Italian Lega A Torino vs Venezia Preview and Prediction

Date/Time:  10-07-2018, 12:15 EDT

Spread: Venezia -7.5

Total: +156

In the first round of action in the Italian Basketball League (Lega Basket Serie A), two teams with opposite fates regarding the playoffs last season are clashing, when the team that held the best record last year Reyer Venezia Mestre, or Reyer Venice Mestre, are hosting the 10^th last season Auxilium Pallacanestro Torino or Auxilium CUS Torino (also known as FIAT Torino). The game takes place at the Taliercio Arena in the city of Venice on Sunday, October 7^th 2018.

Venezia finished last season with a 23-7 record and were placed first in the league table. They lost three of their last four games last season and in their last game they lost on the road against Trento in game 4 of the semifinals with an 84-76 score and got eliminated. They were led in scoring by Gediminas Odelik with 14.9 ppg, adding 4.8 boards per game. He was followed by Austin Daye with 12.8 ppg and a team high 6.2 boards per game, while Dominique Johnson added 11.6 ppg.

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Torino finished last season with a 22-8 record and were placed on top of the league. In their last game last season they ended a nine-game losing streak by winning at home against Varese with a 92-83 score. They were led in scoring by Diante Garrett with 13.7 ppg, adding a team high 5.3 dimes per game. He was followed by Lamar Patterson with 13.4 ppg, 4.6 boards and 3.2 dimes, while Trevor Mbakwe added 12.8 ppg and a team high 7.4 boards per game.

In their three meetings last season each team won on the road, with Torino winning both games in Venice by an average of 8.5 points. Venezia had a 12-3 home record last season, while Torino were 5-10 on the road. Venezia were better both offensively, scoring 82.7 ppg to Torino’s 81.1 and defensively, allowing 78.8 ppg to Torino’s 83.1. They also had better percentages both in field goals (47.3% to 44.9%) and in 3-pointers (36.6% to 34.2%). Venezia were also better in turnovers committed (12.4 to 13.2), while both teams were almost equal both in assists made (17.8 and 17.6) and in rebounding (32.9 and 32.7). Venezia were superior last season and Vegas odds give them a -7.5 spread for today’s game and expect them to beat the odds for the home victory.  

Torino vs Venezia Prediction: Venezia -7.5 (-111)