More than two months have passed since Euroleague/Ball in Europe sponsor Sporting Bet first posted its early “Euroleague 2009-10 – Outright Winner” odds. With the season tipping off in hours, another glance at the bookies’ prospective table is due. (Tell you what: Even if you’re not into wagering, bookmaker odds certainly make for some food for conversation.)
The biggest jump was naturally posted by FC Barcelona who jumped from 6/1 in the last days on the pre-Ricky Rubio Era to 4/1 and is now the book’s second-favorite, just a hair behind the static 7/2 line given Panathinaikos. The Barcelona gain appears has resulted in lengthening of odds to prospective third- and fourth-favorites Olympiacos and Real Madrid, who both sunk to 9/2 from 15/4 and 19/4, respectively.
And while Sporting Bet still considers CSKA Moscow and Montepaschi Siena to be Final Four contenders, odds on these teams certainly don’t show that contention: CSKA dropped from 7/1 to 17/2, while a Montepaschi Siena winning wager now pays 12/1, up from the initial 10/1. And Baskonia’s making moves that somebody out there likes as well, with its 16/1 odds down from 18/1.
Toward the depths of the table, reasoning gets a little murky: What does it mean to say that BC Khimki is now at 66/1 to become 2009-10 Euroleague Champion, as opposed to an earlier offering of 50/1? (And seriously, what’s the difference here between 66 and ∞? Does Khimki realistically have *any* chance to pull off the True Upset of the Century?)
Oddest of all, however, is Sporting Bet’s apparent reticence to offer a line on Entente Orleanaise’ chances to take the big enchilada. Upset of the Millennium, anyone?
Sporting Bet’s entire table on the “Euroleague 2009-10 Outright Winner” looks as follows. (Figures in parentheses represent odds posted in August.)
Panathinaikos: 7/2 (7/2)
FC Barcelona: 4/1 (6/1)
Olympiacos: 9/2 (15/4)
Real Madrid: 9/2 (19/4)
CSKA Moscow: 17/2 (7/1)
Montepaschi Siena: 12/1 (10/1)
Baskonia: 16/1 (18/1)
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv: 22/1 (22/1)
Efes Pilsen: 25/1 (25/1)
Unicaja: 33/1 (28/1)
BC Khimki: 66/1 (50/1)
Fenerbahce Ülker: 100/1 (125/1)
AJ Milano: 150/1 (150/1)
Partizan Belgrade 250/1 (250/1)
Lottomatica Roma: 250/1 (250/1)
Cibona 350/1 (350/1)
Lietuvos Rytas: 350/1 (350/1)
Asvel Villeurbanne: 500/1 (500/1)
Maroussi BC: 500/1 (500/1)
Zalgiris: 500/1 (500/1)
Asseco Prokom: 1000/1 (1000/1)
Union Olimpija: 1000/1 (1000/1)
EWE Baskets Oldenburg: 2500/1 (2500/1)
Entente Orleans: unreported (2500/1)
Sporting Bet has a number of bets and odds available for the Euroleague season and individual games. (They’re giving Maccabi Tel Aviv a minus-14 point handicap in tonight’s game, for example.) Please click on the logos or banner at right for more information. Good luck, everyone!
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