Kicking off Friday’s Unrivaled slate is a matchup between the Rose and Lunar Owls.
The Rose are 6.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Lunar Owls sit as +230 underdogs. The game total is set at 143.5 points.
Let’s get into my prediction and pick for this Unrivaled matchup.
Rose vs. Lunar Owls Preview
So much for the get-back campaign. The Lunar Owls wanted revenge after the Vinyl robbed them of a trip to last year’s Unrivaled Finals. However, Napheesa Collier’s injury put them behind the eight-ball, and they haven’t been able to recover.
The hope for the Owls in any given game is to overwhelm their opponents with tough shotmaking. Marina Mabrey and Aaliyah Edwards are no strangers to this, but it’s a tough path to walk for team construction. At 1-6, their playoff hopes are all but dashed. Now they’re playing for pride.
Rose BC has much more to play for. They’re currently in a playoff position, with Chelsea Gray leading the charge. The reigning Finals MVP is leading the league with a sterling 29 points per game. Kahleah Copper is rounding into form and recovering from her injury. With Shakira Austin balling, this team is getting dangerous at the right time.
This game against a struggling Owls team is another chance to prove they’re a contender for back-to-back titles. Can the Rose take care of business? Or do the Owls have enough fight in them to pull off an upset?
Rose vs. Lunar Owls Pick
If the Lunar Owls had a legitimate option for guarding Chelsea Gray, perhaps this matchup would be interesting. But, alas, their perimeter defense has been shoddy, to say the least. Gray should run rampant around the perimeter, opening up options for the rest of the team, and an offensive deluge will likely follow.
