United States vs. Nigeria Women’s Basketball: Picks, Predictions and Odds

After easily making it into the knockout stage, the USA Women's basketball team will take on Nigeria in the quarterfinals.

Unsurprisingly, the USA women’s basketball team breezed through Group C of the 2024 Summer Olympics, defeating Japan by 26, Belgium by 13 and Germany by 19.

Now, it’s time for the knockout bracket, as the quarterfinals tip off Wednesday.

The USA faces off against the surprise Nigeria team, the first African team (men or women) to make it past the group stage in the Olympics.

It’s truly David vs. Goliath as the USA takes a 58-game Olympic winning streak into this one.

Will the Cinderella story press on, or will the USA make it another routine victory?

United States vs. Nigeria women’s basketball betting picks and predictions

1st Quarter: Nigeria +7.5 (-105)

Nigeria is here after going 2-1 in Group B, where they had to go up against second-favorites France.

Nigeria dispatched Canada 79-70 and Australia 75-62. In the battle against France, Nigeria lost 75-54, but it was a seven-point game at half and a four-point game after the first quarter.

Nigeria may be smaller and possess less depth and star power than Team USA, but they are unique in that they full-court press all game.

Nigeria leads all women’s teams in steals, and they effectively ratchet up the pressure and force opponents to play quicker than they are comfortable with.

On offense, the guard tandem of Ezinne Kalu and Amy Okonkwo has been elite, combining to average 34.6 points on 42% three-point shooting.

The USA has sometimes struggled when forced to speed up, so Nigeria could cause some havoc early while the USA learns to adjust.

Just like they did against France, Nigeria can keep this one close early on. If Kalu and Okonkwo knock down some early shots, the pressure could start to mount.

Nigeria has covered two of three first quarter spreads, and the USA has only covered one first quarter spread.

Under 157.5 total points (-110)

Getting back to the advantages of the USA, in the second half we will start to see some separation.

The USA is just too big and too deep, and outside of Okonkwo and Kalu, Nigeria does not have enough difference-makers on the offensive end.

While USA games have eclipsed this 157.5 total in two of their three games, none of the Nigeria games have reached even 150 total points.

Allowing 75 points to France is the most they have given up, and it's likely that we see something similar happening against the USA.

Look for Nigeria to leverage their defensive strengths, play their hearts out on that end of the floor and make the USA work for any and everything.

United States vs. Nigeria women’s basketball odds

Spread	USA -26.5
Total points	O/U 157.5

Read the latest USA Basketball news on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.