Serie A Matchday 1 Odds & Picks: Torino vs Atalanta, Roma vs Fiorentina & More

• The Serie A season gets underway this weekend with a collection of enthralling fixtures
• Jose Mourinho takes charge of his first league match as Roma manager against Fiorentina
• Read below for Serie A Matchday 1 odds, picks and betting previews

The 2021-22 Serie A season kicks off on Saturday, August, 21st. Italy might have won the Euros, but it’s been a difficult summer for the nation’s top-flight with several big-name departures, including Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku. A new-look Inter gets their title defense underway against Genoa at the San Siro on Saturday, while title favorites Juventus take on Udinese on Sunday.

Third favorites for the Scudetto, Atalanta kick off their season with a trip to Turin to face Torino. Jose Mourinho’s Roma welcomes Fiorentina to the capital on Sunday, and there are a couple of fixtures on Monday, including Sampdoria’s duel with Milan.

Serie A Matchday 1 Odds

Odds as of Aug 20 at DraftKings

Udinese vs Juventus Prediction

Massimiliano Allegri returns to the dugout for Juventus on Serie A Matchday 1. The Old Lady endured a difficult season last time around, finishing fourth in Serie A and struggling in the Champions League. The decision to bring back Allegri is a commitment to what they know, after the failed experiment with Andrea Pirlo. Juventus has problems to solve, and must prove they can take a step up from last year, but they are still the bookies’ favorites to win the title.

Udinese are heavy underdogs for this one. They finished 13th last season, and while they have the benefit of playing at home on Matchday 1, it didn’t help them much in 2020-21, when they won just five of their 19 home league matches. Last season finished poorly, too. Le Zebrette lost four of their last five matches, and their squad has only got weaker in the window with Rodrigo de Paul and Juan Musso departing.

Allegri will play Chiesa, Dybala and Cristiano in attack against Udinese.

[SportMediaset] pic.twitter.com/TM4DsXI5lI

— The CR7 Timeline. (@TimelineCR7) August 19, 2021

Even in a disappointing season, Juventus led the league in expected goals against. Udinese were solid enough at the back, but they struggled to create chances, ranking in the bottom five in Serie A. Juventus to win to nil has some value at +140. It’s hard to be too confident in them defensively right now, though, so the -1.5 handicap is our pick.

Pick: Juventus -1.5 (+115)

Torino vs Atalanta Prediction

Atalanta are looking to build on a title challenge and Coppa Italia final in 2020-21. They get their season underway at on Serie A Matchday 1 at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Saturday. While Cristian Romero departed, Atalanta have retained most of their key talents. Many of Serie A’s strongest sides are in a period of transition with substantial squad changes and new managers, but Atalanta has stability with Gian Piero Gasperini.

#TorinoAtalanta means… 🪄👨🏼‍🏫#tbt #Iličić #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/LZ9Vy1IZD1

— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) August 19, 2021

Crucially keeping hold of Luis Muriel and Duvan Zapata, the style is not going to change. They even landed young defenders Matteo Lovato and Merih Demiral on a cheap deal and a loan respectively.

Embroiled in a relegation fight last season, Torino got some big results in the second half of the season to survive. Ivan Juric has taken over from Davide Nicola, however, and with the club needing to sell before they can buy, Juric is charged with getting improved results from an almost identical squad. The form of Andrea Belotti will obviously be crucial, and the Italy international has a good recent record against Atalanta.

We missed you guys… so much 🥰🥰🥰#TorinoCremonese#SFT pic.twitter.com/flUqpgvoix

— Torino Football Club (@TorinoFC1906_En) August 15, 2021

Although without some key players through suspension (Marten De Roon, Rafael Toloi and Remo Freuler), Atalanta are deserving favorites here. It’s worth looking to a parlay to boost the odds, though, and given Atalanta’s style of play, over 2.5 looks like a sure thing.

Pick: Atalanta to win and over 2.5 goals (+115) 

Roma vs Fiorentina Prediction

Managing Roma for the first time in Serie A, Jose Mourinho faces a very beatable opponent in Fiorentina in Serie A Matchday 1. La Viola finished down in 14th last season. Nicolas Gonzalez was their marquee summer signing, but they are now facing significant transfer speculation around the future of Dusan Vlahovic. The Serbian has been linked with Manchester City and Tottenham in recent days – such high-profile rumors could prove a distraction this weekend.

Jose Mourinho doesn't want 'Mourinho's Roma' 👀 pic.twitter.com/ImNiGzKsGE

— GOAL (@goal) August 17, 2021

It’s been a busy summer for Roma. Edin Dzeko, Juan Jesus and Pedro left on free transfers. With the club clearly happy to spend, though, Mourinho has been able to overhaul the squad with Tammy Abraham, Eldor Shomurodov and Rui Patricio among the arrivals.

Mourinho will hope to introduce his trademark solidity. Roma had plenty going forward last season, but their defense was shaky. They conceded the most goals of teams in the top half and their expected numbers weren’t any better.

🇺🇿 A debut goal for Eldor Shomurodov in Roma's 2-1 win over Trabzonspor 👏

🐺 Enjoy that, Roma fans? #UECL pic.twitter.com/tx4fM1wLh4

— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) August 19, 2021

It will take time for Mourinho to get Roma playing exactly how he wants. There may be a period of settling in for some of the new signings. The hosts are a worthwhile bet to win this one, but there’s value on over 2.5 goals, too. Five of the last six meetings between these two have had three or more goals.

Pick: Over 2.5 goals (-145)