USA vs France Olympic Men’s Basketball Gold Medal Final Odds and Picks
- In a rematch of the group stage, it’s USA versus France in the Gold Medal Final of the Men’s Olympic basketball
- France won a thriller against Slovenia in the semifinals, while Kevin Durant led the USA past the Australians
- Read below for the latest odds, betting preview and a pick for the game on August 6th
After a campaign of drama and disappointment, the USA are one win away from yet another gold medal in the Men’s Olympic basketball. Their opponents, though, are a France team who beat them in the group phase, and are undefeated in the tournament.
The USA are favored by 12.5 points and sit as short as -900 on the moneyline. They have remained heavy favorites for the gold throughout all their struggles, but this is far from a straight forward final.
These are unquestionably the two best teams in the tournament, and while France might not be loaded with NBA All-Stars, they have looked like a well-organized team throughout. They have plenty of experience.
Tipping off at 10:30pm ET on August 6th, the Men’s Olympic basketball gold medal game is available on NBC and NBCOlympics in the US.
USA vs France Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points at DraftKings |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | -12.5 (-110) | -900 | Over 176 (+100) |
| France | +12.5 (-110) | +600 | Under 176 (-120) |
Odds as of Aug 6th
USA Sorts a Hierarchy
Kevin Durant was always the best player on this USA roster. At times in the exhibition games and early in the Olympic tournament, the desire to take turns on offense was clear. They have moved away from that a bit in the last couple of games, with the former MVP taking over and doing what he does best. He’s scored 57 points on 36 shots over the last two games.
Durant has comfortably led the team in shot attempts, with his 19 against the Australians putting him eight clear of the second-most on the team. It sounds peculiar to be concerned about too much talent, but it’s an issue the USA have had to address. Durant is the number one, and then it’s a case filling in the rest of the offense with whoever gets going.
After trailing by 15 in the first half…
Team USA outscored Australia 71-37 to advance to the GOLD MEDAL GAME 🥇
KD: 23 PTS | 10/19 FG | 9 REB
Book: 20 PTS | 7/10 FG | 3/5 3PT
Jrue: 11 PTS | 5/11 FG | 8 ASTThey’ll play the winner of France vs Slovenia 🍿 (via @usabasketball) pic.twitter.com/xq4OG9jCkn
— Overtime (@overtime) August 5, 2021
Where the added physicality of international play can prove problematic for the USA’s smaller guards, Durant’s size, as always, makes him unstoppable once he’s hot. If he plays the final like he did against Spain and Australia, it’s very hard to see how France can win the game.
France’s Defense
Anchored by NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, France’s defense has been as good as it looked on paper. They got embroiled in a fast-paced first quarter against Slovenia, but they soon wrestled the game to the pace they wanted with numerous defensive stops. Gobert was a deterrent. Nicolas Batum was exceptional. The size and length on the wings made life difficult for the Slovenians.
1 more………🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/HgtMVbjpri
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) August 5, 2021
The varied offensive skill of the USA is obviously a trickier task, but France held them to just 36.2% from the field in the tournament opener. Crucially, Durant played just 20 minutes because of foul trouble.
The length of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Batum and Guerschon Yabusele helps to cover passing lanes and contest shots. Batum likely faces the Durant challenge – he clamped down Luka Doncic in the semifinal. Can he repeat those heroics?
Nic Batum’s block to help propel France to the men’s basketball gold medal game vs USA. (via @ItaloSantana_3) pic.twitter.com/2KHpcFMNJi
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) August 5, 2021
The size of the French is going to get them some easy buckets. Gobert will get his lobs, and we might see some more bully ball from Moustapha Fall. Aside from three-point shots falling, the defensive performance from France will be the determining factor in the final. They’ve got to keep their standards high throughout.
Competitive Game
The USA have made massive progress since these teams met on July 25th. They suddenly look like a team rather than a random collection of players, and Gregg Popovich has got a better handle on his rotations. Still far from unbeatable, though, the 12.5 spread looks generous given how well France have played.
Team USA is playing some beautiful basketball
This is Gregg Popovich’s fault
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) August 3, 2021
Aside from the freaky first quarter against Slovenia, France have kept their games low scoring. The USA will find offense harder to come by than they did against both Australia and Spain.
France are not going to get blown out here. They have a route to some straight forward baskets, and even if the US shoot it better than they did in the group game, they can at least really make them work for their offense.
- Pick: France +12.5 (-110)
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
