Both Crvena Zvezda and FC Bayern Munich hoped their EuroLeague campaigns had gotten off on a better note. They each disappointingly dropped their first game. Now the two will fight to get that all-important first win of the season while avoiding a 0-2 start.
Bayern are 4.5-point favorites and hold -205 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. Crvena is the underdog at +170 on the moneyline. The total is set at 166 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this contest.
Crvena Zvezda at FC Bayern Munich preview
Crvena won’t be happy with their loss to Milano, but there were some good signs. As they try to fill the hole that Milos Teodosic left behind, many new additions have arrived, in addition to players having to step up. Codi Miller-McIntyre looked good as a starter with 14 points and six assists, while new signee Jordan Nwora led them in scoring with 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting. But they’ll need more depth and better defense if they want to make noise this year. Still, moves are being made in the right direction.
There’s no shame in losing to Panathinaikos if you’re FC Bayern Munich. Defending league MVP Kendrick Nunn picked up where he left off, handing them 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting. But they got essential contributions from up and down the lineup, led by Xavier Rathan-Mayes. Bayern hoped he could grow into a starting role after being a bench player for Real Madrid last season. With 18 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, he sure looks like an important contributor. No surprise after looking locked in during the preseason.
Crvena Zvezda at FC Bayern Munich pick, best bet
This game is awfully tough to pick. Both have potential and a lot of new faces, still needing to assimilate. But I sure don’t trust either of these defenses. Bayern made a habit of giving up points last year, and Crvena doesn’t have a robust defensive infrastructure. It’ll be a high-scoring affair no matter what.
