FIBA World Cup Semi-Final Odds & Betting Preview: Argentina vs France
By Robert Duff in NBA Basketball
Updated: March 26, 2020 at 3:03 pm EDTPublished:
- France are -250 favorites to beat Argentina in one of two FIBA World Cup semifinals
- The French have never reached the final, finishing third in 2014
- Argentina won the first FIBA World Cup title in 1950, and lost in the 2002 final
France is living the Ric Flair lifestyle. As the famous pro wrestler is known to say, to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.
The French did that. They toppled the two-time defending champions from the USA 89-79 in the FIBA World Cup quarter-finals.
Next up for France is Friday’s semi-final date with Argentina. The French are established as the -250 chalk in this game.
France vs Argentina 2019 FIBA World Cup Semi-Final Odds
| Country | Moneyline | Spread | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | -250 | -6 (-110) | Over 163.0 (-110) |
| Argentina | +200 | +6 (-110) | Under 163.0 (-115) |
*Odds taken 9/12/19.
France has never reached a FIBA World Cup final. The French beat Lithuania 95-93 in the 2014 bronze-medal game to earn their first-ever FIBA World Cup medal.
France’s Rudy Topples USA
It was a stunning victory by the French over the USA. And in this fairy-tale, Rudy played the starring role in the outcome.
📊 Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) had a HUGE PERFORMANCE in @FRABasketball 🇫🇷's win to classify to the #FIBAWC's Semi-Finals!
After his 21 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks, he was named the @TclCorporation Player of the Game from #USAFRA. #BornToLead pic.twitter.com/31v5kTHOkO
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 11, 2019
Rudy Gobert and France dreamed big, and he was a key reason why the dream became reality. The Utah Jazz center and two-time reigning NBA defensive player of the year led France with 21 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. He was named player of the game.
.@rudygobert27 on today’s big win over 🇺🇸. #FIBAWC Semi-Finals up next for @FRAbasketball 🇫🇷 👌#FranceGotGame pic.twitter.com/WjUnyqwjaW
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 11, 2019
Orlando Magic wing Evan Fournier netted 22 points. France entered the contest with an 0-9 all-time slate against the USA.
The French showed their mettle. They blew a 10-point lead but then rallied from a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit to earn the victory. France is 5-1, the lone loss a 100-98 setback against Australia.
Of the four teams left in the hunt, France leads in field goal percentage (31.3), and in 3-point field goal percentage (45.0). And France doesn’t give up the ball very often. They’ve committed the fewest turnovers per game (10.7) among the final four.
Argentina Authors Own Upset
While it might not have resonated around the basketball world with equal authority, Argentina also pulled off a major stunner. The Argentines took out Serbia 97-87 in their quarter-finals.
Argentina defeats Serbia to advance to the FIBA World Cup semifinals! Scola, Campazzo & co. put on a damn show. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/PbAXj3niXz
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) September 10, 2019
The Serbs played the USA in the 2014 FIBA World Cup final, as well as the gold-medal game at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics. They were expected to be the country with the best chance of knocking off the Americans.
Argentina (6-0) has yet to taste defeat. They’re truly the underdogs going forward. Argentina is the only country among the final four that doesn’t have a single NBA player on its roster.
Their best player, captain and power forward Luis Scola, 39, now plays in China for the Shanghai Sharks. Scola was part of the Argentine squad that lost to Yugoslavia in the 2002 FIBA World Cup final.
He scored 20 points in the win over the Serbs. Facundo Campazzo contributed 18 points and 12 assists
At 88.0 points per game, Argentina rates just behind France (89.3) in this category. Scola is averaging 17.8 ppg in the tournament.
Argentina Is French Toast
The 7-foot-1 Gobert presented match-up problems for the USA. That aspect will prove to be even more troublesome for the Argentines.
Argentina post defenders Scola and Gabriel Deck of Real Madrid are both just 6-foot-8. If they decide to double-team Gobert, that opens up shooting lanes for Fournier, who’s averaging 21 ppg in the tournament.
So the #FIBAWC Semifinals are set:
Spain 🇪🇸 (6-0) vs Australia 🇦🇺 (6-0)
Argentina 🇦🇷 (6-0) vs France 🇫🇷 (5-1)
Of these 4, only Argentina in 1950 and Spain in 2006 have ever won the Gold Medal 🎖at the FIBA World Cup!
— Carlo Singson (@SingsonCarlo) September 11, 2019
France has never played in a FIBA World Cup gold-medal game.
That situation is about to change.
Pick: France [-250, over 163 (-110)].
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
