Olympics
2012-08-08 - United States vs Australia
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Olympic Basketball : Quarter Finals
Wednesday 8 July 2012 - Tip Off 10:15pm ET
Basketball Preview
Yes, the United States are the favourites to win the Gold Medal here and it would be a shock of gigantic proportions for Australia to knock them off in this Quarter Final. Put another way, it would be less of a surprise if Usain Bolt was to win the top goalscorer award for Manchester United in the coming season.
All the talk before the Olympics was of a comment made by Kobe Bryant stating that he believed this team would beat the original Dream Team that too teams apart at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. After that was laughed out by Michael Jordan among others, there was this sense that the United States would come out with a point to prove at the Games.
Group A was always going to be dominated by the Americans and it was no surprise to see them win all 5 games, including the largest margin of victory in Olympic history when they demolished Nigeria by over 80 points. However, it was the close nature of the 5 point win over Lithuania that would have made most of the headlines as the United States really struggled to pull away in that game.
They did blow out both France and Argentina as well as Tunisia and Nigeria, and the Americans remain the favourites with all the talent at their disposal.
Australia have done well to reach the Quarter Finals as many tipped them to be in a fight with Great Britain and China for the final position in Group B. However, they have surprised by winning 3 of their 5 Group games, including against Russia.
The 2 defeats they suffered came at the hands of Spain, by 12 points, and Brazil, by 4 points, and the Australians have shown that they are capable of hanging around against the best teams. Patty Mills has played well at the Point Guard position, but Australia have to be careful with the ball in this one.
Australia like playing at a high-tempo and that will only spell trouble against the Americans so they have to use the ball better and with more purpose. They managed to do that at this same stage at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, but still lost comfortably.
Prediction
The United States team are likely to put their foot down and prove themselves in the knockout stage of the basketball tournament, but I think Australia can at least make it semi tough for them and perhaps cover the large spread.
There is no doubt in my mind that the USA will win this game, but I think the Australians have shown toughness and belief in their own ability to think they will not just roll over and let this game get out of hand.
Australia were beaten by 31 when they met at this stage four years ago, but I don't think the American team is as good as that one as they do lack some size.
However, I think Australia are the weakest team left in the tournament and their up-tempo approach could backfire, especially if the Americans get out of the traps early.
I have been going back and forth with this one, but the two comfortable blow out wins over France (by 27) and Argentina (by 29) makes me think the United States will do just enough to cover this spread and I will back that at odds against.
The Pick :
United States 125-89 Australia
