The United States Women's National Team kicks off women's basketball Group C play against Japan on Monday at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The United States, which has won the past seven Olympic gold medals in the sport, has not lost in Olympic play since 1992, when it took the bronze medal. Japan, meanwhile, is looking to build on its second-place finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when it was beaten by the United States in the title game.
Tip-off from Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France, is set for 3 p.m. ET. The United States cruised to a 90-75 win in the gold medal game in Tokyo in the last meeting with Japan. The United States is favored by 21.5 points in the latest United States vs. Japan odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 161.5. Before making any United States vs. Japan picks, check out what SportsLine women's basketball expert Calvin Wetzel has to say.
Wetzel, HerHoopStats.com lead betting writer, incorporates his mathematical background and strong knowledge of women's hoops to turn the site's prediction model into picks. After teaming up with Aaron Barzilai, a Ph.D. from Stanford, Wetzel is an incredible 1,385-988 (+372.33 units) on women's college basketball picks since the start of the 2021-22 season. He's also coming off a great 2023 season with a 238-185-1 overall record that featured a return on investment of nearly 7%! Now Wetzel has set his sights on the United States vs. Japan.
Wetzel knows the United States has not lost in over a decade and will feature an all-star cast of players that hone their skills in the WNBA. One of those players is center Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and six time WNBA All-Star. In her 10-year professional career, all with the Phoenix Mercury, Griner averages 17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.7 blocks in 30.5 minutes. In 31 games this season, she is averaging 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds.
He is also aware that what the Japanese lack in height, they make up in outside shooting. Among the team leaders is small forward Saki Hayashi, the team captain. She was a member of the 2020 Olympic silver medalist team that lost to the United States, and competes in the Women's Japan Basketball League. The 29-year-old is a member of the JX-Eneos Sunflowers. This past season, she averaged 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
The expert is going Under on the total and he's found a critical x-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread! You ABSOLUTELY need to see his picks before locking in your plays!
Who covers in United States vs. Japan? ... Join SportsLine now to find out, all from from one of the leading women's basketball experts in the country who is up +372 units on his women's CBB picks since 2021!
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