After a lopsided 102-76 win over a spunky Japanese squad that fired up 39 3-pointers, the United States women’s basketball team looks to remain perfect in the 2024 Olympics against Belgium, which would likely set up a battle of unbeatens with Germany to decide group supremacy on Sunday.

Odds at top sports betting sites have Team USA priced as a large favorite in Thursday’s game against Belgium.

A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart feasted on smaller Japan around the basket to open Olympic play, combining for 46 points on 21-for-31 shooting and 21 rebounds. Brittney Griner, the tallest player on Team USA at 6-foot-9, added 11 points and nine boards off the bench to help the Americans win convincingly, despite shooting 4-for-20 from beyond the arc. The U.S. outscored Japan 64-22 in the paint and won the battle of the boards 56-27, capturing 16 offensive rebounds.

Belgium presents different challenges and can better protect itself through 6-foot-4 frontcourt standouts Emma Meesseman, a former WNBA Finals MVP, and Kyara Linskens. This showdown closes out Thursday’s slate (3 p.m. ET, USA) at Lille’s Pierre Mauroy Stadium, where the top teams will look to follow Serbia and Spain in getting off to 2-0 starts.

Women’s basketball odds from BetMGM: USA vs. Belgium point spread, moneyline, total 

Here are betting odds from BetMGM for the USA vs. Belgium Group C clash at the Paris Games:

Team USA opened as a 22.5-point favorite. The total was set at 162.

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USA betting news and analysis

While it was clear head coach Cheryl Reeve wanted to capitalize on the American size advantage on Monday, the matchup against Belgium is a good opportunity for the USA to flex its versatility. Sabrina Ionescu shot 3-for-7 from 3-point range, but the rest of the team went a combined 1-for-13. 

Chelsea Gray dished out 13 assists in 21 minutes against Japan, but teams are going to play off her and challenge her to shoot. Starters Napheesa Collier and Diana Taurasi played only 15 minutes, Kahleah Copper got only six, and Jewell Loyd went 0-for-3 in her time on the floor, so many players will look to catch a rhythm prior to the team’s more challenging games.

Maki Takada, Japan’s top frontcourt player, shot 10-for-11, so facing Belgium’s taller, more polished post threats presents a good challenge. Ball movement was excellent in the opener, as 35 of 42 made baskets came off an assist.

Belgium betting news and analysis

Meesseman played with the Washington Mystics for eight seasons and the Sky for another, starting 36 games for Chicago in 2022. Belgium’s captain has been playing at Turkey’s Fenerbahce and was a flag bearer for Belgium at the Opening Ceremony in Paris. She played a team-high 37 minutes in the 83-69 loss to Germany, against whom they trailed 25-11 after a quarter and by as many as 22 points before a solid second half. 

Point guard Julie Vanloo, a 31-year-old WNBA rookie, has started most of the season for the Mystics, averaging 8.5 points and 5.1 assists. She runs the offense for Belgium and is their best shooter, but will be well-scouted. 

Having Meesseman and Linskens, a former Eurobasket Finals MVP who plays professionally in France, stay out of foul trouble, is crucial to Belgium’s chances of hanging around against the USA. Belgium seeks more production from Spain-based wing Antonia Delaere, who shot 1-for-9 against Germany. Belgians not named Vanloo finished 1-for-10 on 3-pointers vs. Germany.

USA vs. Belgium prop bets at DraftKings + picks

Here is a sampling of USA vs. Belgium prop bets from DraftKings.

• USA team total: Over 92.5 -110, Under 92.5 -120
• Belgium team total: Over 69.5 -115 Under 69.5 -115
• A’ja Wilson points: Over 21.5 -115, Under 21.5 -115
• A’ja Wilson rebounds: Over 10.5 -125, Under 10.5 -105
• Breanna Stewart rebounds: Over 8.5 -105, Under 8.5 -125
• Kelsey Plum points: Over 9.5 -105, Under 9.5 -125
• Sabrina Ionesu points: Over 9.5 +100, Under 9.5 -130

Ionescu led the reserves in minutes in the opener and took seven 3-pointers in 20 minutes, so scoring in double-figures again is likely.

USA vs. Belgium prediction: Hammer Time

Respect for Meesseman and Vanloo and a completely different style to solve means the US women should be engaged. Belgium lacks the quality depth to hang for 40 minutes, so with more looks to go around in a more conventional game, expect a complete effort. The Americans won’t be solely looking to feed the post.

The USA’s largest margin of victory at the Tokyo Olympics was 24, but the team beat Germany by 27 in an exhibition in London last week and Japan by 26 in its opener. Expect another lopsided result before games get considerably tougher, as the Americans cover this sizable spread.