Olympics 2020 women's basketball odds, picks: France vs. Serbia bronze medal game predictions from top expert
Olympics expert Mike Tierney cashed big on the 2016 Summer Games and 2018 Winter Games

While the gold medal won't be distributed until Saturday evening, there is more women's basketball action to monitor in the 2020 Summer Olympics. France takes on Serbia on Saturday morning in Tokyo, with a medal on the line. The teams faltered in the semifinals, but the bronze medal is up for grabs, leaving plenty to play for. Both teams have displayed versatility and resilience in the Olympics, with a competitive game likely in the offing.
Tip-off is scheduled for 3 a.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists France as a two-point favorite in the latest France vs. Serbia odds. The over-under for total points is set at 142.5. Before finalizing any Serbia vs. France women's basketball picks or predictions, you need to see what SportsLine's Olympics expert, Mike Tierney, has to say.
A national sportswriter whose work appears in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Tierney has covered nine Olympic Games in person. At Rio in 2016, Tierney profited big-time. He told readers to bet over on Team USA's gold medal count (41.5) and over on Team USA's overall medal count (102.5). The result? 46 golds, 121 medals and two easy cashes.
And for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Tierney hit two of his three predictions: Germany (+200) to win the most gold medals and the United States winning under 10.5 gold medals (+110).
Now, with the Tokyo Summer Olympics rolling on, Tierney has analyzed every angle of Saturday's France vs. Serbia matchup and revealed his top Olympic basketball picks and predictions. He's only sharing those picks at SportsLine. Now, here are the Olympics 2020 odds and betting trends for Serbia vs. France:
- France vs. Serbia spread: France -2
- France vs. Serbia over-under: 142.5 points
- France vs. Serbia money line: France -130, Serbia +110
- France: Ranked in the top five in the world by FIBA
- Serbia: Reigning Eurobasket champions
Why you should back France
France is one of the more efficient shooting teams in the Olympics to this point. The French are burying more than 78 percent of their free-throw attempts and, inside the arc, the French are converting 54.4 percent of their shots. They also have the edge in the passing department, with France averaging more assists (21.6 per game) and fewer turnovers (13.4 per game) than Serbia so far in Tokyo. Defensively, France has caused complete havoc for the opposition at times, including 9.2 steals per game in the tournament.
Gabby Williams is the leader in that defensive attack, averaging 3.2 steals per game on her own, and the former top-five WNBA draft pick adds 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest. Offensively, Sandrine Gruda is the team's centerpiece, leading the squad with 13.4 points per game on 63 percent shooting, and an impressive 6.2 rebounds per game. France is the more talented team on paper, and it can lean on that advantage.
Why you should back Serbia
As the reigning Eurobasket champions, the Serbian side is not afraid of the moment. The Serbians are incredibly balanced offensively, and there is also star power in play. Sonja Vasic the face of the squad, and she won the Eurobasket MVP to go along with the team's triumph. Vasic is averaging 9.8 points and a team-leading 6.4 rebounds per game in Tokyo, and she is connecting on 45.5 percent of her 3-point attempts.
Yvonne Anderson is the team's leading scorer, averaging 12.0 points per game, but five players are averaging at least 6.4 points per contest. All told, a large part of Serbia's effectiveness has come defensively, and it will need to continue that. This is a team known for its grinding approach, and it can clamp down on France, or any opponent, for long stretches of time.
How to make 2020 Tokyo Olympics picks
Tierney has taken a close look at the Serbia vs. France Olympic basketball matchup from all angles and is leaning under on the point total. He's also found a critical x-factor that has him jumping on one side of the spread. He's only sharing his top picks and Olympics 2020 basketball predictions at SportsLine.
So who wins France vs. Serbia? And which side of the spread is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to get Mike Tierney's predictions for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, all from the renowned sportswriter who's covered nine Olympics in person and cashed big in both 2016 and '18, and find out.















