London Olympics 2012: Top 5 Storylines to Follow on Day 8

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The 2012 London Olympic Games are already halfway over, but there is still much yet to be decided. 

Day 8 will feature men's soccer quarterfinals, Team USA basketball, Carmelita Jeter running her heart out on the second day of track and field, and more.

Here are the biggest storylines for August 4, 2012.

Carmelita Jeter Goes for Gold

She's so fast, her feet don't even touch the ground.
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Sport: Athletics

Event: Women's 100-meter dash

Time: 4:55 p.m. ET

Carmelita Jeter holds the title of "fastest woman in the world" after winning the 2011 World Championships. She missed out on the chance to compete in the 2008 Summer Games by two hundredths of a second.

She left no room for doubt at the 2012 Olympic trials, posting a winning time in the final of 10.92 seconds.

Jeter's main competition for the gold medal will be Allyson Felix and the Jamaican duo of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Veronica Campbell-Brown.

Will Missy Franklin's Final Race End in Gold?

Cheering for Missy.
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Sport: Swimming

Event: Women's 4x100 Medley

Time: 3:07 p.m. 

The U.S. women's 4x100 medley team dominated the field at the 2011 World Championships. Missy Franklin and a collection of U.S. medalists will attempt to do it again on Day 8, but they have some stiff competition from Australia, which was particularly impressive in qualifying, and from Japan.

Can Phelps and the Gang Beat Magnussen's Crew?

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Sport: Swimming

Event: Men's 4x100-meter Medley

Time: 3:07 p.m. ET

The U.S. men edged the Aussies in this event a year ago at the 2011 World Championships—winning by just three-hundredths of a second.

Germany and France also feature strong teams, and as always, this event will be one of the most exciting to watch. There is an all-star game feel when each country's best in each stroke team up.

The U.S., Great Britain and Japan turned in the fastest qualifying times.

Team USA Looks to Keep Rolling

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Sport: Men's Basketball

Event: USA vs. Lithuania

Time: 9:30 a.m. ET

Lithuania could use a win here to reach the elimination rounds, but Lithuania won't win. 

The U.S. is averaging more than 120 points a game. No other team is averaging over 87.

So why watch?

Because the U.S. has been dynamic in its blowout victories, showing off its assets in every aspect of the game (except maybe offensive rebounding, since that doesn't come up very often_.

Serena Williams Wants Her First Singles Gold

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Sport: Tennis

Events: Men's Doubles, Women's Singles Finals

Time: Begins at 7 a.m. ET

Serena Williams will not be denied the gold medal. 

That's the forecast here, with Williams facing Maria Sharapova for the Olympic title at Wimbledon. Williams has a double gold, but no singles gold

In men's doubles, Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States go for gold against Michael Llodra and Jo Wilfried-Tsonga of France.

Knockout Time for Men's Soccer

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Sport: Soccer

Event: Men's Quarterfinals

Time: Starts at 7:00 a.m. ET

The games roll out in this order: Japan vs. Egypt, Mexico vs. Senegal, Brazil vs. Honduras and Great Britain vs. South Korea.

These is the first knockout round of the tournament. Some statistical notes from group play (from NBCOlympics.com):

--Brazil scored the most goals: 9. Next was Egypt with 6.

--Brazil was the only team to win all three of its group games.

--Mexico and Japan did not allow a goal.

--Spain, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and Switzerland each finished with just one point.

--Only one team didn't score a goal: Spain.