Team USA vs. France prediction, time, odds: 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball gold-medal game expert picks

Team USA and France square off Saturday in the gold-medal game for men's basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Americans are unbeaten thus far, but narrowly defeated Serbia 95-91 in a come-from-behind victory on Thursday. They are now seeking their fifth straight gold. Stephen Curry was the hero for USA against the Serbians with 36 points. He hit 9 of 14 from 3-point range to help USA advance.

Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET in Paris, France. The United States is a 16.5-point favorite in the latest Team USA vs. France odds. The over/under for total points is 175.5. Before making any France vs. USA picks or 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball predictions, you need to see what SportsLine's Bruce Marshall has to say .

An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Marshall, who was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famed sports betting newsletter, vast array of editorial work that has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects. Marshall finished the 2023-24 season on a 197-143 roll on NBA picks (+3578) and 54-37 on college basketball picks (+1340). Anybody following is way up.

Now, he has broken down Team USA vs. France from every angle and just revealed his picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks . Here are the lines and trends for France vs. Team USA:

• Team USA vs. France spread: USA -16.5
• Team USA vs. France over/under: 175.5 points
• Team USA vs. France money line: USA -1600, France +800
• USA: Team USA averages 106.8 points per game
• FRA: France logs 5.6 blocks per contest in the Olympics
• Team USA vs. France picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why Team USA can cover

Forward LeBron James is fighting to lock down his third gold. James still remarkably plays at a high level for Team USA as a scorer, facilitator and defender. The four-time NBA champion leads the squad in both points (14.2) and assists (8.2) with seven rebounds per game. In the comeback victory against Serbia, James racked up a triple-double of 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

Forward Kevin Durant provides the team with another veteran difference-maker. Durant's offensive arsenal is top tier and his height makes him so tough to defend. The three-time gold medalist averages 13.6 points, three rebounds while shooting 57% from the floor and 61% from 3-point land. In the quarterfinal win over Brazil, Durant notched 11 points, four boards and three assists. See which team to pick here .

Why France can cover

The French crowd will be ready to go in this battle to cheer on their home team as they chase the gold. France is fresh off a game where it forced Germany into 15 turnovers and scored 20 points off of them. Center Victor Wembanyama is playing in his first Olympics for the French and he's had a huge impact. Wembanyama plays high-level defense due to his superb length.

Offensively he can score from multiple spots on the floor with a great touch as a scorer. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, he averages 13.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and two blocks per game. Wembanyama grabbed double-digit boards and logged at least two blocks in three games this tournament. Guard Isaia Cordinier is an additional athletic playmaker for France. He has the quickness and body control to get out in transition. Cordinier logs 10.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and shoots 50% from downtown. See which team to pick here .

How to make France vs. USA picks

Marshall is leaning Under on the point total. He also has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's sharing what it is, and which side to back, only at SportsLine .

So who wins USA vs. France in the gold-medal match of the 2024 Paris Olympics, and what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the USA vs. France spread to jump on, all from the expert who returned nearly 36 units on his NBA picks last season , and find out.