The 2023 FIBA World Cup tips off on Friday, August 25, so now is the right time for a final look at the main contenders and the best betting options from the futures markets.
Although this is not your dad’s USA team filled with the main NBA superstars, Steve Kerr’s troops still enter the flagship FIBA international event as the main favorites by some distance.
Indeed, following the latest news regarding the absence of the biggest stars for the US’ main rivals, it is very difficult to find a team capable of outplaying the Dream Team in the upcoming tournament. That said, there is good value in backing the USA as an outright winner of the event, almost at even odds, and combining it with one of the most generous welcome packages in the country.
Expecting the odds to drop further as we get closer to the tip-off, you can add an extra layer of security by backing USA’s title with BetMGM Sportsbook.
This way, even in the case of a shocking round of events in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia in September, we would get a refund of our stakes in the form of bonus bets because of BetMGM’s lucrative promotion for new players.
We will explain all the details further, providing the full guide on claiming the offer and sharing compelling arguments on why this USA team should be able to easily cruise to the title in Manila.
- Welcome offer activates if your first bet loses
- Great mobile betting experience
- Variety of betting markets on offer
*Except NY & NV. Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Additional terms apply.
How to Claim the BetMGM Offer & Back the USA to Win the Gold Medal
BetMGM welcomes all new US sports betting fans with an enticing “First Bet Offer.” Anyone who opens a new account with BetMGM Sportsbook can get insurance on their first bet in the form of a refund in the form of bonus bets of up to $1000.
In this case, your first wager at BetMGM will be the United States to win the 2023 FIBA World Cup. If they justify the big favorites’ tag and win it, you will keep all your winnings as usual. However, if they lose and someone else wins the tournament, BetMGM will immediately refund your stake and give you another chance via bonus bets. It is important to note that the maximum refund amount is capped at $1.000.
Let’s see an example of what would happen if you place a $1000 bet on the United States to win the World Championship:
| Outcome | Result | |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome A | USA Wins The Basketball World Cup | Player Wins $1,900 |
| Outcome B | USA Doesn’t Win The Basketball World Cup | Player Gets His Stake Returned as $1,000 in Bonus Bets |
If Option B occurs, you can use the refunded money to place a bonus bet without any sports, events, markets, or odds restrictions. The new NFL season is just around the corner, which means there will be plenty of exciting options and markets to wager on in the upcoming months.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to bet on the United States to win the tournament while having BetMGM’s First Bet Insurance in case they fail:
- Download the BetMGM Sportsbook app
- Create a new account (it should not take more than a couple of minutes to go through the registration process)
- Make your initial deposit (min $10)
- Place your first bet on Team USA to win the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup
- If USA doesn’t win, you will get your stake back in the form of bonus bets (the maximum refund amount is $1000)
- You can then place a bonus bet on any market you wish
- The bonus bet needs to be used within seven days from the moment it has been credited to your account
- Welcome offer activates if your first bet loses
- Great mobile betting experience
- Variety of betting markets on offer
*Except NY & NV. Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Additional terms apply.
The Dream Team is #1 Favorite
The United States is the perennial favorite in any international basketball competition, regardless of the squad. Although many “experts” underestimate them ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup due to the superstars’ absence, several important arguments make them even bigger favorites than the outright odds show.
First of all, this US team is stacked all over the place. Steve Kerr can freely utilize all 12 players in the rotation. On paper, his weakest links are Austin Reaves and Bobby Portis. The former has featured as a starter in 22 matches in a team that reached the conference finals in the NBA, while the latter has been a starter in as many games for the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks (a massive powerhouse on the East for years) last season. This says enough about the depth of the team.
The main stars on the roster have all had exceptional campaigns for their respective teams in the previous NBA season. Jalen Brunson averaged career highs in points, assists, and steals last year for the New York Knicks.
Anthony Edwards is coming into the tournament on the back of his inaugural NBA All-Star appearance. The Minnesota Timberwolves guard was a No 1 pick in the draft in 2020.
Taking his national team to the world throne (especially after the early quarterfinal exit for the United States in the previous tournament) would additionally help Edwards en route to greatness.
The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero is also on this roster, as well as Tyrese Haliburton, who enjoyed an exceptional campaign on an individual level with the Indiana Pacers last year. Finally, such a talented group of players is led by an amazing coach in the like of Steve Kerr, who has won four NBA titles as a head coach.
Moving forward, if you look at the odds, no other team comes anywhere near the United States in terms of chances of winning the event. Canada had been the closest until the Jamal Murray news. The absence of the Denver Nuggets star guard will certainly represent a massive blow to Canada’s hopes, as they are no longer even the second favorites for the title.
France is always there among the contenders but has never reached the final of the World Cup. Vincent Collet has also dealt with several important withdrawals, and we can’t see Les Blues repeating the success of China four years ago when they eliminated the US team in the quarterfinal.
Australia has a roster filled with NBA players, but its main stars, including Patty Mills and Joe Ingles, are well past their prime. As such, they can’t be regarded as a serious threat to this US team.
European basketball heavyweights such as Serbia, Spain, Slovenia, Greece, and Lithuania are all missing key players (outside of Luka Doncic for the Slovenians), which only boosts the US chances.
Learn More: 2023 FIBA World Cup Betting Tips: Can USA Go All The Way?
Conclusion
To sum it all up, we would back the United States to win this tournament even if the odds were shorter. The BetMGM First Bet Offer only makes the pick better, as you can bet with total peace of mind. Even if a big surprise happens and Kerr’s men don’t lift the trophy in Manila, we would get our stake back for another chance to place a bonus bet. It’s basically a win-win.
