After blowing out Serbia 110-84 in its Olympics opener, the USA men’s basketball team will look to keep rolling against South Sudan in its next contest of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Team USA had little trouble with reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic in its first game of the group stage, overcoming a 10-2 deficit to start the game and outscoring Serbia in every quarter. Kevin Durant was electric in his return from a calf injury, pouring in 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting off the bench.
Meanwhile, South Sudan also kicked off the Summer Games with a win, earning a 90-79 victory over Puerto Rico in its first-ever Olympic basketball game. South Sudan trailed at halftime but clamped down on defense in the second half, allowing just 25 points while outscoring Puerto Rico by 17.
You can bet on Team USA versus South Sudan at many online sportsbooks. Most online betting sites have odds and lines available for the game, along with promotions for new customers.
Can Team USA ride its talent advantage to another easy win? Or will South Sudan pull off a major upset?
Here’s everything to know about this Group C showdown along with some of our best bets.
United States vs. South Sudan Betting Preview
Game Details
- Who: United States vs. South Sudan
- When: Wednesday, July 31
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Where: Lille, France
Odds Summary
- Moneyline: N/A
- Spread: South Sudan +28.5 (-112), USA -28.5 (-108)
- Total: Over/Under 192 (-110/-110)
Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook. Subject to change.
As expected, Team USA is heavily favored against South Sudan. The Americans’ roster is deeper and more talented, which is why they’re the heavy favorites to win gold (-550) in Paris.
After struggling at times during exhibition play, Team USA came out firing against Serbia. The Serbians had no answer for Durant, who drilled all five of his 3-point attempts. LeBron James was also sensational, threatening a triple-double with 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Team USA is so good that Steve Kerr didn’t even play Jayson Tatum, who’s coming off three straight top-six MVP finishes and an NBA championship.
That said, the Americans need to avoid getting too cocky. They nearly lost to South Sudan during exhibitions, winning by just one point in a game where they were 41.5-point favorites at DraftKings.
DraftKings is giving South Sudan a bit more respect this time around, lowering the spread to 28.5 before tip-off. That’s still a massive number, however, and South Sudan shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s a young, tenacious team that will play as hard as it can for 40 minutes, so the Americans will need to match that energy level.
South Sudan didn’t have to face Durant during exhibitions, though, so his presence gives Team USA an even bigger edge. Expect another one-sided victory for the Americans.
United States vs. South Sudan Best Bets
South Sudan +28.5 (-110)
As stacked as Team USA is, it’s tough to back them to cover a 28.5-point spread. The Americans would need to win by at least 29 points to cover, which is a tall task for any team.
It’s also asking a lot against a young, energetic South Sudan team with nothing to lose. South Sudan seemed to find its identity during the second half against Puerto Rico, using its speed and athleticism to play lockdown defense.
If South Sudan’s performance carries over into this game, it will be tough for Team USA to win by 29-plus points, especially if Durant cools off.
Under 192 Points (-110)
Team USA and Serbia combined for 194 points on Sunday, hitting the Over comfortably. However, South Sudan vs. Puerto Rico was far lower-scoring, featuring just 169 total points.
Accordingly, we expect the total to fall somewhere in the middle, perhaps around 180 or 185 points. South Sudan doesn’t have as much firepower as Serbia does with Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic, while Team USA probably won’t shoot 62.3% from the floor and 56.3% from beyond the arc again.
Expect both teams to score fewer points this time around, making the Under more likely.
How to Bet Team USA vs. South Sudan
Betting on this game is similar to betting on an NBA game. Betting sites will have traditional markets like moneyline, spread and total. These markets are all straightforward and easy to understand for newer and casual bettors.
Beyond that, books will offer myriad prop bets on markets like the winning margin, first quarter spread and whether the total points scored will be odd or even. These bets require more research and are better options for more basketball fans and sports bettors.
Bettors can also combine multiple wagers from the game into a same-game parlay. These bets are riskier and less likely to hit, but they come with higher odds and payouts.
Whichever market you bet on, keep in mind that this is a high-pressure game played in unfamiliar territory for both teams. Accordingly, player performances may be a bit more volatile than usual, especially compared to an NBA game where players have a more defined routine.
As such, remember to bet responsibly and limit your unit size to reasonable amounts.
Photo by Markus Gilliar – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images