Welcome to the Gold Coast where the surf meets the sun. If you’re lucky enough to visit between June and October, you’ll experience one of the most beautiful and welcoming cities in the world. While on the beach you’ll feel the soft warm breeze, watch the waves crashing into the shore, and smell the salty air as it drifts in across the water. If you add a bit of luck to that, you’ll land on one of the most famous gambling meccas in the world: the London 2012 Olympics.
One of the most anticipated and talked-about Olympic incidents is the men’s water polo tournament, where eight teams from around the world will fight it out in a series of quick-fire matches, trying to secure a spot in the final four. The draw for the tournament determined that the US, Hungary, and Czech Republic will face off against Germany, Great Britain, and Switzerland in the early days of the competition. The US, who won the toss and elected to attack first, will look to use their speed and skill on the water to beat a German team that gained a reputation for their ruthlessness on the pond. The US was drawn primarily against Hungary and the Czech Republic due to geographical proximity, with both those teams having to travel across the Atlantic Ocean to take part in the tournament. Let’s have a closer look at those odds and what they mean for sportsbooks and bettors.
Which Team Is Most Likely to Win the Men’s Water Polo Tournament?
One of the most anticipated and talked-about Olympic sporting events is the men’s water polo tournament. It’s expected that the game will be featured in some shape or form during the Games, due to its explosive popularity around the world. The sport itself is based on a combination of water hockey and basketball, and features some of the world’s best players. In fact, some of the biggest names in the game (like Vladimir Putin and Michael Jordan) even endorsed the sport, supporting its inclusion in the Olympics. It’s only natural that the betting public would be interested in backing one of the most anticipated events during the whole Olympics.
Based on that, let’s have a look at the odds for the top four finishers in the men’s water polo tournament:
- United States (4/1) – The US have the nickname ‘the best team in the world’, and with good reason. Between 1959 and 1987, the US won 15 Olympic medals in water polo – more than any other nation. And after a 17-year wait, the country will finally be participating in a major sporting event again. The American team were heavy favorites to win the whole tournament before it began, with some punters putting down ten-to-one favorites, and others giving them seven-to-two odds. While the general public is interested in betting on the tournament, most bookmakers have implemented a betting limit of either five or six goals in any single match, to avoid payouts that exceed what they are allowed to take. The reason behind the limit is due to the volatility that the game can cause, given its explosive popularity and the fact that it’s played in front of huge crowds, which makes it more likely for scores to go in.
- Germany (2/1) – Germany are the reigning Olympic champions, and thirteen of their players have represented the country in the past at the Olympic level (more than any other country). And they’re entering the tournament as clear underdogs, having not medaled since 1976, the last time they participated in the event. However, the Germans boast one of the best offensive lines in the tournament, and a dangerous team if you don’t know how to defend against them. This being said, it’s hard to find a team that isn’t favored in the tournament. Despite their lack of success recently, Germany are still one of the public’s favorite picks for the tournament, along with Argentina and Brazil.
- Argentina (7/1) – While the odds for Germany are heavy, so is the anticipation for the tournament. After a decade of absence, will Argentina finally end their drought, and win a silver medal after all? The South Americans finished third at the last two Olympics but failed to make the podium at the last two World Cups. The country’s participation in the tournament is also controversial, as President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner refused to make an appointment for the Rio 2016 elections during the tournament, reportedly saying that she didn’t have time for “elections and Olympic Games”. However, Fernandez de Kirchner will be able to make time for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will start just three months after the end of the Olympic tournament. The Argentinians are making a concerted effort to get back in the good graces of their public, and with the odds for a country that hasn’t won an Olympic medal since 1964 being 7/1, it’s clear that the betting public believes that this could finally be the year that they win a silver medal.
- Brazil (12/1) – There are many exciting stories connected to Brazilian athletics, most notably the country’s participation in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, where they won three gold medals and set a world record in the 4×100 meter relay. Since then, the country has been dominated by sports, with their athletes frequently winning gold at the Olympic and World Championship levels. Brazil are also heavily favored to win the gold in the men’s football tournament, which will be played during the last week of the Olympics. Their chances of winning gold in both sports are undoubtedly helped by the fact that neither sport is expected to go past the first round. While the nation’s footballers are undoubtedly talented, they have yet to prove themselves at the top level, having only qualified for one World Cup, in 2014.
The Volatility Of Point-Betting On Water Polo
One of the biggest draws of the men’s water polo tournament is undoubtedly the large number of goals that are scored. It’s rare to see a match in this sport where there aren’t at least 12 goals scored (and sometimes it even goes beyond that). That makes this game highly unpredictable, even when there is a clear favorite between two teams. For example, both Hungary and the Czech Republic are expected to reach the final four, but bookmakers don’t know which one will end up on top. Will it be the faster and more effective Czechs, or the more technical and organized Hungarians?
One of the biggest factors that contribute to the game’s volatility is the fact that it’s played in front of a live audience. Even if you’re watching the game on TV, your attention is drawn to the action on the field, rather than the board, which makes it much more exciting. The high visibility of the game encourages goal hustling, and that in turn makes the game more exciting for the viewers at home, as well as the players on the field. In the US, it is actually illegal to bet on sporting events that are covered by the TV networks. However, many states have now legalized sports betting, which means that you can place bets on the game, as long as it is not televised.
Why Are The United States And Argentina Popular Choices For The Men’s Water Polo Tournament?
The United States and Argentina are popular choices for the men’s water polo tournament, mostly because of what we just discussed – both countries are expected to reach the final four at the Olympics, but neither have won a medal since 1976. With thirteen of the German players having represented the country in Olympic competition, it’s little wonder why they’re such heavy favorites to win the whole tournament.
Argentina and the US are both making a concerted effort to win back the support of their public, and with the exception of Germany, both countries are expected to reach the final four. In the US, the last time they won the whole tournament was when the country hosted it in 1936, and since then it’s been a drought. Will this be the year that the US finally end their drought, and win a silver medal after all?
The Argentinians have a long-standing reputation for being a competitive people, and this is clearly shown in their participation in sporting events, where they have won multiple gold medals, as well as world records. While they’re making a concerted effort to get back on top, Argentina are still looking to improve upon their bronze medal from the 2016 Olympics, which they won in a penalty shoot-out. The last time that they won a silver medal was in the 1908 Summer Olympics, and since then it’s been a struggle. This year’s tournament will be their fourth appearance, and having watched and participated in multiple Olympics-related events, including the game itself, it’s easy to see why Argentina are making a serious effort to end their 30-year drought.