The 2024 Paris Olympics head towards their conclusion this weekend, but one of the most-anticipated events is scheduled for Saturday as Team USA and France meet in the men's basketball gold-medal game. This is a rematch of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold-medal game when USA won 87-82. A win for France would be a defining Olympic moment for the host country, while a USA win would give the Americans their 17th gold medal in men's basketball in 21 tries.
Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET in Paris, France. The United States is a 16.5-point favorite in the latest Team USA vs. France odds. The over/under for total points is 174.5. Before making any France vs. USA picks or 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball predictions, you need to see what SportsLine's Bruce Marshall has to say.
An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Marshall, who was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famed sports betting newsletter, vast array of editorial work that has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects. Marshall finished the 2023-24 season on a 197-143 roll on NBA picks (+3578) and 54-37 on college basketball picks (+1340). Anybody following is way up.
Now, he has broken down Team USA vs. France from every angle and just revealed his picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the lines and trends for France vs. Team USA:
- Team USA vs. France spread: USA -16.5
- Team USA vs. France over/under: 174.5 points
- Team USA vs. France money line: USA -2000, France +900
- USA: Team USA averages 106.8 points per game
- FRA: France logs 5.6 blocks per contest in the Olympics
- Team USA vs. France picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Team USA can cover
LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry are the biggest names on the roster, but the United States has plenty of players who are able to step up on both ends of the floor to be effective. Guard Devin Booker has been a consistent playmaker for this team over the last two weeks. Booker owns a nice jumper from the outside and is able to excel off ball. During the 2024 Summer Olympics, Booker averages 11 points, 3.4 assists and shoots 50% from downtown.
Guard Anthony Edwards is another athletic playmaker off the bench. Edwards scores from all three levels on the floor with terrific defensive tenacity. The Georgia product logs 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. Edwards had 17 points and five boards in the quarterfinal win over Brazil. Bam Adebayo is another spark off the bench. The Miami Heat forward can score in the lane, defend multiple spots, and be a strong defender. In five games in the Olympics, Adebayo averages 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and one steal per game.See which team to pick here.
Why France can cover
The French crowd will be ready to go in this battle to cheer on their home team as they chase the gold. France is fresh off a game where it forced Germany into 15 turnovers and scored 20 points off of them. Center Victor Wembanyama is playing in his first Olympics for the French and he's had a huge impact. Wembanyama plays high-level defense due to his superb length.
Offensively he can score from multiple spots on the floor with a great touch as a scorer. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, he averages 13.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and two blocks per game. Wembanyama grabbed double-digit boards and logged at least two blocks in three games this tournament. Guard Isaia Cordinier is an additional athletic playmaker for France. He has the quickness and body control to get out in transition. Cordinier logs 10.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and shoots 50% from downtown.See which team to pick here.
How to make France vs. USA picks
Marshall is leaning Under on the point total. He also has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's sharing what it is, and which side to back, only at SportsLine.
So who wins USA vs. France in the gold-medal match of the 2024 Paris Olympics, and what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the USA vs. France spread to jump on, all from the expert who returned nearly 36 units on his NBA picks last season, and find out.
