Group A has reached the halfway stage at the 2016 Olympic Women’s Basketball tournament in Rio and when we reconvene tomorrow, Group B will have joined them. This means we are rattling through the group games at great pace and there is a lot for basketball fans to catch up with.
The focus today falls on Group B, so if you are interested in basketball betting options, Group B is the group to consider but when it comes to determining who will progress to the group stages, Group A had a very important day on Tuesday, which we will review now.
Group A
Wednesday the 10th of August will be a rest day in Group A but with all teams now having played three games, this is a great time to take stock and look back on their most recent exploits.
Penny Taylor was the star of the show for Australia as they grabbed their third win of the tournament and grabbed a hugely important win against France. The 18 point showcased a gulf in class between the two teams and although France were boosted by 15 points from Olivia Epoupa, there was only going to be one winner from an early stage. Australia won the opening three quarters and only lost the last quarter by one point, so they were well worthy of their win.
There was more anguish for the hosts who narrowly lost to Belarus. The Brazilians started well, opening up a 28-16 lead at the end of the first quarter but Belarus would take every other quarter, slowly making their way into the game before tying up the match near the end. Tatyana Troina was the leading player for Belarus with 18 points while Damiris Dantas provided 23 in the loss. Brazil are now at the foot of the table after three games and are the only team in Group A not to win a game.
This is because Turkey got up and running with a win over Japan. The Turkish led by 15 points at the break and the outcome was never really in doubt after that point. LaToya Sanders grabbed 36 points in the win while Japan were boosted by 13 points from Ramu Tokashiki.
After three games each, Australia lead the way with 6 points, Japan and France are both tucked in behind on 5 points and Belarus are sitting in fourth, the final qualifying spot, with 4 points. Turkey also have 4 points and Brazil are bottom of Group A with 3 points.
The score-lines from 9th August in Group of Women’s Olympic Basketball were as follows:
- Australia 89 v France 71
- Brazil 63 v Belarus 65
- Turkey 76 v Japan 62
Group B
With Tuesday being a day of rest in Group B, it is hoped that the players will be at their best and ready to push on in today’s schedule. Tournament play is as much about managing fitness and condition in the off-period as opposed to what you do on the court and it will be interesting to see the condition of some of the team’s in today’s games.
The games taking place on 10th of August are:
China v Spain
This game tips off at 1615 BST.
Both of these teams have 3 points after two games in the tournament but the bookmakers think the Spanish team will be on fire in this match. You can see why they would think that and given the need for points, you should expect the Spaniards to come out on top in this game.
You can back Spain at -18.5, which is available at odds of 1.90. Anyone that is looking to get involved with the Over/Under market will find that going OVER 132.0 at odds of 1.90 is likely to be a sensible move. Bet Now!
The double result of a China lead at half-time and Spain winning at full time is on offer at 7.00 but if you are looking to play it safe, a Spain half-time, Spain full-time result is available at odds of 1.14.
USA v Serbia
This game tips off at 1930 BST.
Having lost both of their games so far, no one expects Serbia to do anything against the United States in this game. However, the bookmakers seem to think that Serbia will pose a tougher challenge than the American’s most recent opponents because they believe the USA will only win by around 30 or so points in this game!
You should look towards USA at -35, which is on offer at odds of 1.90. If you have an interest in the Over/Under market, look to go OVER 165.5 which you can find at odds of 1.90. As you’ve probably become accustomed to at the Rio Games, there are no notable Prop bets on offer for the US team. Bet Now!
Senegal v Canada
This game tips off at 2145 BST.
Looking at the spread suggests that the bookmakers believe Canada’s dominance over Senegal will be comparable to the US’s expected dominance over Serbia. You can’t see anything but a Canadian win but it is the margin of victory that matters.
With this in mind, take Senegal at +34.5, which is available at odds of 1.90. There is also something on offer for those looking at the Over/Under market, and you should look to go OVER 146.5 which is available to you at odds of 1.90. The Prop bets for this game are mainly focused on the Odd or Even bets that can be placed on basketball games. Bet Now!
Matching the feat of the American Women’s team on Saturday, the United States Men’s Basketball team clinched the Gold Medal on Sunday. The Americans defeated Serbia by a score of 66-96, and the game was in the bag by half-time. The United States side had taken a first quarter lead, going ahead 14-19 but a... 
21/08/2016 19:45 BST – United States v Serbia – Betting Tips While the appearance of the United States in the Olympic Men’s Final in Rio isn’t a shock, some people will raise an eyebrow at the presence of Serbia. However, there is no denying that Serbia have been hugely consistent on the international stage of... 
21/08/2016 15:30 BST – Australia v Spain – Betting Tips The Bronze Medal match can sometimes feel like a let-down after a losing semi-final but you can guarantee that both of these teams will be well up for this game. There is a lot riding on the match and every player on the court will...