Locks
WNBA (0.5 Unit) Minnesota Lynx +6.5 @ Las Vegas Aces (-110; Odds via Caesars): 9:00 PM CT on NBA TV
If the Lynx are going to finally slay the dragon that is Las Vegas, now is the time to do it. The Aces are not themselves, still missing Chelsea Gray and potentially without Jackie Young again. That puts a team without much depth to begin with in a really tough spot, and I’m hoping the Lynx can capitalize.
The Aces are still going to be lined as big favorites because of who they are, but they just haven’t been playing that way lately with three ugly losses the past four games. The only lopsided loss for Minnesota this season came against the Aces, but they had an uncharacteristically bad shooting night and awful games from their stars. With Kayla McBride shooting the lights out and their defense always on point, I think the Lynx learn from that loss and keep this one more competitive.
Bonus Bet (0.5 Unit): Kayla McBride Over 16.5 Points (+105; Odds via DraftKings)
McBride is on fire, and the plus-juice return here is too good to pass up. She’s averaging 18.0 PPG on the season, so this number is a little light from that standpoint. The Lynx guard has only gone over this in 5 of 11 games this season though, as her season has been highlighted by several massive games.
But the big nights have really shown up in the Commissioner’s Cup, as she’s averaging 23.8 points in those 4 games. The Lynx will need everything they can get from her tonight against the champs, and I think she delivers enough to get over this prop.
MLB (0.5 Unit) Louie Varland Under 15.5 Outs Recorded (-105; Odds via DraftKings): 6:40 PM CT on Bally Sports North
Sorry Twins fans, but Louie Varland is not the answer we need on the mound. Varland will make his return from Triple-A tonight, and I think he gets eased back into the big leagues. He never went more than 5 innings in his starts before getting sent down, and I’m sure the team would take 5 innings out of him here before handing it over to a top-10 bullpen. The Rockies aren’t awful against righties like Varland and I’m sure the Twins won’t want him facing bats for a third time in the order, so look for a shorter night out of the starter here.
Degenerates
No degenerates today.
Tiny Nick is 2323-2138 ATS (+88.9 Units) on his Locks since joining Zone Coverage.
Every day he will offer his Locks and Degenerate picks. Locks are the games he’s confident in. Degenerates are entertaining but riskier picks.