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Today I was really suprised with bookmakers line because it's not usual to see many good matches for betting in ULEB Cup competition. Also it don't means that all picks published in this review should win because it is betting and everything may happen. General advice for ULEB Cup is to stay calm and never raise your stakes even when you see clear advantage in the line. This competition have many low-class team and it's always hard to predict how they will perform in such circumstances. So be careful with your stakes.
 vs 
ALBA Berlin - DKV Joventud
Match preview
Forgive Alba Berlin if it believes it can do anything after the German side comes off its record-shattering victory looking for an upset at home of undefeated Group A leader DKV Joventut. Berlin small forward Dijon Thompson missed the game with an ankle injury but will be back against Joventut. And Alba will be on an even bigger high after beating reigning German champion Brose Baskets Bamberg on the road in the domestic BBL on the weekend. Against Joventut, look for Brown to have another big game, as he seems to step up when his team needs it most.
Coach Aito Reneses's Spanish side is one of three teams still undefeated 5-0 at the half-way point after dominating Siauliai. The German Jagla will be extra motivated to play against Berlin and Reneses will need an excellent all-around showing to hold off the highly-motivated Berlin, which it beat 79-67 in Week One in Spain. But Reneses will not have young star Ricky Rubio - out with a left knee contusion.
Betting overview
This game means nothing for Joventud because they will stay at the top of the table even if they lose. Motivation is only on ALBA side which can secure next stage promotion if they win. Sure it's not 100% quarantee but with 2 wins advantage over Siauliai I doubt that ALBA will fail to reach next round. Till now ALBA did not lose any single game at home and after win against Brose should be ready for this game.
Talking about head to head match ups I really don't see big Joventud advantage. I think this game is 50/50 game because ALBA is really well looking team this time of the season and they should be ready to defend their home court against big team. Also Ricky Rubio could be a decisive factor because this young man became a power of this team this year and without him it would be difficult to play in Joventud style.
I think that Alba have all to win this game in front of own supporters. So I advice to take ALBA handicap or ML depending on your betting stratage.
 VS 
Lukoil Academic vs. ASK Riga
Lukoil Academic goes for its third straight victory in Group H as it hosts ASK Riga. Coach Zeljko Lukajic's Lukoil improved to 3-2 with a hard-fought road victory at Pau-Orthez. Revenge would be sweet for Lukajic's men. Riga meanwhile is looking to bounce back after scoring just 9 fourth quarter points in losing at Benetton Tamoil to drop to 2-3. Coach Ramunas Butautas's ASK shot just 40% from the field and committed 20 turnovers. Small forward Sandis Valters did score 18 points and power forward Aerick Sanders added 15 points, but the rest of Butautas's starting five totaled just 17 points. Shooting guard Dwayne Broyles scored just 3 points - 10 below his average coming into the game. Riga will need more balanced production and a bounce back effort by Broyles if it wants a good position in a tight battle in Group H. Betting overview For this match both teams have missings. Lukoil will play without 2 important players: Canak and Donta Smith. Both are very important players in rotation and without him bulgarian coach will be forced to play with 6-man rotation (sure some young players will step up but active rotation will be very short) and this may kill bulgarian team against strong Riga which is not showing good results away from home. But this is only a matter of motivation in my opinion because I have seen this team many times and I'm sure that their overall class is much higher than Lukoil. But for this game Butautas will miss S.Valters (injury) and Antonievic (sent to Azovmash), but team leader Millage will be back in the roster. So Butautas will have all his key players in his rotation and Valters absence should not be critical especially taking into account Lukoil roster problems. In Uleb Cup opening night ASK Riga easily won against Lukoil by 19 points and I would not be surprised to see them winning again. They need to win at least one away game to stay calm about their promotion chances and game in Sofia is a perfect chance. As for me Riga is much stronger team than Lukoil and bookies simply overestimate Lukoil wins over not experienced in Europe Artland, poor Pau-Orthez.. the only win I respect is Lukoil win over strong Kiev but Kiev was without 2 important players in that match. Today I expect Riga to control tempo and I would not be suprised to see them dominating whole game. I rate this game as 50/50 but Riga european away record in last 2 years something that I fear.. But today I will back Riga because of I see class difference + injury shortened bulgarian team. Other picks I like today available only for registered members (please login if you are registered) New articles on this topic:
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