The gambler’s guide to the World Cup
World Cup Open Blog — By David Melding AM on June 11, 2010 3:00 pm
Well, Uruguay has won it before...
THE GOOD news is that I didn’t draw North Korea or New Zealand in the sweepstake. Some may be tempted by the odds of 1000-1 or even longer, but it would be money down a rat hole.
However, I have no great hope for Uruguay – the team I did draw – who are probably the weakest from South America. So I shall be forced into the bookies to make good. Here are my bets:
Winner – Argentina. Better odds than Brazil, justifiably the favourites, but worth a punt on the grounds that one team finally pulls it all together in the competition.
Semi-final – Germany. Massively unfancied this time by the pundits, but the equivalent of what could once be called the housewife’s choice is always worth a bet.
Quarter-final – USA. For sentimental reasons (as a graduate of William and Mary, Virginia) and the USA have surprised before. Anyone who has travelled around the USA knows how popular the game is at grassroots level.
Big surprise – Cameroon or Ivory Coast to reach the final. Well, the World Cup is being played in Africa!
Waleshome will track the success or otherwise of these investments. Remember, bets can be lost as well as won…
Tags: football, gambling, World Cup
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1 Comment
As I type, the following teams are all 30-1 or better to win :
Portugal 30-1
Ivory Coast 70-1
Serbia 65-1
Mexico 120-1
Chile 90-1
USA 90-1
Paraguay 120-1
Cameroon 140-1
Yes, I can hear you shouting that most of these team will be lucky to reach the last eight, let alone the last one, but my logic is that at least one of them will qualify, possibly two. And, at that point, you can reverse your bet, effectively betting that your team will lose the next game. So if, for arguments sake, the USA qualify in their group (as the wise Mr Melding suggests above) their odds will drop by half, so you can “lay-off” the bet, and pocket the difference.