Spain vs. Latvia 2023 FIBA World Cup Odds and Preview
The 16-team field is set for the Second Round of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. After a successful first round, the defending champions are ready to take on the next set of challenges. Spain performed well in their first three games and secured three consecutive double-digit victories against Ivory Coast, Brazil, and Iran, respectively. Meanwhile, Latvia holds a similar group stage record with three wins. The European nation only had trouble against the French favorites, which they overcame with an 88-86 victory at the final buzzer.
This Spain vs. Latvia clash puts two powerhouse Europeans on the floor, which should be a treat to watch for both basketball fans and bettors. With that, let’s settle the finer points of each side heading into Thursday’s matchup.
Spain vs. Latvia 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Game Info
Spain goes 3-0 in the preliminary round, finishing off with a win over Iran.#FIBAWC x #WinForSpain pic.twitter.com/9QPqR0dJOD
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 (@FIBAWC) August 30, 2023
- When: Friday, September 1, 2023, 5:45 AM ET
- Where: Jakarta Arena, Indonesia
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- 2023 FIBA World Cup Betting Odds: USA Spain (-11.0) // Latvia (+11.0)
Why Bet on Spain?
Spain rides a perfect record coming into the next phase of the tourney. They got past the Ivory Coast, Brazil, and Iran. The Brazilian team put up the most resistance but ended up losing. It was the frontcourt players that stood out for La Roja. Willy Hernangomez stood out. Add the efforts of Usman Garuba and Santi Aldama, paired with Willy’s brother, Juancho Hernangomez, who pose a significant threat in the interior.
Covering for Ricky Rubio is young point guard Juan Nunez. He gets more freedom to create plays with more minutes to work with. This system is amped up thanks to head coach Sergio Scariolo. In contrast, there are a few areas to work on in the guard department. Alex Abrines and Alberto Diaz can offer more to the team but still have to get acclimated to the pressure.
Ultimately, veteran guard Rudy Fernandez, Santi Aldama, the Hernangomez brothers, and Usman Garuba administers most of the contest. These five players will provide the Spanish lineup with multiple offensive options and some robust perimeter and interior defense. This makes the starting lineup difficult to dismember and contain all at once.
Why Bet on Latvia?
The Latvians will look to bounce back from their first loss in the tournament versus the Canadian national team. Still, their roster boasts a number of seasoned veterans and quality young players, including a few that feature in the NBA. As such, we expect top-level basketball coming from all sides where Latvia will look to implement its game plan and shock the Spaniards. We are likely to witness a close scoreline between the two European nations if they can control the tempo and physicality.
This side of the floor also features high-level players. Davis Bertans stands front and center for the team as he tries to administer the offensive side of things. Rodions Kurucs and Andrejs Grazulis also pose as offensive threats with multiple scoring options in the bag, while the latter can control the glass and enforce high-level defense.
Covering a pair of wins and a loss into the second round, this derby versus Spain is of paramount importance for their next few steps. If they can repeat what they did against France and have a good shooting day, we could catch another upset brewing.
Spain vs. Latvia Expert Betting Prediction
Spain takes on the second round as heavy favorites to grab the win. The Spanish national team has been firing on all cylinders throughout the competition and has utilized their high-caliber talent reliably and with finesse. However, Latvia also paraded a new look with its high-end talent. The Baltic state will look to control the tempo early on and attempt to cause chaos within Spain’s high-paced strategy. This is where the Los Blancos experience comes in. Their experienced roster in FIBA competition will likely come to play to help them secure a much-needed victory on Friday. Covering the spread should be doable for Latvia as they try to pull off an upset victory against the defending champs.
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