The 2024 Paris Olympics begin on July 26. A wide range of sports will take place with some of the best athletes in the world taking center stage. Men's and women's basketball are going to be one of the most intriguing competitions happening over the next couple of weeks. 

The group stage begins on July 27 and will run through August 4. The knockout round will then follow before a gold medal squad will emerge victorious. All group phase games will be played at Pierre Mauroy Stadium, located in Lille, more than two hours from the capital city. During the knockout rounds, the basketball competition moves to the Bercy Arena in Paris. 

The American men are the -400 favorites (risk $400 to win $100) to win gold in the latest 2024 Olympics basketball odds on the men's side. Canada (+1000), France (+1500) and Serbia (+1500) are next on the odds board. As for the U.S. women, they are -2400 favorites. France is second in the odds at +2200 with Australia third at +2900.

Before locking in any 2024 Summer Olympics medal futures or predictions, you need to see what SportsLine Olympic insider Mike Tierney has to say.

A national sportswriter whose work appears in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Tierney has covered nine Olympic Games in person. At Rio in 2016, Tierney profited big-time. He told readers to bet over on Team USA's gold medal count (41.5) and over on Team USA's overall medal count (102.5). The result? 46 golds, 121 medals and two easy cashes. Then, at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Tierney hit two of his three predictions: Germany (+200) to win the most gold medals and the United States winning under 10.5 gold medals (+110).

Now, Tierney has broken down the 2024 Paris Olympics from every possible angle and locked in his best predictions and bets. 

Tierney is fading the U.S. men, saying, "[The team] has relied too much on the old guy -- a testament to LeBron James, 39, but still worrisome. Kawhi Leonard's removal and Kevin Durant's lingering calf injury lessen the star power. Team USA is a deserving favorite but is overpriced in the FIBA format that requires some adjustment."

Tierney also has identified which countries to back and fade on the medal table at the 2024 Olympics, including a longshot who has a chance to shock the world! You ABSOLUTELY need to see his 2024 Summer Games basketball futures picks before locking in your own.

Which countries should you back and fade at the 2024 Summer Olympics, and which longshot can shock the world with its medal count? ... Join SportsLine now to see Mike Tierney futures bets and analysis for the 2024 Summer Games!