Olympic Basketball Bracket 2012: Predictions for the Rest of Women's Group Play

The 2012 London Olympics are providing fans with nail-biting women's basketball. Most matchups have been decided in the closing minutes.

Upcoming games may seem too close to call, but I'm confident in the following predictions.

Group play continues through August 5, at which point only the top eight teams will advance. From there, it switches to a single-elimination format.

Will your country be competing in the quarterfinals? Find the answer in this slideshow.

August 1: Canada vs. France (4 AM ET)

Captain Celine Dumerc is shooting well from long range, and after two games, the team as a whole has nailed nearly 50 percent of three-pointers. However, there hasn't been much production in the paint as WNBA center Sandrine Gruda—who leads France in minutes played—is missing some easy buckets.

Shona Thorburn leads Canada's second unit. She caught fire against Great Britain in a 73-65 win, but Russia shut her down.

France's guard-laden roster will have trouble contesting Thorburn's shot attempts. Her contributions could be the difference.

Final score: Canada 70, France 66

August 1: China vs. Angola (6:15 AM ET)

The Angolan ladies are fortunate to have qualified for the Olympics. Many of the team's members don't play professionally, and outside of Luisa Tomas—who stands at 6'4"—they are noticeably undersized.

China's lack of depth won't prevent this from turning into a lopsided victory. The starters just need to stay out of foul trouble.

Final score: China 85, Angola 57

August 1: Australia vs. Brazil (9:30 AM ET)

Belinda Snell's 55-foot buzzer-beater (h/t Deadspin.com) was ultimately for naught as France prevailed in overtime. Expect Lauren Jackson to receive a lot of touches in this must-have game.

So far, Brazil has let two close battles get away in the fourth quarter. Erika de Souza is playing with an edge after missing the 2008 Olympics due to injury, but her teammates don't seem inspired.

Final score: Australia 80, Brazil 73

August 1: Great Britain vs. Russia (11:45 AM ET)

Despite constant encouragement from the crowd, Team Great Britain has dropped two in a row. Shots weren't falling against Australia (29.1 field-goal percentage), and poor ball-handling doomed the Brits in a matchup with Canada (22 turnovers).

Facing Russia—the strongest defense in Group B—is the last thing they need.

The hosts will compete for awhile before running out of gas.

Final score: Russia 65, Great Britain 59

August 1: Croatia vs. Czech Republic (3 PM ET)

In 2011, at the EuroBasket Women tournament, the Czech Republic dealt the Croatians a defeat that nearly stopped them from qualifying for these Games. Here's an opportunity to exact revenge.

Iva Ciglar and company don't have the length to keep up on the boards. They'll need to attack the basket more frequently after reaching the free-throw line a total of eight times versus China and the United States.

That should help their shooters get open along the perimeter.

Final score: Croatia 72, Czech Republic 70

August 1: United States vs. Turkey (5:15 PM ET)

FIBA.com raves about Quanitra Holingsvorth, "Turkey's newest and tallest weapon." But even Holingsvorth herself acknowledges that the squad will have its hands full with the top-ranked American women.

Team USA simply has too many elite bodies on the roster. Diana Taurasi should be particularly effective in this blowout, as she plays more physically than anyone in the Turkish backcourt.

Final score: United States 79, Turkey 57

August 3: Angola vs. Croatia (4 AM ET)

Angola will be desperate to rebound from earlier humiliation, but being devoid of skill and international experience, the underdogs remain winless. Nassecela Mauricio and Sonia Guadalupe can't carry the entire group.

Final score: Croatia 79, Angola 50

August 3: Russia vs. Australia (6:15 AM ET)

After 40 minutes on the floor together, either Australia or Russia will emerge as Group B's top medal contender.

Boris Sokolovsky's players should put up more points than usual as Elena Danilochkina delivers a dominant all-around performance. A fierce Aussie comeback will fall just short in one of the tournament's most compelling games.

Final score: Russia 75, Australia 73

August 3: Brazil vs. Canada (9:30 AM ET)

First-time Olympian Courtnay Pilypaitis is unpredictable. She was counterproductive in a July 28 loss to Russia and then splendid two days later versus Great Britain.

Expect her to go cold when opposing the favored Brazilians, who will finally wake up, realizing their backs are against the wall.

Final score: Brazil 68, Canada 61

August 3: Turkey vs. China (11:45 AM ET)

I'm predicting a significant upset here.

Coming off two easy triumphs (three consecutive wins overall), the Chinese will be caught off guard by Turkey's inside-out, three-point-heavy tactics.

Each country is already on its way to advancing.

Final score: Turkey 74, China 68

August 3: France vs. Great Britain (3 PM ET)

Another surprise!

The home crowd has endured enough disappointment. Behind an efficient individual effort from Johannah Leedham, Great Britain will cling to a slim lead throughout the afternoon.

With one final game on the Group B schedule, the Brits have hope.

Final score: Great Britain 66, France 65

August 3: Czech Republic vs. United States (5:15 PM ET)

The distraught Czech Republic will take risks and benefit from them.

Head coach Lubor Blazek has a reputation to protect. Challenging the Americans with depth and athleticism, his women will put their immortality in doubt.

For extended stretches of action, Eva Viteckova and Katerina Elhotova will be indefensible...but that won't be enough.

Geno Auriemma will find the right lineup—he always does—and eke out an ugly victory.

Final score: United States 71, Czech Republic 65

August 5: France vs. Russia (4 AM ET)

Any low-scoring result involving Russia usually goes their way.

The French are sloppy with the basketball at times. They'll be held to a low shooting percentage, and any turnovers on top of that will be costly.

As fans in the Western Hemisphere tune into the action on Sunday morning, the Russians could be climbing back into bed and beginning to dream of success in the quarterfinals.

Final score: Russia 61, France 51

August 5: Angola vs. Czech Republic (6:15 AM ET)

It's going to be a bloodbath.

All the anger that has built up within FIBA's four-ranked national team will be unleashed on the innocent Angolans.

Sensitive audiences are advised not to watch.

Final score: Czech Republic 93, Angola 40

August 5: Canada vs. Australia (9:30 AM ET)

Shaking off a dramatic loss, the Opals shouldn't have any trouble with Canada.

Liz Cambage will be the star performer. At her height, getting to the basket is an effortless action.

Even with two losses in group play, Australian will incite fear in its latter-round enemies.

Final score: Australia 78, Canada 65

August 5: China vs. United States (11:45 AM ET)

Tina Charles, Candace Parker and others can absorb contact and still finish. There'll be a lot of that versus China.

A convincing win will give the U.S. team some momentum heading into next week. A wire-to-wire thrashing will remind the field that the world's No. 1 roster can beat up on long shots and legitimate foes, alike.

Final score: United States 72, China 52

August 5: Croatia vs. Turkey (3 PM ET)

The Cinderella story continues for Croatia in its Olympic debut.

Turkey's bench will execute but also make mistakes at crucial stages of the game.

Croatian guard Sandra Mandir can ignite the offense despite questionable shot selection. For the second time, her team will triumph by one possession.

Final score: Croatia 67, Turkey 65

August 5: Great Britain vs. Brazil (5:15 PM ET)

Keeping with the trend of most August 5 matchups, Great Britain-Brazil is decided soon after tip-off.

The reigning FIBA Americas champions are too agile. Johannah Leedham takes a couple dozen shots but can't make them all.

It will be a somber ending for a country that, quite frankly, shouldn't have been represented in this event.

Final score: Brazil 70, Great Britain 59 

Olympic Quarterfinalists

If these predictions hold true, the following countries will advance to the quarterfinals:

From Group A: United States (5-0), China (3-2), Croatia (3-2), Turkey (3-2).

From Group B: Russia (5-0), Australia (3-2), France (3-2), Brazil (2-3).

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