France vs. Germany best bets: Victor Wembanyama, Franz Wagner

The picks — SGP: Germany +6.5 alt, France +13.5 alt, Victor Wembanyama 20+ points and rebounds, Franz Wagner 15+ points (+110, Caesars)

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Soccer may be the ultimate international sport, but basketball has a strong argument. The depth of talent churned out on all continents — hey, polar bears in Antarctica got game — is rich and deep.

Team USA is a sizable gold medal favorite in Paris. However, as witnessed so far in Olympics group play by the Americans (-600 to win gold at DraftKings), other nations won’t be emphatically dunked on. Heck, even South Sudan, a hodgepodge of players who didn’t have an indoor home facility to practice in, hung tough with America’s group of living legends. Thank you, JT Thor and friends for the sweat free cover.

As even the most casual NBA consumer knows, Europe has left an indelible mark on the U.S. pro game. With a number of Association stars set to hit the hardwood Friday at Bercy Arena, here's a rundown of parlay legs in France-Germany.

Germany +6.5, France +13.5 alt spreads. The Germans earned all the schnitzel in their first two games, coasting to triumphs over Japan and Brazil. However, with Wemby, Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier on the roster, the home representatives won’t go quietly down the River Seine. The French fortunate to skirt past a scrappy Japan team in their last game, but if the Germans don’t rain a plethora of trifectas, this contest should come down to the waning moments. Once again living in the middle, stay within striking distance, Europeans.

Victor Wembanyama 20+ points and rebounds. In the most unsurprising development of Olympics basketball, France’s Gumby is wreaking havoc on the competition. Against Brazil and Japan, he totaled 28 and 29, respectively, in points and rebounds. Shooting 50.0% from the floor and 44.4% from distance, he’s casually compiling numbers across the board like he did game-in and game-out during his NBA Rookie of the Year campaign with the San Antonio Spurs. In its pair of victories, Germany surrendered only 36.4% shooting to Japan but 50.0% to Brazil. Compared to that level of competition, Wembanyama is a considerable step up.

Franz Wagner 15+ points. Guten tag, Herr Wagner. The former Michigan and current Orlando Magic standout is picking up where he left off in a breakout NBA season. The small forward with a composer’s name should bang the timpani repeatedly on Friday. In his first two meaningful Summer Games matchups, he scored 22 and 17 points against Japan and Brazil. A cumulated 16-for-32 from the field, he’s burned the nets at a 77.8% clip from inside the arc. Averaging 28.5 minutes per game, the efficient Wagner should easily race to at least 15 points.

Olympics basketball record: 1-2, -0.70 units

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