Lynx vs Sun Game 1 Prediction & Picks: Will the Sun Be Too Hot for the Lynx?

This season, the Minnesota Lynx have not had a lot of success against the WNBA's best teams. That doesn't bode well for their playoff series against the Connecticut Sun, which opens Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena (8:00 pm ET, ESPN2).

It was a pretty up and down regular season for the Lynx, but after missing the playoffs last season, they are back in the postseason as the #6 seed. That sets up a matchup with the #3 Sun, who took three of the four meetings between the two teams in the regular season.

Will Connecticut's success against Minnesota continue into the postseason opener? The Sun are heavily favored to get off to a winning start at home.

Minnesota Lynx vs Connecticut Sun Odds

Odds are via Bovada.

Spread

• Minnesota Lynx +9.5 (-110)
• Connecticut Sun -9.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 159.5 (-110)
• Under 159.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Minnesota Lynx +390
• Connecticut Sun -550

Team Totals Over/Under

Minnesota Lynx

• Over 75.5 (-105)
• Under 75.5 (-125)

Connecticut Sun

• Over 83.5 (-120)
• Under 83.5 (-110)

Will the Sun Continue to Shine Against Inferior Opposition?

For a large part of the season, it looked like the Sun might challenge the New York Liberty for the second seed.

However, Connecticut finished five games behind the Liberty and seven games behind the Las Vegas Aces, who claimed the #1 seed with a 34-6 record.

The Sun came up short of a top-two seed because they struggled to beat the league's other top teams, but they have excelled against the kind of opposition they get to face to begin the postseason.

Against the Aces (1-2), Liberty (0-4), and Dallas Wings (2-2), the Sun went just 3-8 in the regular season. But against Minnesota and the other seven teams that finished below .500, the Sun boasted a 24-5 record, including an 11-3 record at home.

While the Sun have excelled against inferior opposition, the Lynx have struggled mightily against superior opposition. Minnesota went 15-10 in the regular season against teams that finished below .500, while they were just 4-11 against the Aces (0-4), Liberty (1-2), Sun (1-3), and Wings (2-2).

Not only have the Lynx been unable to get many wins against the league's best teams, but they have also been unable to keep the margin close in most of those matchups. Of their 11 losses to the WNBA's top quartet, nine have come by double digits.

Minnesota Lynx vs Connecticut Sun Head-to-Head in 2023

• June 1 (at Minnesota): Sun 89, Lynx 84
• June 22 (at Minnesota): Sun 89, Lynx 68
• July 30 (at Connecticut): Lynx 87, Sun 83
• August 1 (at Connecticut): Sun 79, Lynx 69

Minnesota Lynx vs Connecticut Sun Prediction and Picks

Prediction: Sun to win

Picks: Sun -9.5 (-110 at Bovada) & Sun team total over 83.5 points (-120 at Bovada)

Anything can happen in the playoffs, and the Lynx have won at Mohegan Sun Arena this season. So, don't completely count out Napheesa Collier and the Lynx. However, it is ultimately much more likely that this game goes the same way most of Minnesota's games against good teams have this season.

Where to Bet on the WNBA Playoffs

The Lynx vs Sun betting odds mentioned in this article came from Bovada, but they aren't the only sports betting site out there offering WNBA odds.

• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bookmaker
• MyBookie
• Sportsbetting.ag

There are a number of online sportsbooks that are good for betting on the WNBA, but the above books are some that we highly recommend.

While you're here, check out our WNBA betting guide, which is handy for both new and experienced bettors.