Predictions - Team Sports

Men's Basketball
Gold:  United States
Silver:  Argentina
Bronze:  Spain
The U.S. will be an overwhelming favorite, with a slew of teams in contention for the lesser medals, including Lithuania, Russia and France.

Women's Basketball
Gold:  United States
Silver:  Australia
Bronze:  Russia
It should be another American/Australian final.  Czech Republic won the silver at Worlds behind MVP Hana Horakova.

Men's Field Hockey
Gold:  Australia
Silver:  Great Britain
Bronze:  Germany
The home team will be well supported and could bring home a gold medal.

Women's Field Hockey
Gold:  Argentina
Silver:  Netherlands
Bronze:  Great Britain
Argentina had to make the tournament as an invitee after South Africa relinquished their automatic birth from Africa (they qualified anyway).  The favorites were upset in the Pan American Games final by the United States, who will be an outside medal threat.

Men's Soccer
Gold:  Spain
Silver:  Uruguay
Bronze:  Great Britain
Hard to judge the competition has only three players over the age of 23 are allowed to compete.  Spain looks to cement themselves as the best in the world, while there has been a lot of press surrounding a combined Great Britain team including Scots and Welshman for the first time in decades.

Women's Soccer
Gold:  United States
Silver:  Brazil
Bronze:  Japan
The flawed qualifying process leaves Germany, ranked second in the world, out of the Olympics.  It was decided that the two European qualifiers would be determined at the 2011 World Cup.  When Germany won their pool, but got knocked out by Japan in the quarterfinals, they were out as Sweden and France advanced to the semifinals.  Japan may not be able to watch their World Cup run, leaving the U.S. and Brazil to fight for gold.

Men's Team Handball
Gold:  France
Silver:  Denmark
Bronze:  Sweden
France is the defending champions and won the Worlds in 2009 and 2011 and the Europeans in 2010.  The top 11 teams at Worlds were from Europe.

Women's Team Handball
Gold:  Norway
Silver:  France
Bronze:  Denmark
Brazil could make a run at the medals, but that may be more likely in 2016.

Men's Volleyball
Gold:  Brazil
Silver:  Poland
Bronze:  Russia
This is the reverse order of the podium from the 2011 World Cup.  The Americans are improving, losing to Poland in the World League Final last month.

Women's Volleyball
Gold:  United States
Silver:  Brazil
Bronze:  China
Italy and Serbia also field strong squads.  The U.S. is looking for a first ever women's gold after silver four years ago.  Hugh McCutcheon is coaching the U.S. after leading the men's team to the Olympic gold in Beijing.

Men's Water Polo
Gold:  Italy
Silver:  Serbia
Bronze:  Croatia
Italy won the Wolds, Serbia the World League.  All the games in the final four the the 2011 Worlds were decided by one goal.  The U.S. ranks about fifth or sixth.

Women's Water Polo
Gold:  Russia
Silver:  Italy
Bronze:  United States
Greece won the World Championships last year,  downing China in the final.  However, a quarterfinal loss to Spain at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament leaves the Greeks out of the Games.