Team USA will bid for a second consecutive gold when they take on Spain at the North Grenwich arena tonight in a repeat of the Beijing final from four years ago.

Unsurprisingly the Americans are overwhelming favourites to defend their title at a best price of 1/33, and are as far out as 1/100 with some bookmakers. Spain meanwhile are available at 20/1 – long odds yes, but don’t be tempted as they are a fair portrayal of the Europeans’ chances.

Every USA basketball squad has to endure the Dream Team moniker and the 2012 renewal has done its utmost to emulate their 1992 forefathers. LeBron James and co. have won each of their seven matches leading up to the final by an average of 36 points, a run which was at its most emphatic during a 156-73 defeat of Nigeria.

Lithuania are the lone nation to keep the Americans’ winning margin to single digits, with the eastern Europeans only four points away from an almighty upset. That, however, was more blip than indication of fragility in Team USA.

Since Argentina disturbed the American’s post ’92 gold monopolization in Athens, Spain have been the US’ main rivals. They won silver in Beijing, losing 118-107 in the final, but despite reaching this Games’ final La Roja have shown nothing to suggest they can be anyway near as competitive four years on.

Missing influential guard Ricky Rubio through a knee injury the Spanish have bumped along to the final and are yet to make it into triple figures on the scoreboard.

In comparison, Team USA have only been confined to two columns on the score sheet twice and in both those matches – France and Lithuania – they notched 98 and 99 points respectively.

Spain will almost certainly have to score 100 points and upwards if they hope to keep the match competitive - a feat no team has achieved thus far against the US at London 2012, so the -20.5 points spread at 10/11 with Betfred looks the best value bet.

 

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Team USA -20.5 @10/11 with Betfred (2 pts)

 

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