After exhibition losses, USA Basketball still odds favorite to win Olympics

The USA men’s basketball team suffered its second straight exhibition loss, falling to Australia 91-83 on Monday just two days after a vicious defeat from Nigeria, which entered the game as 30-point underdogs.

Although the men face new challenges, Vegas still sees them as commanding favorites. SportsBetting.ag released the updated Tokyo Olympic gold medal odds for men’s basketball Tuesday morning, and the USA is a -600 favorite, meaning a bettor would have to wager $600 just to return $100.

Team USA has dominated Olympic basketball with six gold medals and one bronze in seven appearances since 1992’s Dream Team.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, from July 21, 1992 until Friday, the Americans played 10,581 days and suffered two exhibition losses.

From Saturday-Monday, they’ve suffered two exhibition losses in three days.

The adjustment to Olympic basketball may be strange for some players as the refs are different, the ball is different and the quarters are each two minutes shorter. The U.S. men have supreme talent — Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard are among the top players — but is awaiting the arrivals of Devin Booker, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday after the completion of the NBA Finals.

Booker will add more scoring for Gregg Popovich’s squad alongside Lillard. Holiday will provide bench defense on guards as well as ball handling, which is must needed after Australian Patty Mills led the entire game in scoring.

Team USA gets a chance to bounce back tonight against Argentina, the only other country to achieve gold since 1992. According to SportsBetting.ag, the U.S. men enter Tuesday as 18.5 point favorites.

Look for the Americans to be heavy favorites throughout, regardless of who starts.

Sportsbetting.ag updated Olympic odds – 7/13

USA -600
Australia +900
Spain +1000
France +2000
Slovenia +2000
Argentina +3300
Nigeria +3300
Italy +5000
Czech Republic +8000
Germany +8000
Iran +50000
Japan +50000