Italian Lega A Cantu vs Olimpia Milano Game 1 Spread and Prediction

Date/Time:  05-12-2018, 14:30 EDT

Spread: Olimpia Milano -10.5

Total: +169.5

In the first round opener of the Italian Basketball League (Lega Basket Serie A) playoffs, the 2^nd in the league and dethroned champions last season EA7 Emporio Armani Milano (22-8), who have won only once in their last four games going into the postseason, are hosting the 7^th Pallacanestro Cantu (16-14), who are coming red-hot, having lost only once in their last six.

Cantu had a 16-14 record and in the regular season and finished in the 7^th place of the league. They are 5-1 in their last 6 games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Brindisi at home, 98-85. Milano had a 22-8 record in the regular season and finished in the 2^nd place of the league. They are 1-3 in their last four games and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Venezia on the road, 89-86.

Top Basketball Bookmakers

Cantu are led in scoring by Randy Culpepper with 16.9 ppg, who also adds 3.6 dimes per game. Jaimie Smith follows with 14.8 ppg and a team-best 4.5 dimes per game, while Christian Burns adds 14.1 ppg and a team-best 10.2 boards per game. Milano are led in scoring by Andrew Goudelock with 15 ppg, followed by Vladimir Micov with 11.4 ppg and 3.2 boards. Arturas Gudaitis adds 10.9 ppg and a team-best 7.3 boards per game, while Jordan Theodore adds 10.4 ppg and a team-best 2.9 dimes per game.

Milano have a 12-3 home record this season (tied for league-best), while Cantu are 5-10 on the road. Milano leads Cantu 2-1 wins so far this season and in the two games in Milan, both teams won once. Cantu are better offensively, scoring a league-best 86.9 ppg to Milano’s 82, while Milano are better defensively, allowing a league-best 74.8 ppg to Cantu’s league-low of 87.1. Milano have a better accuracy from the field with (46.8% to 46%), while Cantu have a better accuracy from behind the arc (34.9% to 33.3%). Milano grab more rebounds (34.5 to 32.2), while Cantu dish more assists (17.3 to 13.9). While last season’s finalists Milano are the favorite for the win, expect Cantu to force a closer game than 11 points, so pick them today.

Cantu vs Olimpia Milano Game 1 Prediction: Cantu +10.5 (-112)