EuroLeague 2026/2027 Outright Predictions

The new EuroLeague basketball season promises to be one of the most intriguing and competitive in recent years. With the leading clubs recruiting aggressively, ambitious newcomers strengthening their rosters and coaching staffs being reshuffled, the battle for the trophy will require not only depth but also perfect timing to peak in May. Only the team that puts every piece of the puzzle together will be able to lift the prestigious trophy.

Below is our preseason prediction for the 2026/27 EuroLeague. The regular season starts on September 24. Twenty teams will take part, with each playing 38 games. The top six will qualify directly for the playoffs, while four more teams will enter the play-in for the remaining two places. Another newcomer, Besiktas, also joins the league, replacing Monaco, who are facing serious financial difficulties.

EuroLeague 2026/2027 Outright Odds Including the Playoffs

Scores24 EuroLeague 2026/2027 Outright Predictions

Who Will Reach the Playoffs?

Our projected top six to qualify directly for the knockout round is:

• Panathinaikos
• Fenerbahce Istanbul
• Olympiacos
• Real Madrid
• Hapoel Tel Aviv
• Barcelona

There is little point in backing the first four options because the odds on the Greek clubs, as well as the giants from Turkey and Spain, to qualify are extremely short. The next two options are more interesting. Sportsbooks offer odds of 1.35 on Hapoel to qualify and 2.25 on Barcelona to advance.

Four more clubs will reach the play-in. Dubai, Anadolu Efes, Valencia and Partizan appear to have the best chances of getting there. Dubai are particularly worth watching. The UAE club will be playing only their second EuroLeague season, but the project already looks highly ambitious. The team acquired Thomas Walkup from Olympiacos, while the signings of Okobo and Shengelia also stand out.

Efes are interesting for a different reason. The team completed a full reset after a disastrous previous season, when they finished the regular season with a 12-26 record. Mike James, Matthew Strazel, Dario Saric and Bruno Fernando have arrived, while Pablo Laso will continue to lead the project.

Valencia became one of the most entertaining teams in Europe under Pedro Martinez and immediately reached the Final Four. Repeating that success will be extremely difficult after the coach's move to Real Madrid, but a top-10 place should still be within reach. The club preserved continuity by appointing former assistant Xavi Albert as head coach. Valencia did lose leader Jean Montero, but they added elite scorer T.J. Shorts, who will be motivated to re-establish himself after a disappointing season at Panathinaikos.

We also rate Partizan's chances highly. The Serbian giant kept Joan Penarroya in charge. His calling card is attacking yet balanced basketball and an ability to take his teams into the postseason. Crucially, he took over last winter and was able to build the summer roster entirely around his own requirements. The team significantly improved its depth and is no longer as heavily dependent on leader Carlik Jones.

Fenerbahce Isanbul to Reach the Final Four – Yes

Odds: 1.75

Alongside Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, Fenerbahce remain our third candidate for the Final Four. The 2025 champions retained their competitiveness by adding top-level players in problem positions. With Shane Larkin, Will Clyburn and Shavon Shields, head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius should no longer have to worry about a lack of offensive firepower after Fener's attack ranked among the weakest in scoring last season.

Under Jasikevicius, the Turkish franchise has developed a clear system and tactical flexibility that allows it to disrupt the tempo of any opponent. If the Lithuanian coach maintains the team's defensive solidity, the Istanbul club can be a genuine title contender alongside the Greek powerhouses.

As an alternative and slightly safer option, Olympiacos to reach the Final Four at odds of 1.35 can also be considered. The defending champions automatically command a huge amount of trust. The versatile contribution of the departed Thomas Walkup will need to be shared among several players. Experienced coach Bartzokas should be capable of handling that task, but the Piraeus side no longer look like the clear-cut favorites they were a year ago. That is why the price offered by sportsbooks inspires less confidence than Olympiacos' status itself.

Hapoel Tel Aviv to Finish Above Zalgiris Kaunas – Yes

Odds: 1.45

For our editorial team, Hapoel are the leading candidate to become the season's pleasant surprise and the EuroLeague's main dark horse. Dimitris Itoudis has assembled a serious group around Vasilije Micic, Elijah Bryant and Zach LeDay. If the team quickly finds the right balance between individual star quality and Itoudis' structure, the Israeli side can do more than simply reach the playoffs — they could even make the Final Four. In any case, the more reliable option is for Hapoel to finish above Lithuania's Zalgiris, who may struggle even to compete for a top-10 place.

Kendrick Nunn to Be Panathinaikos' Top Scorer

Odds: 1.80

We will also take a brief look at the individual markets. The EuroLeague MVP from two seasons ago still has a huge role in the offense, while the presence of Sloukas and Francisco should potentially give Nunn more high-quality opportunities to finish possessions. Opponents will also find it harder to focus entirely on him because of the number of other strong options on the roster.

Panathinaikos to Win the EuroLeague

Odds: 4.30

The main reason is the combination of individual quality, roster depth and the return to the club, after a 14-year absence, of Europe's most decorated coach, Zeljko Obradovic. The Greek club kept Kendrick Nunn and Kostas Sloukas while adding Guerschon Yabusele, Moustapha Fall, Isaac Bonga, Brancou Badio and Sylvain Francisco. Francisco is especially interesting: last season he was one of the EuroLeague's best creators while playing for Zalgiris.

Fall deserves a separate mention. Having such a large and physically powerful center gives the team an additional option against opponents who rely heavily on scoring in the paint. The remaining task is straightforward in theory: turn a collection of stars into a real team.

You can follow match results, current data and odds in the EuroLeague section of our website.