Real Madrid vs. Anadolu Efes Euroleague Betting: Bet the over for championship clash in Belgrade

Two years ago, Anadolu Efes and Real Madrid were on course for a potential meeting for the Euroleauge title. Then the pandemic brought an early end to the season.

This year, we will be treated to the final that we didn’t get a chance to see in 2020. After surviving two thrilling semifinal matchups on Thursday, the two European basketball powers will meet in the championship game of the Euroleague Final Four in Belgrade, Serbia.

Efes Seeks European Repeat After Dramatic Semifinal Win

Last season, Anadolu Efes, who has long been a powerhouse in Turkey, finally won its first Euroleague crown, defeating FC Barcelona Basket in the championship game in Cologne, Germany.

To become the first team to repeat since Olympiacos in 2012 and 2013, Efes will need to see off another Spanish giant. Two seasons ago, they were first and second in the Euroleague table when the season was halted and eventually canceled due to the initial COVID-19 outbreak.

To reach this year’s championship game, both teams had to win close games to advance. Efes had the more dramatic finish, as guard Vasilije Micic, who was last year’s Euroleague MVP and Euroleague Final Four MVP, had ice in his veins as he drained a buzzer-beating three to stun Olympiacos.

? Vasilije Micic, son saniyede #AnadoluEfes‘i finale taşıdı! #F4GLORY pic.twitter.com/YSPnNkL0Rc

— beIN SPORTS Türkiye (@beINSPORTS_TR) May 19, 2022

Real Madrid, meanwhile, edged Barcelona 86-83 to deny their rivals a rematch with Efes and advance to the championship game for the first time since 2018, when they defeated Fenerbahce for their 10th Euroleague crown.

2022 Euroleague Final Four Championship Game: Real Madrid vs. Anadolu Efes Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Real Madrid (18-10, 4th in the Euroleague regular season) vs. Anadolu Efes (16-12, 6th in the Euroleague regular season)
• Venue & Location: Stark Arena (Belgrade, Serbia)
• Date: Saturday, May 21, 2022
• Time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (7:00 p.m. local time)

Real Madrid vs. Anadolu Efes Odds

Odds are via BetOnline.

Spread

• Real Madrid -1.5 (-106)
• Anadolu Efes +1.5 (-116)

Over/Under

• OVER 155.5 (-114)
• UNDER 155.5 (-108)

Moneyline

• Real Madrid -114
• Anadolu Efes -108

Will Trend of High-Scoring Championship Games Continue in Belgrade?

From 2008 to 2011, no championship game went over 154 points. Since then, recent championship game history has trended in favor of higher-scoring games.

Last year’s title game in Cologne was the third straight in which at least 165 combined points were scored, and we have seen that occur in six of the last eight occasions. Two of those games were overtime games, but the 2016 tilt between CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahce was already over 165 at the end of regulation.

Eight of Real Madrid’s last ten Euroleague games have gone over today’s set total of 155.5, while five of the last ten for Efes have gone over 155.5.

That does not include their semifinal against Olympiacos or any of the four games of their quarterfinal playoff series against Olimpia Milano, but it does include a 93-90 home win over Real on March 22.

Championship games in any sport, basketball included, can often be cagey, nervy affairs, especially early on. So, staying away from betting the over for the first quarter or first half would be the smarter decision for this matchup.

Real Madrid vs. Anadolu Efes Prediction and Best Bets

Real Madrid vs. Anadolu Efes Prediction: Real Madrid to win

Real Madrid vs. Anadolu Efes Best Bets: Real Madrid ML (-114 at BetOnline) & OVER 155 (-110 at BetUS)

On the balance of it, Real have been the better team this season. In their win in Istanbul, Efes had to overcome a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to pull out the win, while Real dominated in an 82-69 win in the Spanish capital last September 30.

As mentioned, there can be plenty of early nerves with championship games, so you could end up with a much better over/under number via live betting. If things do start out slow, they will heat up eventually, and in a close game, late free throws should help send this one over.