Serbia vs. Canada 2023 FIBA World Cup Odds and Preview

By Jeff Stinger • September 7, 2023

We’re down to the final four teams of the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helps his team book a semifinal spot after a stellar performance against Slovenia in the quarters. They ended Slovenia’s title dreams in a 100-89 victory. The Canadians will take on Serbia on Friday night. Head coach Svetislav Pešić and his crew took control of their previous matchup versus Lithuania and closed the night with a 19-point win.

Serbia vs. Canada 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Semifinal Match Information

Making history in Manila

Canada's Senior Men's National Team has reached the #FIBAWC semifinals for the first-time in the country's history.#FIBAWC | #WinForCanada | #OneTeam pic.twitter.com/fFq7nYwh6j
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) September 6, 2023

When: Friday, September 8, 2023, 4:45 AM ET
Where: Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, Philippines
Live Stream: ESPN+/li>
2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Betting Odds: Serbia (+5.0) // Canada (-5.0)

Why Bet on Serbia?

Four strong performances and a rather disappointing loss keep the Serbians close to the Canadians in this matchup. The Europeans stepped up against Lithuania to reach the semifinals. In turn, it fulfilled expectations they had before entering the 2023 FIBA World Cup and now gets a shot at an Olympic Games slot.

The get-up-and-go attitude of the Serbians in their recent outing was nothing short of impressive. They covered every necessary spot, while Bogdan Bogdanovic expressed more quality basketball since his showcase against the Dominican Republic. He scored 18 points in the first half and energized the floor as he guided Serbia to victory. Of course, we saw the familiar Serbian fast break. It’s worth noting that the aggressiveness from Aleksa Avramovic and Stefan Jovic played to their advantage. The Lithuanians had no answer to their speed and talent. It was more than just a display of shooting proficiency. The Serbians won through teamwork and proper execution of plays.

Why Bet on Canada?

Canada nearly left the tournament in the second phase of the 2023 FIBA World Cup. They managed to pull themselves out of the ditch and won versus Spain to secure a quarterfinal appearance. They also defeated Slovenia in a tense match that saw the North Americans win by 11 points.

A short rotation did not stop Canada from taking on international basketball icons. Coach Jordi Fernandez mainly utilizes seven or eight players from his roster, with others getting minutes only when the match is decided. We believe this trend will persist in the semifinals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the top candidate for tournament MVP, and expect his presence felt on the floor here. RJ Barrett also stood out in the quarterfinals with 24 points. Meanwhile, key defenseman Dillon Brooks hit crucial shots in the last two games and took on the responsibility of locking down the opposing team’s best guards and filling in the defensive slack.

A path will open for the Canadians if they can utilize perimeter plays. We believe they can continue to push the pace and use transition plays to their advantage. They have done it well so far in the tournament, and there’s reason to believe they can do it against Serbia. We eagerly await how they defend Milutinov and the rest of their opponents. He remains in good form throughout the tournament, and Brooks is likely to face him or Bogdanovic. If they can limit Serbia’s offensive rebounds, Canada will retain the better odds on paper.

Serbia vs. Canada Expert Betting Prediction

Canada joins the clash as the game favorite. Their performance throughout the tournament has been nothing short of striking. The side rebounded well from a defeat to Brazil with a pair of wins over European powerhouse teams Spain and Slovenia. Another test joins in the form of a ferocious Serbian lineup. The underdogs are capable of filling the gaps once they gain some traction, so covering the spread and pulling off the win stays within the realms of possibility. But if the Canadians deliver plays and stats that hold up to their past achievements against European squads, this could be out of reach for Serbia.

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2023-24 FIBA season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest basketball betting odds on our online crypto sportsbook.