With the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics proceeding through Aug. 8, the daily Olympic betting lines provide accompanying fun to the ongoing pursuit of the gold medal on the world’s grandest stage. Televised events are made available on a host of channels and streaming services, which adds invitational ease of access to pick up and play on the Olympic betting lines nearly any time of day. Since there is nothing quite like the combo of national pride with sweating a hot ticket, let’s take a look at some of the best available bets for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics for Monday, Aug. 2, including Team USA’s men’s basketball matchup against Spain.
Favorite Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bets | Monday, Aug. 2
Olympic Men’s Basketball Quarterfinal: Team USA -12 (-115) vs. Spain
After working the nerves of plenty of fans into a frenzy following losses to both Nigeria and Australia in the preparation stage, the U.S. men’s basketball team has a 2-1 record during the group phase and heads into the quarterfinal against Spain. Despite their one loss to France 83-76 coming out of the gate in group stage, Team USA engineered two blowout victories to follow, including a 54-point drubbing of Iran.
Just as Kevin Durant crested over the all-time scoring record for Team USA in their 119-84 victory over Czech Republic (then surpassing Carmelo Anthony), it appears this superstar-laden roster has begun to finally gel. With as many as six players reaching double-digit points in one game, and five players doing so in their most recent win, an iffy Spanish team makes for a welcome quarterfinal opponent.
Spain sputtered into the quarterfinal with a 2-1 record as a 12-point underdog against Team USA . Although they had four players reach double-digit points, Spain still managed to lose to undefeated Slovenia 95-87 while allowing Vlatko Cancar to score 22 points on 66% shooting, going 4-for -7 from 3-point range. Marc Gasol and Pau Gasol each failed to reach double-digits in any one category besides minutes throughout the group phase while averaging 21.3 and 15.3 minutes, respectively. While they defeated Japan and Argentina by 10 and 11 points each, the quality of opponent was hardly comparable to that of the United States.
As great as Ricky Rubio can be in a vacuum, averaging 7.3 assists per game, he simply does not have the roster around him to move mountains. Team USA’s size alone projects to be daunting enough, and now they have begun to get in sync. The initial matchup in preliminary play signified another close game could be on the horizon, but with the gears beginning to move for Team USA, it is hard to see this one being much of a contest in the late game.
Olympic Betting Pick: Adjusted Line, United States -14 (+115)
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