USA vs Serbia Prediction, Picks, Odds, News, Injury Report 7/28/24

The two best teams in Group C of men’s Olympic basketball matchup on Sunday afternoon. USA are the heavy favourites for the gold medal, but Serbia have the best player in the world, and will certainly attract some attention as bettors consider a USA vs Serbia prediction.

Runners-up in the Olympics in 2016 and runners-up at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Serbia are not a team to be taken lightly.

With Olympic basketball getting underway, our Expert Insights are stacked with basketball betting tips. Expert Sam Cox will have his best bets throughout the regular season.

USA vs Serbia Prediction: Hammer The Over

• Selection: Over 179.5 total points
• Best Odds: 1.87
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stakes: 10/10

Odds updated on July 25th 2024. 

The warm-up games have not exactly instilled confidence. They needed a second-half comeback and clutch play from LeBron James to beat South Sudan. James again had to take over against Germany in their final exhibition showcase.

Each of the USA’s last four games went over this total, including 184 points when these teams last met. Expecting spectacular offence from both teams, we are very confident going over this line.

USA vs Serbia Game Info

• Stadium: Pierre Mauroy Stadium
• Location: Lille
• Start time: 16:15 UK time

USA News, Injury Report, Schedule: Pushing For Success After World Cup Failures

The USA won gold in Tokyo three years ago, but they have suffered consecutive disappointing World Cups. The response is a roster comparable to the 1992 Dream Team. LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant are taking a final shot at Olympic glory, and they are joined by former MVP Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and others.

Durant’s health is the major concern coming into this. He should be starting on the wing with LeBron. Curry and Holiday are the backcourt. Durant didn’t play any of the tune-up games and will surely be used in a limited role if at all against Serbia.

It would be a huge shock if the USA fail to win gold given that they have sent pretty much their strongest possible roster to Paris.

Serbia News, Injury Report, Schedule: Talented Roster Around Jokic

Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic will garner most of the attention. Serbia is more than a one-man team, though, with three other active NBA players – Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nikola Jovic, Vasilije Micic – and several others with NBA experience.

Making the final of the World Cup last year without Jokic reflects the depth Serbia have. They beat France in a warm-up game before resting key players during a couple of losses in Abu Dhabi. Bogdanovic and Micic are effective on the perimeter, providing shooting which will be valuable throughout the Games.

USA vs Serbia H2H: Recent Success For USA

The USA beat Serbia by 26 points when the teams met in a friendly earlier this month. Serbia won by five points when they faced off in the 2019 World Cup, but the USA claimed two wins over Serbia at the Olympic Games in 2016.

The US also beat Serbia at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

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