Key Points
- SJ breaks down her favorite bets for the Friday, February 28 Unrivaled Matchups
It's Friday, and you know what that means! Unrivaled is back and packed with action tonight! With the regular season coming to an end after this weekend, the playoffs are set to begin on March 16.
Photo Credit: Unrivaled
Today, we have two matchups: Team Vinyl (4-6) will face the Laces (5-5) for the second and final matchup of the season. -2.5 point spread favorites, the Laces are the third betting favorites to win the Inaugural Unrivaled Championship at +350 odds.
For the second matchup, the Mist (3-7) will match up against the Phantom (3-7) for the second and final meeting this season. With both teams just one game back of Vinyl for the No. 4 and final playoff spot, the stakes are high today!
Below are the DraftKings Unrivaled odds and schedule for Friday, February 28
- Vinyl (+2.5) (+110 ML) vs Laces (-2.5) (-140 ML): O/U 129.5
- Mist (-1.5) (-130 ML) vs Phantom (+1.5) (+100 ML): O/U 139.5
Unrivaled Odds Are Current As of February 28 at 2 P.M. ET
Suppose you've been tailing my bets all season long, welcome back! Today, I will provide my 2 best moneyline bets for the Friday, February 28 Unrivaled matchups! Given the date, let's finish out the month strong! You can find both my bets on DraftKings Sportsbook, each placed as separate bets. Good luck, and let's cash out today!
If you're looking to bet on and support Unrivaled, both matchups will air on TNT, MAX, TSN+, and YouTube Live. The Vinyl and Laces will tip off at 7:15 p.m. ET for the early matchup. The Mist and Phantom will begin shortly after at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Let's take a look at my two favorite Unrivaled bets for today!
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Unrivaled Moneyline Bet #1: Vinyl vs Laces
- Laces ML (-140 DraftKings)
As the regular season comes to an end the Laces have somehow, someway been able to stay in playoff contention. Despite numerous injuries and relief player contracts, team Laces have a one game lead over Vinyl for the No. 3 playoff spot.
A classic No.3 seed (Laces ) vs No.4 seed (Vinyl), these two teams will meet for the second time this season.
- Set to matchup on February 8, the game was canceled by the Laces due to player and safety protocols. With this, team Vinyl was awarded the victory.
In their first meeting in January, Laces defeated the Vinyl 83-79. Aside from Jackie Young listed as DNP, both teams were fairly healthy entering the second week of the season. Able to survive the Vinyl shooting 54.2 percent from the field, and 42.9 percent from deep, the Laces came out victorious.
- Thanks to 48 combined points from Tiffany Hayes and Kayla McBride, all five Laces roster members finished with points in double figures.
The Laced Defeated The Vinyl Previously
In fact, team Laces shot an impressive 54.2 percent from the floor, and 44.4 percent from beyond the arc. While both teams shot efficiently, the Laces dominated on the boards and free-throws. Ultimately 13 personal fouls committed by the Vinyl cost them the game by just a thin margin.
With Kayla McBride coming away with the game winning bucket, the Vinyl had a more balanced scoring attack. While the offense has been up and down all season, Dearica Hamby led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds. Rhyne Howard, Arike Ogunbowale, Jordin Canada, and Rae Burrell all scored points in double digits.
There's no doubt injuries have hampered the Laces. My favorite to win the championship, they've used a league high nine players so far.
- Even with that, the Laces rank second in Unrivaled with a +2.22 point differential. Compare that to Vinyl's -2.89 point differential.
If I'm being honest, the Laces are the strong team in the league when healthy. The leaders in three-pointers made per game (6.78), this team has mainly been carried by Kayla McBride through the injuries. Second behind Napheesa Collier in scoring with 23.9, the Laces also get their top scorer back in Tiffany Hayes.
- Now with the addition of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, is anyone stopping this team?
A Healthy Laces Team Is A Scary One
Two games with the Laces, Laney Hamilton ranks no. 14 in scoring, averaging 15.5 points. Tonight, the Laces will have five active and healthy players that rank inside the top 20 in terms of scoring. Now add in Alyssa Thomas, who is truly the catalyst on both sides of the ball.
- Three of the best in attacking the basket and getting downhill, a healthy McBride, Hayes, and Thomas on the same team is downright scary.
Among this team, we've seen several career highs this season. That includes Kayla McBride with 30 points, Tiffany Hayes with 10 assists, and Alyssa Thomas with 15 rebounds. Now with Laney-Hamilton, this team only added more ability to attack downhill and defend.
Yes, the Laces are coming off a brutal 65-49 loss against the Mist. Severely out rebounded, they couldn't get anything going offensively. Now on a two game losing streak, the Laces hold a -44 point differential.
- Failing to eclipse over 60 points, this team is averaging 54.5 points over the last two games.
Final Unrivaled Best Bet Pick and Prediction Today: Laces ML (-140 DraftKings)
Overall, I think the addition of Tiffany Hayes and Jackie Young will back all the difference back in the lineup. Now they get a Vinyl team, who are 1-2 in their last three games. Defeated 79-72 by Phantom, Vinyl hasn't shot over 35 % from deep their third game.
- I'm going with Laces moneyline tonight. It's a tad juiced.. However, they are a high scoring team who will let plenty of three-pointers fly. With Arike Ogunbowale uncertain to lace up tonight, the Laces will look to solidify their playoff spot.
Unrivaled Moneyline Bet #2: Mist vs Phantom
- Mist ML (-130 DraftKings)
My second best Unrivaled bet of the day, I'm taking Mist moneyline over Phantom. At 3-7, both teams are in the basement fighting for their lives. One game behind Vinyl for a playoff spot, who wants it more?
There's no doubt both of these teams have had up and down performances all season long. While both very talented, it hasn't always translated on paper. In another words, this is basically a win or home scenerio.
While the Phantom secured a 74-69 over the Mist, it was Brittney Griner who led the way with 29 points. Now with full health, this is a Mist team thats coming off a 65-49 victory over the Laces. Yes, read that again, the Laces!
Although the Mist shot an abysmal 15.4 % from downtown, it was their ability to draw the fouls and clean up on the glass. With Breanna Stewart leading the way with 21 points, I'm still waiting for another breakout game from Jewell Loyd. Since the start of Unrivaled, Loyd hasn't scored 15+ points since week 1.
Why The Mist Can Win Today And Advance To The Playoffs
Although the Mist and Phantom lead the league in blocks per game, both sit in the bottom of the rankings in terms of points per game. And let's talk point differential, because this matters. While the Mist have a -2.89 point differential, the Phantom have league worst -9 point differential.
The lowest scoring team in Unrivaled (66.7 PPG), the Phantom will simply have to outshoot the Mist from three. Given they are a much more efficient team, there's hasn't been signs of life.
I've bet on the Phantom as underdogs in the past and it burned me. Coming off 71-59 loss vs the Rose, they've lost four of their last five games. Defeated 64-61 in their last matchup vs Mist, there's been serious inconsistencies on this roster.
The Mist have a chance to once again dominate on the boards, and will face a Phantom team that looked flat last week. While Satou Sabally, Sabrina Ionescu, Katie Lou Samuelson and Brittney Griner recorded points in double figures, this team lacks dominant scorers. A talented team, the Phantom will need much more from Ionescu to secure the victory tonight. To me, this team lacks dominant playmakers outside of Ionescu.
Final Unrivaled Best Bet Pick and Prediction Today: Mist ML (-130 DraftKings)
I will say, I don't think the pieces fit together for Phantom at times. I'm not saying Mist is the superior team, however, Breanna Stewart leads the league in rebounding for a reason. At the end of the day, I don't trust Phantom's defense outside of Natasha Cloud. Giving up 94 points to Lunar Owls, they allowing 78 points over the last four games.
- I don't think tonight will be particularly high scoring, and I am inclined to take the under. With that, I'll take Mist moneyline.
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