night.

The Texas outfit has turned things around lately, going 3-1-0 in its last four and scoring 11 goals in the process. Sebastian Driussi netted twice in the 4-1 victory over Minnesota this past weekend and leads the club with six goals. Defence is a huge concern for the Whitecaps, who have given up eight goals in three games. They haven’t had a clean sheet in eight games either. This looks like a great opportunity for Austin to keep feasting and work up another goal festival.

Best Bet: Vancouver and Austin play to a draw and the Over 3.25

Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs Edmonton Elks: Elks Restore Some Pride

Although neither club is considered very good at this early stage of the CFL campaign, the reality is this could be the most intriguing game of week 6. Hamilton just earned its first victory of the season, albeit against a typically weakened Ottawa Redblacks squad. The Edmonton Elks are still winless, yet were painfully close to upsetting Saskatchewan in Week 5.

What happens Thursday night? Do the Tiger-Cats build off what surely felt like a sweet win or does Edmonton finally get its first taste of victory in 2023? The Elks are very creative in how they lose games, but something has to give at one point. They’ll be ready to play, even if in the grander scheme of things a win might have more value for pride than any playoff spot. If Jarret Doege can be more careful with his passing and head coach Chris Jones gets his men mentally ready, they’ll finally win a home game for the first time in two years.

Best Bet: Edmonton Elks with the +2.5 spread