Serie A: Artificial Intelligence Makes Predictions on Which Teams Will Be Relegated and Sees Surprises Among the Top 8
After the first four matchdays of the 2026/27 season, Artificial Intelligence (Chat GPT Plus version) tries to predict how the regular season will end. Bologna and Milan remain the favorites; Venice seems to have a slight edge over its pursuers, while Verona and Treviso are looking to prove themselves. But watch out for the teams that got off to a slow start.
Four rounds aren’t enough to make definitive judgments, but they’re enough to start forming an idea. The 2026/27 Serie A basketball season has already delivered a few surprises, some confirmations, and several questions. Virtus Bologna has hit the ground running, Milan has shown its strength, Naples has emerged as a dark horse, while Verona and Treviso are exceeding expectations. On the other hand, there are teams that have yet to find their footing and that, at least on paper, have everything they need to climb back up the standings.
But what might the standings look like at the end of the 30-game regular season? Let’s take a stab at predicting them, taking into account not only the results so far but also the quality of the rosters, the depth of the rotations, experience, and European commitments.
Virtus and Milan: A Rivalry Destined to Last
The feeling is that, once again, the race for first place will primarily be a contest between Virtus Bologna and Olimpia Milan. The Vu Nere have started with four wins in as many games, confirming their solidity and ability to handle clutch moments. Milano, for its part, has already shown it can shift gears when it ramps up the intensity, as demonstrated by its decisive road win over Napoli.
Our prediction places Virtus in first place with 25 wins, one more than Olimpia. It’s a razor-thin margin that could hinge on head-to-head matchups, energy management, and—above all—the impact of the EuroLeague. Because the real unknown for these two powerhouses remains precisely this: how much will their dual European commitments weigh on their league performance?
Venice as the third force; Naples aims to become a powerhouse
Behind the two favorites, we see Reyer Venice. The Venice-based team seems to have what it takes to compete at a high level throughout the regular season: experience, quality, and a roster structure that should allow it to maintain consistency even in the toughest moments. The projection is for 21 wins and a third-place finish.
Right behind them could be Napoli, one of the most intriguing teams so far this season. Their three opening wins have sparked enthusiasm, even if the loss to Milan served as a reminder of just how wide the gap still is compared to the top favorites.
Napoli, however, has every right to harbor high ambitions. Our projection places them in fourth place with 19 wins, ahead of Trento and Tortona. That would be a highly valuable result, capable of turning a strong start into a season as a contender.
Tortona and Trieste: don’t count them out just yet
If there’s one mistake to avoid after just four games, it’s to consider the struggles of teams that got off to a bad start as definitive.
Tortona is probably the most obvious example. Just one win in the first four games falls short of expectations, but the quality of the roster suggests we should be cautious in our judgments. The team has the resources to regain balance and consistency, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see it gradually climb the standings.
Our prediction is quite clear: Tortona will finish sixth at the end of the regular season, with 17 wins.
The same applies to Trieste. Here, too, the slow start doesn’t necessarily reflect the team’s true value. The potential to make up ground is there, and a playoff berth remains a credible goal. We’re placing them in seventh place, with 16 wins.
Between the two, Trento should secure fifth place. Over the years, the Trento team has shown it can put together competitive seasons even without the resources of the big teams. Eighteen wins is a reasonable projection.
Verona and Treviso: how long will the dream last?
These are perhaps the two most interesting stories of this early stage of the season. Verona and Treviso, both of which started with three wins in their first four games, have surprised many observers and earned the right to look at the standings with ambition.
Verona, in particular, sent an important message by beating Milan. A result that can instill confidence and conviction, especially in a team set to face better-equipped opponents.
The question, however, is inevitable: will they be able to maintain this pace for another six months?
It’s hard to imagine. Over the course of thirty matchdays, the depth of the roster, the ability to bounce back from losses, and physical endurance inevitably come to the fore. For this reason, we anticipate a slight dip in form, though we don’t rule out a major result.
Verona could finish eighth, securing the last available spot in the playoffs. Treviso, on the other hand, risks falling just short, in ninth place. It’s a razor-thin margin that could only be decided in the final few games.
Reggio Emilia, Udine, and the rest: a battle with no certainties
In the middle of the standings, we expect a particularly close battle.
Reggio Emilia and Udine could both finish with around 14 wins, with a chance to join the playoff race should one of the teams ahead of them falter.
The path ahead looks more complicated for the two Roman teams, Varese, Cantù, and Scafati. Here, the main focus could shift to avoiding relegation, with narrow margins and head-to-head matchups set to carry immense weight.
Naturally, it is precisely in this part of the standings where four matchdays tell us the least. Just a couple of consecutive results are enough to completely change the outlook, just as a new signing or an injury can shift the balance.
Projected final standings: Virtus Bologna 50 points; Olimpia Milano 48; Reyer Venezia 42; Napoli 38; Trento 36; Tortona 34; Trieste 32; Verona 32; Treviso 30; Reggio Emilia 28; Udine 28; Maxima Roma 26; Varese 24; BC Roma 20; Cantù 16; Scafati 16.
