Serie A 2020/21 Odds & Season Preview: Juventus Tipped as -118 Title Favorites, Plus Odds for Top 4/6

• The 2020/21 Serie A campaign begins this weekend, with Juventus the current favorites to win their 10th straight Scudetto
• Andrea Pirlo’s side have brought in several players, including Weston McKennie from Schalke and Arthur from Barcelona
• Find the odds for the title race, top four, and top six below

The fight for a top-four finish came down to the wire last season in Italy’s top-flight and with the new term just days away, it’s time to make some predictions for who could win the title and finish in Champions League/Europa League positions.

Juve, by no surprise, is the clear favorite to win their tenth consecutive title, followed by Inter Milan. Antonio Conte’s side added a couple of vital pieces to their squad in the summer, including Achraf Hakimi and Aleksandar Kolarov.

Serie A 2020/21 Title, Top Four/Six Odds

Odds taken September 16 from DraftKings

The latest Serie A odds have Juventus at a short -118 for the title.

Juventus Enter New Era Under Pirlo

Despite winning the Serie A title last season, Juve dismissed Maurizio Sarri of his managerial duties due to their disappointing Champions League campaign. Instead, they brought in club legend Andrea Pirlo as their new gaffer after being hired just a week before by the Under 23’s in Turin.

Pirlo brings no previous coaching experience to the job, but he still has a very talented squad to work with. Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong even at 35-years old, while the likes of Paulo Dybala help compliment the Portuguese superstar in the final third. Ronaldo bagged 31 goals last term, while Dybala had 11. They did lose Miralem Pjanic to Barca but received Arthur from the Catalans in a straight swap deal.

The Old Lady barely edged out Inter for the Scudetto in 2019/20, finishing just one point above them. Juve did struggle at times, but in the end, they were able to put together positive results at the crucial moments. As a whole, the squad is still strong.

McKennie and Arthur are nice additions, but neither will make any huge difference. Their backline was quite solid last year, conceding just 43 goals in 38 matches. Matthijs de Ligt and Leonardo Bonnuci are both quite reliable at center-back and after a full season under his belt at one of the biggest clubs in the world, de Ligt should be even better this term.

A new manager always means new tactics. Pirlo will bring a different style of play to Turin compared to Sarri. But, the players have had time to adjust to what he wants and there is more than enough talent on the pitch to put together another run at a title. A lot of the productivity in the final third will rest on the shoulders of Ronaldo.  If he can bag goals at a high rate once again, they’re going to have a legitimate shot at first place.

Inter is Also a Contender for the Title

Inter was hand in hand with Juve in 2019/20, thanks to a remarkable backline and an electric attack highlighted by Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez. The Belgian enjoyed a breakout campaign where he scored 34 goals across all competitions, while Martinez also netted 21 times. Conte’s men conceded a Serie A-low 36 goals last term while also scoring more than two goals per match. They’ve added more talent with the additions of Kolarov and Hakimi, who joined from Roma and Dortmund, respectively.

After just missing out on the title last year, they’re going to be hungry to give Juventus a run for their money once again. Consistency will be the name of the game for Inter, as they dropped points towards the end of the season in crucial fixtures. If their dynamic duo can find their best form, this side will find themselves right on Juve’s heels all year long and hopefully, even above them by the end of the term.

A Look at Top-Four Favorites

Napoli finished outside of the top six last term, but Gennaro Gattuso was slowly turning things around at the club. They spent 77 million euros to bring in Lille striker Victor Osimhen, who should fit in nicely on the attack. Napoli also has arguably the best center-back in the world in Kalidou Koulibaly, but the club has made it clear they’re willing to sell him before the transfer window closes. Man City are keen on the Senegalese international, but no official bid has been made yet. A Coppa Italia Final victory over Juventus gave this club much-needed confidence at the end of last season and with a very good manager in charge, I expect Napoli to make a push for a Champions League spot this term.

Atalanta was the talk of Europe last season, thanks to their free-flowing style of football that led them to a mind-boggling 98 goals in just 38 domestic fixtures. They made an impressive run in the Champions League as well, losing to PSG in the quarterfinals. They secured UCL football for 2020/21 after finishing third in Serie A. With numerous goal-scorers linking up with each other on a weekly basis such as Duvan Zapata, Josip Ilicic, and Luis Muriel, Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad will be an exciting side to watch. They’re also a safe bet to finish in the top four once again.

After a horrendous start to the season, AC Milan turned things around after the restart. In 11 fixtures from late June to early August, the Rossoneri went unbeaten, climbing their way up the table and securing a spot in Europa League. They re-signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who proved to be a vital part of their attack. The Swede scored ten goals in 18 appearances for Milan after joining from MLS side LA Galaxy in the January transfer window. They were relatively quiet in the summer in regards to buying new talent but given their tremendous run at the end last term, Stefano Pioli’s men should be heading into the new season with boatloads of confidence.

Can’t Forget About Lazio

Lazio struggled immensely after the restart, winning just five of their last 12 fixtures, which dropped them back into fourth spot. Regardless, they were an impressive team that were in the heart of the title race alongside Inter and Juve for most of the season. Ciro Immobile led Italy’s top-flight with 36 goals, while midfielder Luis Alberto was a tremendous playmaker for the Italian, tallying 15 assists.

Best Bets

As for the title, I think it’s going to be a two-man race between Juve and Inter. It’s hard to know how the Old Lady will fare under a coach with no experience. But, with arguably the best player in the world smashing in goals on a regular basis and a very reliable backline, it would be no surprise to see them win yet another Scudetto. Inter proved last year they have what it takes to compete with Juve in all areas of the pitch, so they should not be taken lightly.

As for the top four, I see it being Juve and Inter, of course, joined by Atalanta and Napoli. Lazio will secure the fifth spot, while AC Milan will finish in sixth. Napoli really impressed towards the end of 2019/20 and I do see them making a push for a Champions League spot. Lazio will drop back, while AC Milan’s lack of productivity on the transfer market could hurt them as the season rolls on, but they’ll still clinch a Europa League position.

As for the 2020/21 Serie A winners, I’m going with Inter Milan. It’s their time to shine and with a tremendous squad full of vibrant players, I think they will edge out Juve this season.

Picks: Title: Inter Milan +170

Top Four: Inter, Juve, Atalanta, Napoli

Top Six: Inter, Juve, Atalanta, Napoli, Lazio, AC Milan

More Serie A Season Preview Coverage

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• Cristiano Ronaldo +175 Favorite to Win 2020/21 Serie A Top Goalscorer