We have the latest NBL tips this week for all six games of the opening round, starting with Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers on Saturday.
Punters get the latest NBL odds, which are available for every game of the season.
Our NBL predictions this week have United coming out full guns blazing. They are the premiership favourites, and they should make an early statement against the visiting Adelaide 36ers.
There are some things going the way of the 36ers, who have a dynamic attack, but United’s defence is better, and they have much more experience winning big NBL games.
That should make a difference from the outset, so look for United to set the tone early and cover the -4.5 spread.
There hasn’t been much money for the Wildcats, but they are still favourites to win at RAC Arena, which is a tough venue to play for the opposition.
Most of the early money has come for the Phoenix to make it close at $2, and although we like the Phoenix this season, they should find it tough to beat the Wildcats in Perth, so they should lose the opener.
Betting on the Wildcats at home has long been a profitable bet, so they’re included in our NBL Round 1 predictions.
Our NBL Round 1 tips include the Breakers, who are never given much respect in betting markets despite being one of the most successful teams in history.
They have had a couple of tough years, mostly due to injuries, but they are fully healthy, and their international players looked good at the recent FIBA World Cup Qualifiers when beating the likes of Iran.
That experience should help the Breakers’ players, and they should be too tough to beat at Spark Arena, which is another venue that favours the home team.
It’s not easy to bet on the Cairns Taipans, especially on the road against the defending NBL champions, but we’re going with them.
They typically play their best basketball early in the season before the injuries and doubts start creeping in, so now is the best time to bet on the Taipans, who have enough offensive talent to win games.
Sydney might have a hangover from winning the title, so they could take their foot off the gas in the opening contest. Therefore, take the Taipans with a +8.5 start.
Our NBL predictions this week include the Tasmania JackJumpers, who should be title contenders this season.
They have enough depth and talent to handle teams like the Phoenix, and it could be a tough opening week for the Phoenix, who have to travel to Perth and Tasmania, which is about as hard as it gets.
We expect the JackJumpers to open as the favourites, and they should give their crowd something to cheer on Monday night.
Backing the Breakers to win on the road is never easy, and although the Bullets haven’t been an easy bet over the last few years, they should win their opening game.
It’s all about confidence for the Bullets, who have lacked it recently. However, a winning start in Round 1 could be all their need to start winning games more consistently.
With it being the Breakers second game of Round 1, they could struggle with fitness, so back the Bullets to win.