After surviving a huge scare in the semifinals, Team USA is heavily favoured over host nation France in the Olympic men's basketball tournament gold medal match.
The pregame narrative: Facing a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, the U.S. surged back for a dramatic win over Serbia. The Americans are 17-point favourites over Victor Wembanyama and France, who upset Canada and Germany to get here.
Check out our USA vs. France odds and best bet for the gold medal game on Aug. 10.
USA vs. France odds
| France vs. Canada markets | Betting odds |
| France moneyline | +900 |
| USA moneyline | -2,000 |
| France +17 | -113 |
| USA -17 | -108 |
| Over 176.5 points | -110 |
| Under 176.5 points | -110 |
Go to full USA vs. France betting markets.
Best Bet: France +17 (-113)
Serbia had an almost literally golden opportunity to dethrone Team USA in the semifinals, but a total meltdown in the bright lights of crunch time quashed that hope.
Do I think that game can wake up the Americans a bit? Similar to how some uneasy results in pre-tournament play led to a dominant run through the quarterfinals? For sure.
But I also know that France will have a raucous home crowd behind it. I'm not calling for an upset here, but France should hang a little closer than this.
Look at what France did as an 8-point underdog against Canada and as a 5-point underdog against Germany. Victor Wembanyama was atrocious as a scorer in both games and it didn't matter.
Wemby shot a combined 6-for-27 (and 1-for-14 from 3-point range) in those matchups.
But teammates like Isaia Cordinier (6-for-10 from 3-point range) and Guerschon Yabusele (39 points) picked up the slack to help beat a pair of deeply talented teams.
Now just imagine if Wembanyama turns in a better performance.
Either way, I don't think playing the what-if game is necessary. France has found other avenues to score, and Wemby provides elite value as a defender regardless of what he's doing on the offensive end.
The USA has coasted to victory in most of its games. But the gold medal match should be more competitive than the spread indicates.
Key stat: France has covered this spread in all 13 international games it's played in 2024.
Pick as of 1:40 p.m. ET on 08/09/2024.
