The Olympic Games provide unique betting opportunities for punters who love sports and have a keen eye for talent. Leading bookmakers offer competitive odds on trending sports such as boxing, football, handball, basketball, and athletics.
The Olympic Games are underway, and the world’s best athletes have already won many gold medals. There was no shortage of surprises and outstanding results from athletes who seemingly came out of nowhere to stun favorites. Halfway through the competition, there are still plenty of medals to be won, including some in the most popular sports. These are the main contenders for the podiums and the odds currently available at top bookmakers recommended by OCR.
The USA currently leads the pack of gold winners and is expected to further their lead after the races are over in the athletics category. In the 100m category, Noah Lyles is credited with odds of 6/4 for the men’s race, slightly behind Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson at 5/4. The Americans are expected to have an easier task in the women’s equivalent race, where ShaCarri Richardson gets odds of 2/5.
Shericka Jackson hopes to bring a gold medal for Jamaica in the women’s 200m race, but she is likely to settle for a podium placement. That’s because she gets odds of 12/5 as opposed to 1/1 for Gabrielle Thomas, the big favorite to prevail. Julien Alfred and McKenzie Long are also in the race for a medal with odds of 5/1, respectively 7/1. Noah Lyles has an even better chance of winning the 200m race, where he gets odds of 2/7, far better than his countryman Kenneth Bednarek, who is priced at 11/2.
Football is the most popular sport in the world, and even though it doesn’t enjoy the same status as the Olympics, millions of people still watch the games. France and Spain have dominated international competitions for years, and they are huge favorites to finish on the podium. France is expected to advance at the expense of Egypt, as reflected by the odds of 5/11, while Spain is priced at 11/10 to defeat Morocco.
The two teams didn’t bring their best players to the Olympics as the competition’s rules don’t allow it, but they still have a roster packed with talent. Punters can take advantage of the odds posted in advance for the tournament winner ahead of Monday’s semifinals. France has the more experienced strikers, hence the odds of 11/10 to claim gold, but Spain can’t be discounted at the odds of 23/10 to win the event.
Second only to China’s table tennis team, the USA is a perennial favorite for crushing competitions in basketball events. Their starting formation and the reserves are so much better than their opponents that the odds on individual games rarely go above 1/10. Risk-averse punters who don’t mind smaller odds will love 2/10 offered on Team USA to lift the trophy.
LeBron James is the overwhelming favorite for the most assists with odds of 1/8, while the next three in line are all Americans. Punters seeking bigger odds and the thrills of betting on individual games should pay attention to Canada, Germany, and Serbia. These are some of the strongest teams at the 2024 Olympics and it is wise to back them to cover the spread throughout the event.
France Hopes for Two Medals in Men’s and Women’s Handball
The hosts have exceeded expectations after the first week of the Olympics, but they have high hopes for the remaining weeks. One of their best chances to win a gold medal as a team is in women’s handball, where they are priced at 5/6, ahead of Norway who gets 8/5. Denmark and Sweden also have strong rosters, but they will likely compete for the bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics.
The Danish handball fans have more reasons to be hopeful when the Men’s handball event reaches its final stages. Their first hurdle is the match against Norway, where they are overwhelming favorites, and the odds as the outright winners of the event stand at 4/6. France will need to play its best game to stand a chance, but fans of the red, white, and blue will be tempted by the odds of 5/1 on them to win.
Male and Female Boxers Punch their Way to Gold
Despite all the controversies surrounding this year’s boxing matches, this is one of the most popular sports at the 2024 Olympics. Uzbekistan’s best chance to win gold is through Bakhodir Jalolov, who gets odds of 1/10 in the heaviest category, in men’s +92kg. That’s the same odds given to Ukraine’s Khyzhniak Oleksandr in the 80kg category. The most balanced category is 71kg, where Muydinkhujaev is a slight favorite over Marco Verde and Zeyad Eshaiah.
In the women’s competition, everyone is watching Lin Yu-Ting and Imane Khelif in the 57kg and 66kg, after the huge scandals surrounding their admission to the Games. They are overwhelming favorites with odds of 1/4 respectively 4/9, but also under tremendous pressure to deliver. The heaviest female boxers will fight in the 75kg category, where Qian Li starts with the first chance and odds of 2/1. Cindy Ngamba from Camerun and Morroco’s Khadija el Mardi are her main contenders.
Looking to bet on the Olympic games? Visit the OCR Sports betting section to find top sportsbooks tailored to your location. Our curated list of bookies ensures you get the best odds and a secure betting experience. Don't miss out on the excitement of the 2024 Olympics!
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