Mens Basketball Quarter-Final Preview

The Mens Basketball reaches the quarter-final stage on Wednesday (8th) and we have a preview of all four games and a quick look at the outrights.

Russia v Lithuania: 2:00pm: Russia are the 1/3 (ladbrokes/william hill) favourites to see off Lithuania in the opening game of the quarters. The Lithuanians have not been given much chance by the bookmakers and are 47/17 (pinnacle) for victory, but they will enter the match in good spirits. Saturday saw them run the US close (losing by just five points) and they also have a good head-to-head record with the Russians (winning three of their last four meetings). It might pay to side with Lithuania on the ‘points spread’ market as they are been given a seven point head start at 28/29 (pinnacle).

France v Spain: 4:15pm: The game of the round sees Tony Parker and the French taking on the Gasol Brothers and Spain. It is a game that pits second in Group A (France) against third in Group B (Spain). Bookmakers make Spain the 5/11 (ladbrokes) favourites to progress into the last four. The Spaniards have struggled a little this tournament and have no doubt missed injured guard Ricky Rubio. The weakeness at the point guard slot means they may struggle to deal with Tony Parker. The French are a generous 9/4 (Stan James) for victory or on the handicap France can be backed at varying prices with starts ranging from five to six and half points.

Argentina v Brazil: 8:00pm: This promises to be another great game and history suggests that this could be a real close one. The last three games between these sides have seen a win margin of no more than five points. Bookmakers make Argentina the 3/4(ladbrokes) favourites for the game while Brazil are 7/5 (Pinnacle). The strategy then might to be play the ‘win margin’ market with Argentina to win by five points at 4/1 (Bwin) and cover the same eventuality on Brazil to win by five points (also 4/1 with Bwin).

USA v Australia :10:15pm: Probably the least competitive game in the last eight is the one that pitches the US against Australia. The 2012 dream team have shown slight chinks but nothing that Australia will be able to exploit. Many will be tempted to back the US to cover the point spread which is pitched between 31 and 33 points. The best way to play this is in the race to ‘20 points market.’ The US are 1/200 in some places to win the game but in the race to 20 points the US are just 1/14 (ladbrokes).

OUTRIGHTS: The US are the 1/12 (ladbrokes/Coral) favourites to lift the trophy and it would be hard to oppose them. They look clearly the best team and are winning most games at a pace. Spain (with a fit Ricky Rubio) could have given them a really good game, but it was not to be. Other teams do not have enough to challenge them. Bookmakers are offering 9/1 (BetVictor) that any team other than the US wins the Gold medal. A much better strategy though is to get involved with william hill in their betting without the USA market. The angle is to avoid playing the US until the final, which discounts Australia and the winner of the Brazil v Argentina game. Therefore, Russia at 7/2 and France at 5/1 are the recommendations.

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08/08/2012     © Frixo 2024