FIBA World Cup 2023 | Best Bets, September 1

The Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup tips off on Friday, as the best of the First Round come together for another group phase!

Bogdan Bogdanovic and Marco Spissu lead Serbia and Italy in their first game of the Second Round. Anthony Edwards and the United States hope to continue their dominant play when they face Nikola Vucevic and Montenegro. And the tournament's brightest team, Canada, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, faces their biggest test of the tournament when they take on Brazil and their upstart point guard Yago Santos!

Let's check out the bets!

Serbia vs Italy

When: 4:00 AM EST

Where: Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out our list of the best NBA betting sites for more betting opportunities.

Total: Over 170.5 (-108)

Serbia and Italy kick off Second Round action, aiming to take control of Group I early. Serbia dominated Group B in the First Round, going 3-0 with a plus-91 points differential. Italy finished second in Group A, going 2-1 and earning a plus-16 points differential.

Italy succeeded in the paint through the First Round, shooting 60.0% from inside the arc and just 28.7% from beyond it. Point guard Marco Spissu was vital to their First Round success, averaging 11.7 points, 6.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while running the Italian offense. Even without their biggest star, Serbia showed their all-around prowess by averaging 104.7 points on 57.2% from the field and 44.7% from three. They were led by rising star Nikola Jovic, who averaged 17.0 points per game on an incredible 75.0% from the field.

The night starts with one of the most competitive games of the round. Two teams with diverse offensive options and a paint-packing defense, Italy and Serbia's three-point shooting will be the difference maker.

Germany vs Georgia

When: 4:30 AM EST

Where: Okinawa Arena, Okinawa, Japan

Odds courtesy of bet365 Sportsbook.

Total: Under 165.5 (-110)

Germany and Georgia start the action for Group K in the evening. Slovenia are coming from an undefeated First Round, going 3-0 and generating a plus-51 points differential. Georgia went 2-1 through the First Round, finishing with a plus-15 points differential.

Through the first group stage, Germany succeeded due to their ability in transition and on the break, averaging 89.0 points per game while shooting 51.7% from the field and 71.7% from deep. They were led by Dennis Schroder, who contributed 19.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game on 46.7% efficiency. Georgia were at their best when they could get the ball deep in the paint, averaging 74.0 points per game on just 44.2% from the field but 53.8% on two-point field goals. Tornike Shengalia led Georgia with 16.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Germany will look to push the pace while Georgia aims to play in the halfcourt. Whoever controls the speed of play will likely be the winner, and Germany's firepower gives them the edge.

United States vs Montenegro

When: 4:40 AM EST

Where: Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, Philippines

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

Spread: United States -25.5 (-115)

As expected, the United States dominated the first group stage, and now Montenegro will step up to try and stop their progress. The United States was undefeated in the First Round, generating the tournament's second-best points differential at plus-103. Montenegro were 2-1 through the First Round, producing a plus-15 points differential.

The United States has played solid team basketball at a more deliberate pace than expected, averaging 106.0 points per game on 54.5% from the field and 39.1% from the three-point range. Anthony Edwards has been the star for the USA, averaging 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 45.9% shooting from the field. Montenegro is one of the better teams at scoring at the rim, averaging 83.7 points on 44.8% from the field but 54.2% from inside the arc. NBA All-Star averaged 20.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks for Montenegro through the First Round and will try to carry his team to an upset.

The odds are heavily stacked against Montenegro, and you can understand why. They play a different style to the USA, and they don't project to be able to enforce their own. Another United States victory is on the cards.

Spain vs Latvia

When: 5:45 AM EST

Where: Indonesia Arena, Jakarta, Indonesia

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Total: Under 169.0 (-110)

Reigning World Cup champions Spain open their Second Round of play against Latvia. Spain were their usual selves in the First Round, going 3-0 en route to a plus-68 points differential. Latvia surprised many with their First Round performance, going 2-1 without their star man and generating a plus-15 points differential.

As always, Spain was one of the most efficient teams in the tournament, averaging 91.7 points and 29.3 assists on 52.3% efficiency. Willy and Juancho Hernangomez were their leaders through the First Round, combining for 30.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Latvia was one of the tournament's hottest shooting teams through the First Round, averaging 90.7 points and 14.0 threes per game on 51.8% from the field and 39.6% from deep. Roland Smits was their top scorer, averaging 15.3 points and 4.3 rebounds on 59.4% efficiency.

Latvia was a surprise, as their shooting gives them the potential to win any game. However, Spain's two-way play is likely too much for Latvia to handle, mainly due to the efficiency of their offense.

Dominican Republic vs Puerto Rico

When: 8:00 AM EST

Where: Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines

Odds courtesy of bet365 Sportsbook.

Money: Puerto Rico to Win (+350)

Dominican Republic face a familiar foe when they take on Puerto Rico in their first match of the Second Round. Puerto Rico went 2-1 in their group, finishing with a plus-six points differential. The Dominican Republic took first in their group, going 3-0 and earning a plus-19 points differential.

The Dominican offense wasn't incredibly efficient shooting the ball, but they averaged 83.0 points on 52.5% shooting and got to the line 28.0 times per game. Much of their success was due to star big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who averaged 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.0 threes per game on 40.0% from the field and 37.5% from deep. Puerto Rico's pace and playmaking were excellent through the First Round, averaging 95.0 points and 21.7 assists on 44.1% from the field and 41.0% from three on 13.7 made per game. They had six players average double-digits in scoring, with Tremont Waters leading the way with 16.7 per game with 8.7 assists on 39.5% from the field.

Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic should put on one of the most competitive matches of the day. If they stay hot from three-point range, don't be surprised to see Puerto Rico take down their FIBA America rivals.

Slovenia vs Australia

When: 8:10 AM EST

Where: Okinawa Arena, Okinawa, Japan

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

Total: Over 177.5 (-111)

Two heavyweight nations with high ambitions face off when Slovenia takes on Australia. Slovenia went 3-0 in their First Round group, finishing with a plus-51 points differential. Australia was expected to go undefeated, but eventually dropped a game in the First Round and finished with a 2-1 record and plus-43 points differential.

Slovenia had one of the tournament's top offenses, averaging 93.3 points per game on 48.6% efficiency and 34.7% from deep. As expected, Luka Doncic starred for Slovenia with 30.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per game on 45.5% from the floor. While Australia's defense was sometimes inconsistent, their offense averaged 96.3 points on 52.3% from the field and 34.7% from three. The Boomers backcourt of Josh Giddey and Patty Mills combined for 38.0 points per game through the First Round.

Expect Slovenia and Australia to put on a high-scoring game. Between these two high-powered offenses, Australia is just a bit more versatile. It'll be a close matchup, but the Boomers look set to earn a win.

Lithuania vs Greece

When: 8:40 AM EST

Where: Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, Philippines

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Spread: Over 162.5 (-110)

Lithuania aims to stay undefeated when they face Greece in the Second Round. Lithuania went 3-0 through the first group phase, finishing with a plus-76 points differential. Greece were 2-1 in group play, finishing the round with a plus-two points differential.

Finding victory through their frontcourt, Lithuania averaged 93.3 points per game on 52.0% from the field. Longtime NBA center Jonas Valanciunas captained them to victory, averaging 13.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game on 60.7% from the floor. Even without their star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece played excellent team basketball and averaged 85.3 points on 46.4% from the field and 34.5% from three on 10.0 made threes. Forward Ioannis Papapetrou led the team with 16.3 points and 2.0 threes per game.

These two teams have similar strengths in the paint, so it should be a competitive matchup. Lithuania's paint presence should give them the edge, but Greece's positive shooting efforts could swing the game in their favor. It should be an exciting game!

Canada vs Brazil

When: 9:30 AM EST

Where: Indonesia Arena, Jakarta, Indonesia

Odds courtesy of bet365 Sportsbook.

Spread: Canada -18.5 (-110)

Canada was the World Cup's most dominant team through the First Round of play, and they'll take on Brazil in the tournament's Second Round. Canada was undefeated through the First Round and had a tournament-best plus-111 points differential. Brazil was 2-1 in the First Round, finishing with a plus-35 points differential.

The tournament's top scorer, Canada, averaged 108.0 points on 54.8% from the field and 42.9% from three on 15.0 per game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was vital to their success, averaging 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists on 54.5% from the field. Brazil showed off their inside-outside game in the First Round, averaging 89.0 points per game on 46.6% efficiency while shooting 57.1% inside the arc and 37.0% from outside the arc. Point guard Yago Santos led the charge for Brazil, averaging 17.3 points and 7.3 assists per game while hitting 4.0 threes on 47.1% efficiency.

Brazil are in for their biggest test of the tournament, and they don't project to pass it. Canada can match them at every position and even surpasses them with their starting lineup. The pace of play will be high but don't expect Brazil to be competitive for long.