Champions League Predictions, Odds & Best UCL Picks for 9-20-23

Article By Dusan Jovanovic

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Dusan was born in Serbia but has never had the opportunity to play basketball with Nikola Jokic. He has been a sports fanatic for as long as he can remember, and over the last ten years, he's been handicapping various sports leagues, including MLB, NFL, NCAAF, NCAAB, NBA, and many European soccer leagues. In his free time, he enjoys pitching fastballs and changeups or pursuing the Olympic qualification in the 100m Breaststroke.

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Last Updated: Sep 20^th, 2023

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UEFA Champions League Week 1 Predictions & Best UCL Picks   

• ⭐ Best Bet 1: Galatasaray vs. FC Copenhagen BTTS YES (-120) at BetMGM
• ⭐ Best Bet 2: Benfica vs. Salzburg BTTS YES (-120) at Caesars
• ⭐ Best Bet 3: Sevilla to Win (-115) at bet365

The 2023-23 Champions League season kicked off Tuesday with an exciting eight-game slate, and Wednesday brings eight more games to wrap up the opening round of the group phase. We are taking a closer look at three matchups in this preview to get you the best Champions League predictions and UCL picks along with the latest odds updates from the best online betting sites.  

Galatasaray host FC Copenhagen as firm -190 moneyline favorites at BetMGM. Benfica are a surefire -225 home fave to beat Salzburg, according to Caesars, while Sevilla sit at -115 on bet365 to outlast Lens at home. 

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⭐ Both Teams to Score YES (-120) at BetMGM! ⭐

I’m a bit surprised by the odds in this game. Galatasaray are off to a strong start with eight wins and two draws in ten games in all competitions, but FC Copenhagen are not exactly a chopped liver. Over their first 14 games in 2023-24, FC Copenhagen have recorded nine wins, four ties, and one loss. The Lions have found the back of the net in each but one of those 14 contests, and I’m expecting them to score at Rams Park in Istanbul. 

Give me Both Teams to Score YES (-120) at BetMGM. It’s not a bold Champions League prediction, but I don’t trust Galatasaray to shut down the Lions. Galatasaray are coming off a 4-2 home win over Samsunspor in the Turkish Super Lig, and they’ve allowed five goals over the last three games. Three of Galatasaray’s previous four tilts and six of FC Kopenhagen’s last nine road contests have seen both teams score.

⭐ Champions League Best Bets #1: Both Teams to Score YES (-120) at BetMGM

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⭐ Both Teams to Score YES (-120) at Caesars ⭐

The bookies are expecting Benfica to easily outlast Red Bull Salzburg. Once more, I don’t feel comfortable with the side bet, and the UCL odds on Benfica are not tempting at all. Both teams have plenty of offensive weapons and prefer to play attacking soccer, so I’m going with Both Teams to Score YES (-120) at Caesars as my best Benfica vs. Salzburg UCL pick.  

It seems like the bookies don’t trust Salzburg’s offense. They set the Over 2.5 Goals at -188, expecting the hosts to score a few goals. Benfica have bagged 13 goals over their previous five games while conceding six in return, and the Eagles have conceded in three of those five matchups. On the other side, Salzburg have recorded a 16:4 goal difference in their last five outings. The Red Bulls have found the back of the net in 12 straight showings on the road, so Salzburg to score is one of my Champions League predictions for Wednesday. 

⭐ Champions League Best Bets #2: Both Teams to Score YES (-120) at Caesars

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⭐ Sevilla to Win (-115) at bet365 ⭐

This is arguably one of the trickiest Champions League predictions and UCL bets for the opening round. Both Sevilla and Lens are off to a horrible start to the 2023-24 season. Sevilla just earned their first win of the season, edging Las Palmas 1-0 at home this past Saturday, while Lens have only recorded one point through their first five contests in the French Ligue 1. 

Lens made it to the Champions League for the first time since 2002. The French side lacks experience, so the hosts to win at -115 odds at bet365 would be my best Sevilla vs. Lens UCL betting pick. Sevilla are the reigning UEFA Europa League champions. Back in August, Sevilla battled bravely against Manchester City in the UEFA Super Cup but eventually lost 2-1 after penalties.   

⭐ Champions League Best Bets #3: Sevilla to Win (-115) at bet365

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As we look forward to the 2023 UEFA Champions League season, there's another exciting development on the horizon for sports betting enthusiasts. Come this September, Kentucky will be launching online sports betting, paving the way for the emergence of new sports betting apps in Kentucky. This opens up a new realm of opportunities for fans and bettors alike. Stay tuned for more updates on this front.

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Dusan was born in Serbia but has never had the opportunity to play basketball with Nikola Jokic. He has been a sports fanatic for as long as he can remember, and over the last ten years, he's been handicapping various sports leagues, including MLB, NFL, NCAAF, NCAAB, NBA, and many European soccer leagues. In his free time, he enjoys pitching fastballs and changeups or pursuing the Olympic qualification in the 100m Breaststroke.

Read Full Bio

Dusan Jovanovic

Last Updated:   Sep 20^th, 2023

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