USA vs Iran Odds, Picks and How to Watch – July 28th Olympic Men’s Basketball
- Following a shocking loss to France in their opening game, Team USA faces Iran in Olympic men’s basketball
- Iran lost to the Czech Republic by just six points in their tournament opener
- Read below for a betting preview, picks, and how to watch USA vs Iran
The second game of Team USA’s Men’s Olympic basketball campaign takes place on Wednesday July, 28th. It’s a must-win for Gregg Popovich’s team following their woeful performance in their loss to France.
There’s no live coverage on cable for basketball fans in the US. Instead, it’s NBCOlympics.com or Peacock to stream the action on Wednesday. The games will be shown on NBCSN later in the day.
It would be one of the greatest shocks in Olympics history if Iran won this game. While a win is as good as guaranteed for Kevin Durant and co, the performance will still be surgically analyzed by the basketball-following world after their odds to win gold faded.
USA vs Iran Men’s Basketball Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | -41 (+100) | -8000 | Over 166 (-110) |
| Iran | +41 (-120) | +2500 | Under 166 (-110) |
Odds as of July 27th
Popovich Under Pressure
There are reports of locker room disgruntlement. No one has been safe from criticism after some historically bad results, but Popovich has been in the firing line more than most. While missing good looks was partly to blame for the loss to France, there are also patterns with how this team struggles. It would be an understatement to call this offense disjointed.
Team USA with Gregg Popovich as Head Coach
2019 Pre-FIBA Exhibitions 3-1
2019 FIBA Bball World Cup 6-2*
2021 Pre-Olympic Exhibitions 2-2
2021 Olympics 0-1*7th-place finish was Americans’ worst ever in a major tournament pic.twitter.com/P8i8Ol0JUI
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) July 25, 2021
Iran don’t have the defensive prowess of France or Australia to throw at USA’s immense scoring talent. Perhaps the offensive issues will not matter on Wednesday. Even so, such a massive spread seems very generous for a team which shot under 40% from the field in their tournament opener. There was a lack of off-the-bounce aggression outside of Jrue Holiday, and clearly no identity when they got stuck in the half court.
All eyes will be on Popovich’s adaptations. Does he run more pick-and-roll? Has he found any lineups he can put faith in?
are we sure Gregg Popovich is still a good coach? I can't believe the US men's basketball team is this bad.
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 25, 2021
Fatigue and pressure seemed to already be weighing down this star-studded USA roster. The pressure has only increased. This isn’t a game they will be troubled in for the win, but anything less than a dominant performance will see questions raised.
Dealing With Size
Size has troubled the USA so far. Attacking the paint has proved a profitable strategy with their lack of rim protection. While Iran isn’t blessed with Rudy Gobert or even Aron Baynes, they have some big bodies who can be a nuisance on the inside. Hamed Haddadi is coming off a 15 and 10 game against the Czechs, and standing at 7’2, he’s comfortably taller than any of the key rotation players for the USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQW_zc3mo3Y
Aaron Geramipoor and Mike Rostampour did not fill the stat sheet in their tournament opener, but the pair combined for 24 minutes. They are 7’0, and 6’11, respectively. France got a boost from some physicality off the bench, and the Iranians will be hoping for similar from Rostampour and Geramipoor.
It’s worth noting, however, that the Czechs out-rebounded Iran by 10. With their lack of size, the USA are unlikely to be as competitive on the glass, but it should give them some hope they can avoid a massive deficit.
Best Bets
One theme of USA’s games over the last few weeks has been strong starts. They are -12.5 for the first quarter, which could represent some value here.
The US also have developed a habit for becoming sloppy in the second half. Their fourth quarter performances have been poor. They have been out-hustled late in games, and whether that’s down to commitment or fatigue, it could suggest there’s value at +130 on the second half to be higher scoring than the first.
The game might be as good as over by halftime, but that may lead to some easy buckets for both teams. The end of the USA bench will be determined to put up some numbers and force their way into the rotation for the game with the Czech Republic.
When it comes to the spread, Iran represent the better bet. Even with such a talent disparity, the recent performances of Team USA make it impossible to back them at such a large number.
- Picks: USA -12.5 first quarter (-110), Iran +41 (-120)
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.
