betprepare.com

I expect a somewhat faster game because of the Czechs and their style but I have some reservations about the Turks and the last game Czechs played with Georgia at 132 points. In other friendly games, they have an under only against the feeble Hungary but Turkey are better then Hungary and will not stay at 50 points. In friendly games before the Olympic qualifiers, they have the under with Italy who are a defense-oriented team and not relevant here. Turkey have the big over with Finland and under with Italy. In recent friendly games, they have two unders with Greece, overs with the Philippines, the one with the Czechs and they were at 145 points with China. The Czechs assistant coach said their attacks will be very short. Lead by Dixon, Turkey will try to get the pace up too and I think the only problem here is that last game with Georgia. But the Czechs hit just 4 three pointers in that and I don't think they will do the same today. I think the margin is too low here. To sum up, there are some problems but the relevant friendly finished at 157 and we also have the other Czech preparation games. Turkey were at high numbers with Finland in a more relevant game and I think this is good material for a tip. Details

The best option for me is Syria's halftime team under. I don't believe the handicap will pass if Syria are over 28 points. At the last WABA competition they scored 16 by halftime, India scored 22 by halftime against Iran two days ago, Syria against Jordan 33, but that is not a downside in this case. Iran have, at the last relevant competition, limited teams under this margin as follows: Qatar at 22, Iraq 23, Thailand 26, Japan 26, Korea 21, India 31, but conceded only 16 more before the end, Jordan 28 and Korea 20. Only India went over at the whole tournament, I would say that was more of an accident. Iran's team is almost identical, they never lack motivation, and Syria will have to work hard for every point. This Syria, except Iran, have not faced that strong opponents lately, they scored 26 by halftime against Iraq at the WABA, the only downside is Lebanon from two years ago, but Lebanon were much weaker then than they are today. I think Syria will need time to adjust to Iran's aggressiveness at the start of the game and Iran's defense will be an insurmountable obstacle for them. Details

I expect a tough game. The stake is high now. The Italians are hosts here, they will try their best but so will Spain. I thought about the total under but I think the team under at Italy is more likely to happen. They went over this margin in the first game with China (scored 63), scored 63 against Mali as well and Mali allowed 72 to China and 95 to the US. Looking at the test games, we have 53 against Japan, 53 against Latvia, 36 against the US and 46 against Spain. They played all the games expect for the one against Spain without their top player Andra. However, Spain have good centers that will be able to defend her, as the friendly game showed.

Italy rarely go over this margin. At the last EC they went over only against Israel. Spain play good defense, the only problem is the 71 against Egypt but they knew they would win that. They went over in some test games but against teams with better offensive ends than Italy. At the last EC, Spain conceded over 60 three times but I expect them to settle this game through defense.

Italy under 30 in the first half is a good option as well but I cannot disregard the fact they always hit more in the first half of preparation games (against Japan, Latvia, Spain, Americans). That is why I'm going with total under. Details

I expect Russia to win and control the game. I think this Russian generation is perhaps ready to win the gold. Yesterday they dominated Egypt, won by 51, rotated maximally and they were probably already thinking about this game against Spain. Top position ensures that they avoid USA, this is a key game for Russia and I am sure they will give their best.
These two teams faced each other with identical lineups in two friendlies, Russia won one by 19, the other by 20 and I believe that today's handicap is too low. The only downside is the semi-final from last year, but the Russians are much better now, they have Vadeeva, who is the top player of their senior team, and I think she will, with Musina, be crucial for today's game.
The Russians dominated their preparation games, this U19 team defeated Italy's and Turkey's senior teams, Spain twice, Euskadi, a Basque senior club, while Spain struggled in the first half against Puerto Rico, defeated Italy by 14 in a friendly (Italy are very bad), barely defeated Latvia. A downside can be that 12 point difference against USA, but they covered the handicap as well, and I think that Russia are not weaker than the USA, I think they are at least even. Details

Spain will control this from the start. They were runners-up at the U18EC while Puerto Rico finished fourth in the last Americas championship. What's interesting here is the under at Puerto Rico. I said they will work hard for every point here. They were limited to low numbers to Canada and the US but I still have my doubts about this margin.

A better option is first half under at Puerto Rico at 25,5. Puerto Rico had unders against Canada, US, Brazil, Mexico who are much worse. Spain have good defense and their preparation games aren't comparable because they always met far better opponents. Looking at the last championship, only Russia and France went over. Italy and Latvia went over by half time in preparation games but they got limited to just 46 and 50, respectively, in the end. Puerto Rico don't have offense that is good enough and will struggle here. They don't have the height and a proper center and Spain will be able to stop their back court. Details

I expect a tough game, a fight for every point and the best option is therefore total under. Latvia have 17 unders and one over at this margin (the only over was against Lithuania here). Lithuania managed to score 83 points against a very good Spanish defense yesterday so that over isn't so relevant. This is the game for the semis and motivation is high. I think there will be a battle for every point here. Latvia have that one over and three unders here (122 Italy, 118 Portugal, 105 Poland in Round of 16). Poland scored 61,4 per game (39 yesterday) and the Latvian coach says his team won't change approach today. Latvia have 5 unders in 5 test games at this margin. They had nothing but unders at the last U18 championship. Looking at U20 which are comparable, they have the loss to Greece but that is basically the only problem this generation had.

As for Slovenia, they have 3 overs at this margin but I think they are vry good in defense. They limited Hungary to 55 points and Hungary scored a lot against France and to Serbia yesterday in the Round of 16 game. They conceded 71 point to France but that was mostly in the first half. The Turkey game in Round of 16 fell apart after the first quarter and Latvia limited Poland to just 5 points in the first quarter yesterday. The test games with Italy are comparable as well. Both of those finished under this margin. Looking at the entire generation, the numbers aren't really there. There are some games at high numbers but Latvia slowed down even better teams. I think this is a very good option.
Team under at Slovenia seems like an equally good option. Details

I expect a close game here. I'm leaning towards the Slovenians winning more after they trashed Hungary yesterday. But we need to keep in mind that after this, teams start with a clean slate. The runner-up spot might get an easier Round of 16 but it also gets a meeting with Spain in QFs. I'ts very likely that France will try and avoid that. Team under at France seems like a much better choice, not because of that, but because of Slovenia's good defense and a lot of motivation, as well as obvious attacking problems for France.

The margin is set at 67,5, which Slovenia conceded only to Italy (69). They limited all the other opponents to less points. They limited Hungary, who scored 86 against France, at 55, Italy at 52 in one game. France went over this margin only against Portugal in test games. Portugal are not at Slovenia's level defense-wise. They also went over against Hungary in the first test, and against Bosnia yesterday. Slovenia have a lot of motivation today, the top spot would probably see them meet Turkey in Round of 16. I think they are going to do their absolute best today. France went over this only twice in nine games and the game that fell apart against the Dutch is not relevant at all. I think they will stay under this margin today. Details

The total under is the most appealing choice for me here. The stakes are extremely high (the WC semis) and I think this will be a fight for every point. When it comes to comparable games, we have the friendly at 106 from a tournament in Spain. Italy have two unders at this margin with Germany (at 106 and 117). They have an under with Mali but the greatest argument for this is the last Italian game with Lithuania. It ended at 141 points but Lithuania scored only 68, 28 of which in the last quarter. Spain have a just as good defense - they limited Argentina in QFs at 128 points and Canada at 73. They don't have many unders at this margin in test games - France at 126, Germany 130 but this is a specific situation - semis and I don't think a lot has changed since the last friendly. On the contrary, this is just more important and I think we have a lot of leeway even at this low margin.

Spain's team under at 65,5 is a good option as well. Details

I expect the Dutch to control this and win. These two teams met once before this tournament and The Dutch won by 8 points. They controlled that game, had +15 by the end of first quarter and +21 by HT. That was their first test game. This is the start to the championship and they won't hold back. They are bursting with confidence after winning all test games, among them the one over Portugal's A team and their U20 team. For comparison's sake, Turkey lost to them by 7 points. The Dutch had their last test against Germany in Divison B but I don't think they're much weaker than Turkey. Germany want to go back into Divison A, they beat Sweden once but couldn't get even close to the Dutch. Turkey had their tests against Italy (-13), Russia (-19) and Italy (21). Turkey had some better results in test games (a win over Hungary, stood up to Bosnia once and beat them once). They struggle with offense and I think the Dutch will take advantage of that.

A good option here is a sure win, as well as Turkey team under due to obvious offensive problems. Details

The best option here is Canada team over. I think that is set quite low. Canada hit 102 against Lithuania, 88 against Spain despite making a lot of changes to the team. Spain, for example, allowed Germany 69, Italy 58, Lithuania 74, France 70 and I don't think Mali can limit this Canada to lower numbers. Mali allowed Egypt 77 at the African championship last season and Egypt couldn't do anything against Spain Canada scored 84 against the US in the final, 83 against Puerto Rico in the semis, 74 against Brazil, 87 against the Dominican Republic and 92 against Argentina. Also, Canada don't have a proper center and will most definitely try to outrun their opponents. Details

For Slovenia (fifth at 2015 EC) and Croatia (9th at 2015 EC), these are the last games before the European championship. The only difference is that Slovenia will play the A Division championship and Croatia B Division. Slovenia are complete, they already played the Czechs (lost one and won one easily) and Italians. Two of their best players, who were best players at the 2015 championship where Slovenia beat Croatia 87-73 joined the team for that game. Compared to that 87-73 loss, Croatia are without their two best players who averaged 38 points at that championship. They will struggle to make up for them.
Slovenia started their test period against the Czechs, losing one by 9 and winning the other one by 20.
Croatia first went to the Czech Republic with just nine players but the best ones were there. Croatia lost by 41 and played a close second game to lose by 7 in the end.
The main reason I'm going with this tip are the last test games Croatia lost home by 27 to Bosnia. They lost the second one by even more points but that was a closed game and the result does not count. We have the h2h of two years ago which is relevant, the fact Slovenia played without two top players in the Czech Republic and the fact Croatia are without two top players. Details

The live tip will be available on Bet365, Sbobet, Bet-at-home.
This series is the best-of-three and FMP stunned Partizan to win the first one for their first h2h win of the season.

I expect a much tougher game than the first one, Partizan need to react and the only option here is the under. However, there is a problem with the first game which went to 187 points. Still, the half time was at 77 points while 110 were scored in the second half. That won't happen today. Coach Dzikic said Partizan will go full throttle until the end. They played 4 playoff games before this one and only the one in ABA league went over. The others finished at 121, 153 and 156. I think we have a lot of leeway at this margin. Partizan and FMP are enemies and the ABA game here finished at 121 points. FMP stayed under in all 5 games of this season with Zvezda, Partizan stayed under in 4 out of 5. The first game saw the margin go up but the stakes are high here and I expect Partizan to go full throttle from the start. They have 29 unders and 4 overs at this margin this season. I think we need to take advantage of that. Details

Montenegro are the main favorites here. They came to San Marino with a tema in which players fight for a spot in the A team. Coach Tanjevic said they will have to deserve a spot in A team here. That saw Montenegro trash Luxembourg by 22 yesterday. Andora played San Marino and beat them easily but that game has nothing to do with this one. Let's start with some comparison. They played two years ago at this very competition and Montenegro won by 20 in a good team. They were more experienced and maybe a bit better than today, while Andora played with a similar team. I'm going with this tip because Andorra lost to Luxembourg easily with a similar team at European Championship for Small Countries. two years ago. out of 5 players from their current lineup were there. They lost by 22 to Iceland as well. Last season at the European championship for Small Countries, a lot of Andorra's player were on the team again. But this Montenegro sailed through that championship. Andorra finished in second. They struggled with San Marino, lost to Armenia, struggled with Moldavia and this handicap is set too low. Details