Editor’s note: For the most up-to-date information on Tokyo Olympics betting markets, visit our full coverage page on the 2021 Olympic Games.
The dog days of summer are quickly approaching. With the NBA and NHL Playoffs nearing their ends and the NFL and college football seasons still months away, are seeking options to get through the summer doldrums.
Fear not! Several major international sporting events are taking place now or on the horizon, providing opportunities to fatten your pockets.
Tokyo Olympics odds starting to take shape
Like most sporting events over the past year, the 2020 Summer Olympics were unable to run as scheduled last summer because of the coronavirus pandemic.
A rescheduling of events leaves us with the rare Olympic Games in an odd year, as the 2020 Games will take place this summer in Tokyo.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 23, and the Games will run until Aug. 8.
A total of 339 events are held in 50 disciplines and among 33 different categorized sports. Although individuals are still qualifying in many events, odds are available for sports that are team-driven.
DraftKings Sportsbook has odds available for 17 events right now. Of those events, the United States is the favorite to win gold in six of them. They are:
- Men’s Basketball: USA -360
- Women’s Basketball: USA -1250
- Women’s Football (Soccer): USA -125
- 3-on-3 Women’s Basketball: USA +150
- Women’s Softball: USA -125
- Women’s Water Polo: USA -335
Team USA women picking up the slack
The United States women have been a strong unit in many of the team competitions.
As a whole, basketball has been a dominant sport for the USA in the Olympics. The women have won gold in the past six Olympic games, while the men have won three straight and six of the past seven.
For the first time, 3-on-3 basketball will be an event at the Olympics this summer. Eight teams will compete per gender. The USA women are favored, but the men failed to qualify.
In women’s soccer, the USA has won four of the six gold medals since the competition began in 1996. The 2016 Games was the first time the Americans failed to win a medal.
Softball returns to the Games after not being included in the past two Summer Olympics. The USA has won three of the four gold medals in this sport, taking silver in 2008.
In water polo, the USA women have won the past two gold medals and secured at least bronze in all five Olympic competitions.
Novak Djokovic seeks history at Wimbledon
The most prestigious annual tennis tournament makes its return starting Monday, as Wimbledon begins.
The 2020 edition was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but action returns to the All England Lawn and Tennis and Croquet Club in London from June 28-July 11.
In men’s singles, Novak Djokovic is the clear favorite to win at -110 according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
The “Djoker” is ranked No. 1 in the world by a wide margin and is the two-time defending Wimbledon champion. He holds a total of 19 Grand Slam titles and can tie Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer for most all-time at 20 with this Wimbledon crown.
Nadal won’t be competing this year because of an injury, while Federer is listed at +900 to claim his 21st title. Other favorites include Stefanos Tsitsipas (+550) and Daniil Medvedev (+600).
Serena Williams also in record-setting mode in London
In the women’s tournament, top-ranked Ashleigh Barty is the slight favorite to win at +700, just ahead of Serena Williams at +750.
Barty is seeking her first Wimbledon title and her second Grand Slam championship. She has yet to get past the fourth round of Wimbledon in her career.
Like Djokovic, Williams is looking to tie the all-time Grand Slam record for women. She has won 23 titles, while Margaret Court holds the all-time record of 24. Williams is a seven-time Wimbledon winner and has finished runner-up in the past two.
One name not appearing on the odds list is Naomi Osaka, as she has elected to sit out this year’s tournament.
Osaka withdrew from the French Open after being fined for not speaking with the media. She cited mental health issues as her reason for avoiding the media. The second-ranked Osaka has won four Grand Slam events, but not at Wimbledon.
Euro 2020 enters bracket play
Also taking place the past couple of weeks is Euro 2020, the quadrennial international men’s skccer championship of Europe that is put on by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
Moved back a year by the pandemic, Euro 2020 started June 11 and will conclude July 11.
What started with 24 teams in six different groups has now moved to a 16-team bracket phase.
PointsBet Sportsbook is listing France as the favorite to win the tournament, listing it at +400. Italy is next at +600, while England (+650), Germany (+700) and Spain (+750) are not far off.
Both Germany and Spain are three-time winners of this event, which ties for the most titles. France is second with two overall victories, the last coming in 2000.
The French were 1-0-2 in group play, with a 1-0 win over Germany while tying both Portugal and Hungary. France takes on Switzerland on Monday in the round of 16.
Italy went a perfect 3-0 in group play, scoring seven goals while not allowing a single one against it. The Azzurri will face Austria on Saturday to begin knockout play.
England was 2-0-1 despite scoring just two goals in the group stage. However, it didn’t allow a goal, either. England will face Germany on Tuesday in a blockbuster round-of-16 clash.
