Apparently, the Chicago Sky‘s 101-95 double-overtime victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday didn’t impress Illinois sportsbooks much. The Chicago Sky playoff lines ahead of Thursday’s Game 2 of the best-of-five series are almost exactly the same as they were prior to Game 1’s tip.
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Whether that means more opportunities for bettors isn’t exactly a straightforward conversation, however. Numerous factors could produce a different result Thursday night.
A look at the Chicago Sky playoff lines for Thursday
On Tuesday, FanDuel Sportsbook had Chicago +7.5 and PointsBet Sportsbook slotted the Sky +250 on the moneyline. Here’s where the lines sit around IL online sports betting apps currently.
| Sportsbook | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetRivers Sportsbook | Chicago +6.5 -112 Connecticut -6.5 -112 | Over 155.5 -110 Under 155.5 -113 | Chicago +210 Connecticut -265 |
| Caesars at William Hill | Chicago +7.5 -115 Connecticut -7.5 -115 | Over 155.5 -115 Under 155.5 -115 | Chicago +270 Connecticut -350 |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Chicago +7 -110 Connecticut -7 -110 | Over 154.5 -120 Under 154.5 +100 | Chicago +250 Connecticut -320 |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Chicago +7.5 -115 Connecticut -7.5 -105 | Over 155.5 -106 Under 155.5 -114 | Chicago +250 Connecticut -325 |
| PointsBet Sportsbook | Chicago +7.5 -115 Connecticut -7.5 -105 | Over 155.5 -110 Under 155.5 -110 | Chicago +250 Connecticut -320 |
Chicago has yet to lose or fail to cover this postseason and is playing at a level of efficiency that the Sky rarely displayed during the regular season. Point guard Courtney Vandersloot’s recording of just the second triple-double in WNBA playoff history acts as evidence of that.
So, are the sportsbooks right to stick with their handicapping of the matchup between these teams, or should they have made larger adjustments? There is actually support for both conclusions.
Why the lines might be right on Thursday night
Connecticut had arguably one of the greatest defensive performances over the course of a WNBA season ever in 2021. Their 26-6 record against the spread in the regular season was mostly the result of their execution on that end of the court.
Also, throughout this past regular season, there were many examples of teams playing each other twice on the same court in three days’ time. The WNBA set up the schedule that way to minimize travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By and large, the totals in the second games of those “back-to-backs” tended to be far smaller. Today’s total is pretty much in step with what the totals averaged from these teams’ three regular-season meetings as well.
The key to all that information, however, is that it comes from the regular season. Chicago has been a completely different team in the playoffs so far. It might be time for bettors to start staking that trend.
Taking the Sky to cover and the Over again?
It would be foolish to not expect the Sun to adjust to the Sky’s stellar performance on Tuesday, in which they hampered Connecticut’s half-court heavy, methodical offense. Looking at the result, it’s easy to forget that the Sun allowed Chicago just 84 points in regulation time.
The Sun knows that since the WNBA went to its current playoff format, no team has ever gone down 0-2 in any best-of-five and then rattled off three straight wins to take the series. However, game-planning and execution on the court can be two different things.
So far this postseason, no team has been able to hamper the Sky attack on either end long enough to build up a significant lead in any game. The largest deficit that Chicago has faced so far during these playoffs is just six points.
The main question for bettors might be how long they can sustain that level of play. The Sky should face a desperate team tonight, as another loss would mean needing to mount a historic comeback.
