EuroLeague & NBL Predictions - Basketball Betting Tips for 2 October 2026
The FreeTips Basketball show is underway, with EuroLeague and NBL betting taking centre stage before the NBA season begins.
Friday's selections include Dubai's first EuroLeague road test against Fenerbahce, Barcelona's trip to Besiktas and two big NBL clashes featuring Adelaide 36ers and Perth Wildcats.
We've also picked out three early-season futures, including a EuroLeague title selection and two NBL season bets.
Here are our latest basketball predictions and betting tips.
Fenerbahce vs Dubai - Back Dubai to Keep It Close
Dubai have made an impressive start to their first EuroLeague campaign, beating Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona to begin the season 2-0 but their first road assignment is significantly different, particularly against a Fenerbahce side that has also opened the season with consecutive victories.
The hosts possess one of the competition's strongest defences, but Dubai have already shown enough quality to suggest they can make this competitive. With 4.5 points on their side, we're backing Dubai to stay within the handicap.
Dwayne Bacon also makes appeal in the player markets after scoring 26 points in his opening game and 14 in his second. He reached 14 pts despite shooting just 2-of-9 from the field in that second appearance. His usage remains encouraging and a better shooting night could be enough to take him beyond his 16.5-point line.
Pick: Dubai +4.5
Player Pick: Dwayne Bacon Over 16.5 Points
Besiktas vs Barcelona - Back Barca on the Road
Besiktas have returned to the EuroLeague after a 13-year absence and have immediately established themselves as one of the competition's most dangerous shooting teams. The Turkish side are shooting 49.2% from three-point range, but maintaining that efficiency will be extremely difficult.
Barcelona lost in Dubai last time out but were competitive for much of the game and committed just five turnovers. Besiktas' home court makes this a difficult assignment and there was disagreement on the FreeTips Basketball show over whether their hot shooting can continue.
We're siding with Barcelona's experience and expecting them to bounce back with a road victory.
Pick: Barcelona to Win
Alternative Pick: Game Total Over
Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers - Cotton Can Punish Hawks Defence
Illawarra's season has started badly with three consecutive road defeats leaving the NBL25 Champs at the bottom of the standings.
The Hawks are still producing offensively, averaging more than 92 points per game, but their defence has been a major problem and that creates an inviting matchup for Bryce Cotton and the Adelaide 36ers.
Adelaide have also improved defensively under Trevor Gleeson, giving them another advantage if the Hawks struggle to maintain their scoring output. We're backing Adelaide to win and Cotton to make at least four three-pointers against the league's worst defence.
Pick: Adelaide 36ers to Win
Player Pick: Bryce Cotton 4+ Three-Pointers
Perth Wildcats vs South East Melbourne Phoenix - Wildcats Seeking Revenge
Perth get an immediate opportunity to avenge their opening-round defeat to South East Melbourne when the Phoenix return to RAC Arena. The Wildcats were beaten at home in that first meeting, but Jez is backing them to turn the tables this time.
South East Melbourne remain heavily dependent on their perimeter shooting and recently endured a disastrous 4-of-41 performance from three against Melbourne United.
Perth, meanwhile, are beginning to find a better balance with Dylan Windler, Elijah Pepper and Kristian Doolittle. There is disagreement on this one, however. South East Melbourne are normally an excellent shooting team and already proved they can win in Perth earlier this season.
Jez's Pick: Perth Wildcats to Win
Ryan's Pick: South East Melbourne Phoenix to Win
NBL Futures Picks - Phoenix Top Four & Breakers Top Six
South East Melbourne and New Zealand are our two early-season NBL futures selections.
The Phoenix came agonisingly close to reaching the Grand Final last season and possess enough scoring talent to challenge near the top of the standings again. There are still some early-season issues to resolve, particularly defensively, but this is a roster that should improve as the season progresses.
We're backing South East Melbourne to finish inside the top four, with Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne United among the other leading contenders.
New Zealand have also overhauled their roster and the early signs suggest the Breakers should be significantly more competitive this season. Their new-look team is still settling under a new coach, while finding ways to take some of the offensive burden away from Parker Jackson-Cartwright should help as the campaign develops.
Brisbane could emerge as one of their biggest rivals for a postseason position, but we like New Zealand's roster enough to back them for a top-six finish.
Future Picks: South East Melbourne Phoenix Top Four & New Zealand Breakers Top Six
EuroLeague Futures - Panathinaikos to Win the Title
It's extremely early, but Panathinaikos have wasted no time establishing themselves as one of the teams to watch in the EuroLeague. They opened the season with victories by 19 and 23 points despite not yet having their complete roster available.
Sylvain Francisco has made an immediate scoring impact, Guerschon Yabusele brings NBA experience and Mathias Lessort adds quality at both ends of the floor.
With an already stacked squad set to get even stronger as players return, we're taking the early price on Panathinaikos to win the EuroLeague.
Future Pick: Panathinaikos to Win the EuroLeague
Our EuroLeague & NBL Basketball Picks
- Fenerbahce vs Dubai: Dubai +4.5
- Fenerbahce vs Dubai: Dwayne Bacon Over 16.5 Points
- Besiktas vs Barcelona: Barcelona to Win
- Besiktas vs Barcelona: Game Total Over
- Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers: Adelaide to Win
- Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers: Bryce Cotton 4+ Three-Pointers
- Perth Wildcats vs South East Melbourne Phoenix: Split Pick - Perth / South East Melbourne
- NBL Future: South East Melbourne Phoenix Top Four
- NBL Future: New Zealand Breakers Top Six
- EuroLeague Future: Panathinaikos to Win the EuroLeague
Watch the full FreeTips Basketball preview above for Ryan and Jeremy's breakdown of the latest EuroLeague and NBL betting opportunities.
FreeTips Basketball will continue covering the NBL and EuroLeague throughout the season, with NBA predictions and betting tips joining the schedule when the 2026-27 NBA season gets underway.
Odds and lines quoted were those discussed at the time of recording and may change. Please gamble responsibly.