By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Eurohoops predicts that this week we many points will be scored in the Euroleague games. Read our tips for the games Maccabi–CSKA Moscow, Laboral-Olympiacos, Real-Unics, Niznhy-Zalgiris and Valencia–Galatasaray.
Olympiacos will play against Laboral without four players (Printezis, Lojeski, Katsivelis, Papapetrou) but the Reds are used to it. The players of Sfairopoulos want to secure the top of the group and Laboral can’t stop them. The Basques have their back against the wall but don’t play well and have many injury issues. The handicap is small and the visitors are will probably win the game.
Galatasaray is in big trouble! Ataman lost his starting center after Aldemir’s departure and without Micov and Pocius only Arroyo and Erceg can be considered go to guys. Valencia has a good roster, but only one win and this game is like a “final” for them. The hosts can win by more than 7 points and they will try to do it because in the first round they lost by 6 points and they want to get the tie breaking advantage over Galatasaray.
Real and Unics are expected to score a lot of points. The Madridistas at home like to play high tempo basketball (they score 102 points per game) and the Russians in Pashutin’s era have the same philosophy. The line is small and we will bet on over.
Our thoughts are similar also for the game Nizhny-Zalgiris. Only in their games against the best defensive team of the group, Efes, the total points were below the over/under line. Both teams like to shoot a lot and play fast during their offenses.
Our last tip is risky but we count on CSKA’s good shape and Maccabi’s free spirit on the court. It’s expected that CSKA will control the game, so the tempo will be high. The Russians have the advantage to win the game by more than 4,5 points but it’s more safe to bet on over. In four of the six Euroleague CSKA’s games the total points were more than the line (158,5)!
The betting tips
Maccabi-CSKA Moscow Over 157,5 points
@Vistabet 1,85
Laboral(+4)-Olympiacos 2
@Bet365 1,9
Real Madrid-Unics Kazan Over 157,5 points
@Playbet 1.90
Niznhy-Zalgiris Over 154,5 points
@William Hill 1,91
Valencia-Galatasaray (+5) 1
@Coral 1,91