Team USA vs. Brazil prediction, odds, start time: 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball picks by proven expert

Brazil looks to become just the sixth nation to defeat the United States in men's basketball at the Summer Games when the teams meet in the quarterfinals at Accor Arena on Tuesday in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The U.S. is 146-6 all-time in the Summer Games, losing only to the Soviet Union (twice), Puerto Rico, Lithuania, Argentina and France. Team USA has had little difficulty in these Olympics thus far, winning its three group-stage contests by an average of 21.3 points as it seeks its fifth straight and 17th overall gold medal. Brazil, which has won bronze three times -- most recently in 1964, lost its first two games in group play before earning a spot in the quarterfinals with a 102-84 triumph over Japan.

Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET. The Americans are 27-point favorites in the latest United States vs. Brazil odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 184.5. Before making any Brazil vs. United States picks or 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball predictions, you need to see what SportsLine writer Matt Severance has to say .

Severance is a well-connected writer and high-volume handicapper who has worked in the industry since 2005. He went 231-161 for a profit of $1,237 on his NBA picks last season and has returned $4,452 over the past three NBA campaigns. And over the past four college basketball seasons, Severance is up $887. Anyone following his basketball picks has seen huge returns.

Now, Severance has broken down Team USA vs. Brazil 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 Brazil vs. Team USA:

• USA vs. Brazil spread: USA -27
• USA vs. Brazil over/under: 184.5 points
• USA vs. Brazil money line: USA -15000, Brazil +2200
• USA: The Americans have won the gold medal in seven of the last eight Summer Olympics
• BRA: The Brazilians haven't reached the Olympic semifinals since losing to the U.S. in 1968
• USA vs. Brazil picks: See picks at SportsLine
  

Why Team USA can cover

The Americans have won a medal in each of the 19 Summer Olympics in which they have participated, adding one silver and two bronzes to their slew of golds. They own a 61-4 record since NBA players began playing in the Games in 1992 and have won 33 of their last 34 Olympic contests, with the only loss during that stretch being an 83-65 setback against France in their opener in the 2020 Tokyo Games. The U.S. led all teams during the group stage in Paris with a plus-64 point differential, winning its three games by an average of 21.3 points.

Six players reached double digits in points in each of those contests as Team USA hit the century mark more times (three) than the other 11 teams combined (two). Four Americans are averaging more than 10 points, with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards leading the squad at 16.7 per game. Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, who is hoping to become the first player in Olympic history to win four gold medals in men's basketball, has an average of 16 points, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is scoring 14.3 per contest and Phoenix guard Devin Booker is contributing 10.3. Edwards, Durant and James all have eclipsed the 20-point mark once in the Paris Games thus far, with Durant and James both doing it against Serbia in the group-stage opener. See which team to pick here .

Why Brazil can cover

The Brazilians are making just their third Olympic appearance since being trounced 98-75 by the United States in the quarterfinals of the 1996 Atlanta Games, as they failed to qualify for the Summer Games four times following that defeat. They did not advance to the knockout stage the last time they competed (2016 Rio Games) and were in danger of missing out again before rolling over Japan to earn a spot. Former NBA forward Bruno Caboclo came up with a huge performance in the win, scoring 33 points on 13-of-19 shooting and pulling down 17 rebounds after going 3-for-10 for six points and grabbing five boards in Brazil's first two games.

Guards Marcelinho Huertas and Vitor Benite also have been productive for the Brazilians in the tournament. The 41-year-old Huertas, who played in 76 games with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2015-17, scored 11 points in the group-stage opener against France before recording 13 and eight assists versus Japan. Benite followed a 17-point effort in Brazil's loss to Germany with 19 points in the group-stage finale. Guard Yago dos Santos (18 points), forward Leo Meindl (14) and center Cristiano Felicio (14), who played for the Chicago Bulls from 2015-21, also have registered double-digit performances for Brazil in the Paris Games. See which team to pick here .

How to make USA vs. Brazil picks

Severance has analyzed Brazil vs. USA from every angle, and he's leaning Under on the point total. He has also 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 United States vs. Brazil in 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 Brazil vs. United States spread to jump on, all from the expert who's up $4,452 over the past three NBA seasons , and find out.