Eurobasket 2011 betting
Eurobasket 2011 betting promises to offer great reward for punters looking to cash in on the sport's growing popularity. Twenty four teams meet in Lithuania for the right to be crowned Europe’s finest - and so earn a place at the London 2012 Olympics. Not surprisingly, the betting markets are wide open.
The European basketball championships, Eurobasket 2011, will be the 37th regional championship. This will be the second time Lithuania has hosted Eurobasket, and the first since independence in 1990.
Lithuania originally hosted the 1939 European championship and as an added incentive, the two teams to top the table will qualify after a hard-fought schedule will qualify for the London Olympics in 2012.
Two years ago, Spain tore Serbia 85-63 apart to capture their first-ever EuroBasket gold medal in Poland and will again be favoured in Eurobasket betting markets for a repeat final success this year.
FIBA Europe has expanded the number of teams competing from 16 to 24, which will add greater scope to Eurobasket bets as there are likely be some blowout results involving teams new to this level of competition.
But the sheer weight of fixtures across tournament dates highlights the value in undertaking your research before FIBA European Basketball Championship betting markets officially open. Of course, live Eurobasket 2011 betting is sure to be in demand too as online bookmakers promise a number of free bets to UK (and other) internet customers looking to satisfy their slam dunk predictions all the way to the final.
For many, the value odds and tips will appear in the group stages of the FIBA Europe-organised tournament as big results are most likely when the minnows get their chance to shine. One ex-basketball pro, now an established sports writer, noted: "Did you know the UK will have a team at the championship? I suspect not many did, but it certainly adds interest to Eurobasket 2011 betting.
"Basketball betting has a well-established following and Eurobasket bets on Spain to repeat their 2009 success will be mad ein abundance. Elsewhere, there is an increased number of online Eurobasket 2011 betting opportunities where punters can bet on which teams will top the standings and consider tips on those sides worth pursuing in their basketball betting schedule.
"Eastern Europe and the Balkans have traditionally been a power in the sport, supplying numerous players to the NBA in America, so the competition. It follows that potentially, 2011 European Basketball Championship betting will be profitable for the hoops predictor who completes his research and is then armed with information regarding the form players in the championship.
"It undoubtedly pays to consider the tournament’s history and starting odds. Spain, Russia and Greece have won the last three stagings of the tournament, but no country has repeated back-to-back victories since the Yugoslavia team of the mid 1990s.
"Remember then, Eurobasket betting follows traditional lines and for those new to the sport, who might be restricted to a free bet from an online bookmaker, a Eurobasket bet can pay dividends if one sticks with group-stage favourites.
"Naturally, for more experienced punters, FIBA European Basketball Championship betting can be divided into a variety of outcomes, including match winners, highest points scorer or the spread of victory – an especially popular market for live Eurobasket 2011 betting.
“Whichever market and option you choose, remember to have some fun as well – after all, it’s only a game!”
"The teams which top the group standings and progress through to the latter stages of the competition will be of most interest in online Eurobasket 2011 betting spreads and as we can expect blanket media coverage for the tournament there will be no shortage of tips for Eurobasket betting.