EuroLeague Picks & Predictions

EuroLeague Preview and Picks

European basketball takes center stage with the EuroLeague! This competition pits the best teams on the Old Continent against each other. For this new edition, 20 teams (up from 18 previously) will battle it out in a fierce contest to win the coveted trophy. 

In a single group, the 20 teams will face each other twice (home and away) from late September 2025 to mid-April 2026. That's when the play-ins and play-offs will begin to crown the best European team (end of season on May 24). Our experts will be at your service to help you predict the outcome of all the matches in the continental competition.

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EuroLeague Winner Pick

Once again, we were treated to some thrilling action last year with the 2024-2025 EuroLeague season. Fenerbahçe beat Monaco in the final. This year, we are obviously hoping for a similar season, with some crazy games and high-quality basketball.

This year, before the season kicks off, sportsbooks are tipping the two Greek teams, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, as the favorites to lift the title. They are followed closely by Real Madrid, as was the case last year.

Our experts agree that the odds offered by online sports betting sites are fairly logical, and believe that one of the two Greek clubs has what it takes to go all the way. While they missed the boat last year to everyone's surprise, we don't see them missing out for a second consecutive year.

Our EuroLeague 2025-2026 winner prediction: Panathinaikos or Olympiacos will be champions!

EuroLeague Futures

• Panathinaikos +220
• Olympiacos +400
• Real Madrid +800
• Fenerbahçe Ulker +900
• Monaco +1000
• Hapoel Tel Aviv +1100
• Anadolu Efes +1800
• Barcelona +2000
• Milano +2200
• KK Partizan +2500
• BC Dubai +2800
• Crvena Zvezda +4000
• Étoile Rouge Belgrade - 25.00
• Zalgiris Kaunas +5000
• Maccabi Tel Aviv +5000
• Valencia +6500
• Virtus Bologna +8000
• Bayern Munich +8000
• Baskonia +10000
• Paris Basketball +15000
• Lyon Villeurbanne +20000

Odds provided by DraftKings.

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EuroLeague Top 6 Pick: Which club will qualify directly for the playoffs?

Now, only the top six teams in this single group (eight three seasons ago) qualify directly for the playoffs. The other two spots are contested by clubs ranked between seventh and tenth.

However, we expect the big guns to hold their nerve and avoid the play-in round. Behind Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, and Real Madrid, who are expected to finish at the top of the standings, FC Barcelona, Monaco, and Fenerbahçe could manage to clinch a spot in the EuroLeague's top six. Our prediction: Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Monaco, and Fenerbahçe in the top six!

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Play-in Qualification Pick: Which EuroLeague club will finish in the top 10?

This was the new feature of the EuroLeague from 2023-2024: a place in the top 10 could see you through to the playoffs. As in the NBA, the 7th and 8th-placed teams will face each other in a single game. The winner will be considered 7th in the regular season and will therefore face the 2nd-ranked team. The 9th and 10th-ranked teams will also face off in a single game. The winner will challenge the loser of the game between the 7th and 8th-ranked teams. The winner will therefore be considered 8th and will face the 1st-ranked team!

It is therefore still very difficult to predict which teams will make up the top 10. However, we could well see Hapoel Tel Aviv, Partizan Belgrade, Efes Istanbul, and newcomer BC Dubai competing in the play-in. Our prediction: Hapoel Tel Aviv, Efes Istanbul, Partizan Belgrade, and BC Dubai in the play-in!

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Beginner Bettors: How does EuroLeague Basketball work?

The EuroLeague remains the most prestigious competition for European basketball clubs. For the 2025-2026 season, there will still be 20 teams (previously 18). They will all play nearly 38 games, facing each club twice: once at home and once away. When the regular season is over, it's time for the playoffs! And how do you qualify? 

At the end of the regular season, here are the positions that allow you to dream of the coveted title:

• Clubs ranked 1st to 6th qualify directly for the playoffs.
• Clubs ranked 7th to 10th must compete in a play-in.
• The 7th and 8th-place teams face off in a play-in. The winner is considered 7th in the regular season.
• The 9th and 10th-place teams face off in a play-in. The winner faces the loser of the match between the 7th and 8th-place teams. The winner is considered 8th.

After that, the playoffs can begin. And the best clubs clearly get down to business. Here's how the playoffs work:

• The 1st faces the 8th, the 2nd faces the 7th, the 3rd faces the 6th, and the 4th faces the 5th. The quarterfinals are played in 5 games. You need 3 wins to advance to the next round.
• The last four teams standing will compete in the Final Four at a pre-determined venue over a weekend (May 22-25). The semifinals and final are played as single-game eliminators.

Now you know why the EuroLeague attracts so many bettors! Check out the best tips for betting on Europe's elite basketball teams.

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How to make accurate EuroLeague picks?

You need to stack the odds in your favor when placing bets on the EuroLeague or any other basketball picks! There are several things you need to know before placing your bets. Having followed this competition for many years, SportyTrader offers some advice for when you're placing your bets:

• The EuroLeague regular season is different from the playoffs.
• Be familiar with what's at stake in European games.
• Some clubs shine at home thanks to their raucous arenas.
• Focus on head-to-head matchups in the EuroLeague.
• Broaden your scope for the Final Four.

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of betting on various basketball leagues. We'll explain all these points in more detail below. 

The EuroLeague regular season is different from the playoffs

It's important to understand this! The regular season and the playoffs are completely different. In the regular season, consistency is key. Clubs that are particularly strong at home will also have what it takes to enjoy some success thanks to their fans. However, it's a different story in the playoffs. The proof? Since the introduction of this single pool, the team that finished top of the regular season has never won the trophy. 

When the playoffs come around, you can't rely solely on the regular season standings to make your picks. Instead, you'll need to find out about the players' form, the playing style of both teams, and their current form. This is how you should prepare your bets after the regular season.

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Understanding the stakes of the European match

This is also something to keep in mind. The EuroLeague runs over several months, so some games during the regular season might get overlooked. Let's say a club is sitting pretty in the top 6 and faces a team fighting for a play-in spot. On paper, the team in the top 6 should be the favorite. However, the stakes will be much higher for its opponent, which will have everything to gain. We can also mention the matches between two teams from the same country. 

Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, or Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade... Many teams will face another club from their own league. And it's not always the best team that wins! This is because they are used to competing against each other on the national stage. The underdog, therefore, has a much better chance than another team of defeating the favorite, as it knows its strengths and weaknesses better.

Clubs shine at home thanks to electric atmospheres

While the Final Four is played on neutral ground, this is not the case during the regular season or the playoff quarterfinals. In these cases, it is important to research the teams playing at home. In some countries, the atmosphere is electric! Serbia, Greece, and Turkey come to mind. And this is a detail that can change everything.

Even when Red Star Belgrade or Fenerbahçe are the underdogs in their games, they can pull off a surprise win in their home arena. They are cheered on by the entire crowd, which puts pressure on their opponents. What's more, the crowd will not hesitate to get excited during heated moments. And fans can clearly have a say in the outcome of a game.

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Prioritizing head-to-head competition in the EuroLeague

This is something you need to remember for all basketball games! It's important to understand the difference between betting on the result and betting on the head-to-head. When betting on the result, it's the score at the end of regulation time that counts. If you bet on a club to win and they win after overtime, you lose the bet, as the result will be recorded as a draw. This is a complicated situation, as games often go beyond regulation time.

It's different for head-to-head bets. With this bet, you bet on the winner of the match, regardless of whether the match goes into overtime or not. Of course, the odds are always lower than when betting on the result. However, the difference is not significant enough to take the risk of only betting on the result. We therefore advise you to always bet on the head-to-head. This could save you a few surprises and, above all, earn you a lot of extra money in the long run.

Expanding options for the Final Four

For the Final Four, betting on the winner of the match can sometimes be a bit of a coin toss. This is because the differences between teams are minimal before the games start. Why not try other types of bets for these important matches? For example, you can bet on the number of points scored.

When two clubs are known for their offensive prowess, you can expect a high number of points in the match. You can also bet on the winner at halftime! This is an interesting bet when a team often starts its games very strongly.

You can also bet on the winner at halftime! This is an interesting bet when a team often starts its games very strongly.

So, as you can see, it's definitely worth following our predictions for EuroLeague games. In addition to our predictions, you'll have access to all the information you need about the game.

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EuroLeague Betting: Mistakes to Avoid

You've just read some valuable advice above! However, there are also some things you should avoid when betting on the EuroLeague. Here's what not to do when betting on this competition:

• Betting on a EuroLeague game with nothing at stake
• Betting more than 5% of your bankroll on the EuroLeague Basketball
• Betting live without analyzing the European lineup
• Replaying immediately after a lost bet to make up for it
• Relying solely on the odds offered on the EL
• Choosing very low odds to round up your accumulator
• Only looking at the standings to analyze your bet

Many people don't follow this advice on the EuroLeague! So don't make the same mistake... By avoiding these mistakes, you'll be able to increase your winnings in the long run.

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In short: How to make accurate EuroLeague picks?

Now you know everything you need to know to bet on the EuroLeague. All you have to do is analyze the match in question and follow all the advice given earlier on this page. You must get used to doing all these things if you want to win your EuroLeague bets as often as possible. Don't hesitate to compare EuroLeague odds to take advantage of the highest ones.

We admit that it's not always easy to find the time to analyze a sporting event. That's why SportyTrader is here for you. Every European game day, you can find all our predictions for EuroLeague games, free of charge and freely accessible. Our experts take all the most important information into account when making their picks. You can count on them.

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Our current EuroLeague picks

EuroLeague Basketball: Top Betting Odds

Odds are not yet available for this competition.

All images in this article are from IMAGO.