2019 Basketball World Championship Qualifiers France vs Russia Preview and Prediction

Date/Time:  07-02-2018, 12:00 EDT

Spread: Russia +9.5

Total: +149.5

The two best squads of Group E are clashing today, when the second-best Russia (3-2), who want to extend their current winning streak, are hosting the Group leaders of France (5-0), who have been undefeated so far and want to keep it that way. The games takes place at the Sport Complex Basket Hall of Krasnodar, on Monday, July 2^nd 2018.

Russia have a 3-2 record so far in the tournament and currently sit in the second place of Group E. They have back-to-back wins and in their last game they won on the road against Belgium with a 66-84 score. They are led in scoring by Vitaly Fridzon with 14 ppg, adding 4.5 rebounds per game. He is followed by Timofey Mozgov with 14 ppg as well, adding a team high 6 rebounds per game and also leading the team in efficiency (16). Sergey Karasev adds 12.8 ppg.

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France have a perfect 5-0 record so far in the tournament and currently sit on top of Group E. They have five consecutive wins and in their last game they won on the road against Bosnia and Herzegovina with a 52-102 score. They are led in scoring by Rudy Gobert with 16 ppg, adding a team high 6 rebounds per game. He is followed by Vincent Poirier with 16 ppg and 6 rebounds per game and also leading the team in efficiency (23). Nando De Colo adds 15 ppg, 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game.

In their previous meeting in the first round of the qualifiers, France won an extremely close game at home with a 75-74 score in overtime. France are better both offensively, scoring 79 ppg to Russia’s 76 and defensively, allowing 59.8 ppg to Russia’s 68.8. France have a better 2-point percentage, shooting with 55.8% to Russia’s 50.3%, while Russia have better percentages both in 3-pointers, shooting with 37.2% to France’s 33% and in free throws (73.3% to 66.7%). France are better in rebounding, grabbing 37 to Russia’s 34, in assists made, with 21 to Russia’s 17 and in turnovers committed (13 to 14). France are the favorite for the win and Vegas odds give them a -9.5 spread for this game, but don’t expect them to beat the odds as Russia will definitely force a closer game than that at home.

France vs Russia Prediction: France +9.5 (-115)