Team USA is a Gold Medal Favorite in the 2024 Paris Olympics
With the 2024 Paris Olympics making sports news headlines worldwide, sportsbooks and betting houses worldwide are busy taking wagers on dozens of events.
The range of bets you can lay down during the Olympics has expanded significantly in recent years; however, traditional wagering is still very popular, meaning that many players will closely follow the medal counts for specific countries.
The medal count, also known as the medal table or haul, refers to the classes in which athletes or teams win the top three spots in their Olympic disciplines.
You have a total count that includes gold, silver, and bronze; then you have the more specific gold medal haul, which is often associated with the best overall performance by a country delegation.
The gold medal haul is like a betting market in and of itself.
The proposition is simple: Which country will return home from Paris with suitcases full of gold medals? If you ask sportsbook analysts in Las Vegas, the answer will likely be: Oh say can you see how many gold medals Team USA will bring back?
There's a strong history involving the United States dominating the Olympic medal count, both total and medal haul.
Team USA has topped the gold medal count in approximately half of the Olympic Summer Games, and the same can be said about Paris in 2024.
We know this because of the betting odds compiled by sportsbook analysts and betting house managers in gambling capitals such as Las Vegas and London.
With all this in mind, let's take a closer look at why American athletes are expected to win the most gold medals.
Top Odds For Gold Medal Haul at the 2024 Paris Olympics
In the American format for sports betting, Team USA tops the list at the Olympics with -750 odds per DraftKings. What this means for American athletes is that they are expected to dominate in Paris. What it means for bettors is that a $10 wager on Team USA can be turned into $11.33 for a net profit of $1.33.
Let's look at the DraftKings Top 10 odds table for gold haul by country, including potential earnings on a $10 bet:
United States -750. A $10 bet wins $11.33
China +350. A $10 bet wins $45
France +6500. A $10 bet wins $660
Japan +8000. A $10 bet wins $810
Great Britain +8000. A $10 bet wins 810
Netherlands +20000. A $10 bet wins $2,010
Germany +20000. A $10 bet wins $2,010
Australia +20000. A $10 bet wins $2,010
Italy +50000. A $10 bet wins $5,010
Hungary +100000. A $10 bet wins $10,010
As for what makes Team USA the safest bet for bringing back the largest gold medal haul, let's take a deeper look into its strongest disciplines, the most likely competitions that sportsbook analysts believe American athletes will take the top spot in the podium.
Women's Basketball
The gold medal tradition of the Team USA women's basketball team dates back to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and they are once again favored in Paris with -1800 odds.
No other team can match the talent of a roster that includes Brittney Griner as a dominant center, Sabrina Ionescu scoring from downtown, and Diana Taurasi dribbling past everyone. This situation is what seasoned sports bettors call easy money.
Men's Basketball
The U.S. has not stacked the Olympic basketball team with as many NBA stars since the legendary Dream Team of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, which featured Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.
For the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA features Lebron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
With -500 odds, Team USA is heavily favored to win the gold medal. Curry is already a favorite among bettors to score the most points through the eight games that he should play before the medal awards ceremony. A similar bet is emerging around Lebron James, who many analysts believe will provide the most assists.
Women's Soccer
The overpowering dominance of the U.S. Women's National Team in international soccer is getting challenged by surging opponents such as Spain and Brazil.
There was a time when the USWNT was a sure bet like the basketball team, but the odds are tighter now at +175.
Rising stars such as Trinity Rodman, who already scored in Team USA's victory against Zambia, and Sophia Smith will have to play at their most effective levels to ensure a smooth path to the medal podium.
Golf
With two top-ranked American players favored to win at Le Golf Club in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, the bets in favor of Team USA bringing back gold are stacking up.
The legendary Tiger Woods did not get to play in the Olympic era of golf, but he paved the way for Scottie Scheffler, a +300 favorite who is followed by another Team USA player, Xander Schauffele with +600 odds.
Track and Field
The 100-meter sprinting events have always been a highlight of Olympic competition, and two American athletes are early gold medal favorites with Sha'Carri Richardson, the stylish and controversial speedster who was suspended from competition from the COVID-19 Tokyo Olympics for cannabis use.
Noah Lyles already has a bronze Olympic medal, but he is particularly hungry for gold in Paris; his odds are +160 in the individual event and the 4x100 relays. The 24-year-old Richardson is a +150 favorite who set two personal best records in the qualifying rounds.
Women's Volleyball
Team USA has been working on establishing an Olympic volleyball gold medal run, and the odds of repeating the 2020 Tokyo gold medal are at +600 for the women's team.
Better odds can be found in women's beach volleyball, where Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss are currently enjoying +300 odds below Brazil, the Olympic powerhouse of this competition.
What do you think about these early Olympic odds for Team USA? Are there other disciplines in which American athletes have a fair shot at winning gold medals?
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