FIBA World Cup 2014: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Bracket Predictions for Day 8

With four teams advancing to the quarterfinals on Saturday, only 12 squads remain heading into Day 8 of the 2014 FIBA World Cup. That number is set to decrease to eight in short order, as four more single-elimination contests are set to take place on Sunday.

The United States and Spain—the world's two best teams—advanced with ease on Day 7, and No. 3 Argentina and No. 4 Lithuania will be looking to follow suit. While each team set to take the court on Sunday deserved a berth in the elimination rounds, none appeared invincible during group play. That will lead to some compelling basketball on Day 8.

Before these eight teams take to the hardwood, let's take a glance at the day's schedule and viewing information, followed by predictions and analysis for each contest.

Matchup	Time (ET)	Watch
New Zealand vs. Lithuania	10 a.m.	ESPN3
Sebia vs. Greece	12 p.m.	ESPN3
Turkey vs. Australia	2 p.m.	ESPN3
Brazil vs. Argentina	4 p.m.	ESPN3

The updated tournament bracket can be found at FIBA.com.

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Game Predictions

New Zealand vs. Lithuania

Lithuania made it through the group stage with a 4-1 record, with its only loss coming against Australia. That loss was significant due to the similarities between the Aussies and New Zealand.

Not only are Australia and New Zealand in a similar geographic location, they have some very similar traits on the basketball court. Neither team has been stellar from a shooting standpoint, but both have looked very good on the interior.

Australia defeated Lithuania by combining some solid perimeter shooting and winning in the rebounds department. New Zealand doesn't have a big threat from downtown, but it averages 40.2 rebounds per game—good enough to rank sixth in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Lithuania has been steadfast from the floor, connecting on 50.4 percent of its field goals. New Zealand is without a threat from behind the arc, and that will be the team's undoing as they attempt to keep up with the sure-handed Lithuanians late in the game.

Prediction: Lithuania 78-69 New Zealand

Serbia vs. Greece

There may not be two more evenly matched teams set to take the court on Sunday. Both Serbia and Greece have put up similar statistics across the board in many major categories. Here's a look at the teams' stat comparisons to this point in the tournament:

Team	2-pt FG	3-pt FG	Asst.	TO
Serbia	53.3	36.3	15.2	14.4
Greece	56.3	34.3	18.0	12.6

While those stats are similar, there's one more category that gives Greece a big advantage: rebounds. The Greeks are averaging 40.6 rebounds per game, while the Serbians are averaging 32.6. An advantage of eight boards per game can lead to a major shift in the game's final score due to an increased amount of second-chance points.

If those numbers remain similar in this upcoming contest, Greece will use its superior size on the inside to get the win.

Prediction: Greece 79-74 Serbia

Turkey vs. Australia

This is yet another matchup of similar teams. Many onlookers remember how the Turkish team made things rather difficult for the Americans in the group stage—Turkey actually held the lead at the half. However, there's one thing the Aussies have that Turkey doesn't: big-time perimeter shooters.

Turkey has put down its fair share of treys, shooting 32.4 percent for the tournament. However, Australia is bucketing an insane 51.9 percent from behind the arc due to several sharpshooters on its roster.

Seven different members of Australia's national team are shooting at least 41.7 percent from three-point range, most notably guard Chris Goulding, who has been superb through five contests. He's connected on 7-of-14 attempts from downtown and has been a big difference-maker for his squad.

If the Aussies continue to show their stuff from behind the arc, they'll get the win on Sunday.

Prediction: Australia 86-78 Turkey

Brazil vs. Argentina

Brazil is dominating Argentina in practically every major statistical category through five tournament games. The team has been shooting better from all over the floor, is averaging more rebounds per game, has been better on the fast break and superior in the paint.

However, those numbers are incredibly skewed due to the lack of competition the team has faced to this point in the tournament.

On the flip side, Argentina doesn't have similar impressive statistics, but it held its own through a very difficult schedule in Group B. After defeating Puerto Rico handily, Argentina dropped a close game to Croatia before coming back to beat the Philippines. In its next contest, Argentina routed Senegal, but they fell to Greece in a close contest to end the group stage.

That kind of experience against some of the tournament's better teams will prove to be the difference against Brazil.

Prediction: Argentina 82-76 Brazil

All stats via FIBA.com.