USA vs. Japan Women's World Cup Odds: Historic Betting Expected
by Richard Gardner | Bodog Sportsbook Manager - 7/15/2011
America has fallen head over heels in love with its national women’s soccer team. The buzz that the plucky United States squad – which will face Japan in the World Cup final on Sunday in Germany – has created is quite something to behold.
We’re expecting record-setting betting on this game over at Bodog’s online sportsbook. The last time the United States was so excited about its women’s team was all the way back in 1999. That was the year the U.S. hosted the tournament and beat China in the final in front of 90,000 fans at the Rose Bowl.
Of course, sports wagering on the internet wasn’t nearly as widespread back then as it is now, so 1999 isn’t really comparable for our purposes. At any rate, I feel pretty safe predicting that Sunday’s match will be the most wagered on women’s soccer game in history.
We’ve already booked a ton of action on our odds to win Sunday’s showdown. Not surprisingly, most of our players are showing their patriotism by backing the United States (1/2), although a handful of value seekers are taking Japan at 3/2.
The United States, ranked first in the world by FIFA, is a deserving favorite in the final, but the Japanese (ranked fourth) are no pushovers. Japan traveled a tough road for the privilege to play in Sunday’s match, beating hosts Germany in the quarterfinals then knocking off a very good Swedish squad in the semis.
Not that the Americans breezed to the final. Not even close. Brazil took them to penalty kicks in the quarterfinals and they didn’t put away France until the closing minutes of their semifinal match.
We’ve also posted a collection of props for Sunday’s game. Not surprisingly, the always popular “who will score the first goal?” has been heavily wagered on. According to Bodog odds makers, the favorite to break the ice is quarterfinal hero Abby Wambach (5/1).
The fact Wambach just took home the ESPY award for “Best Play” after heading home a late game-tying goal against Brazil is sure to spur some betting on her. (I still say the best play was Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch’s run against the Saints in the playoffs, but I’m not about to get upset about it.)
As for the exact score after 90 minutes (another popular soccer bet), the 11/2 co-favorites are the United States winning, 1-0, and the second half ending in a 1-1 draw. We’ve seen good support for those two options, in addition to the United States winning, 2-0 (8/1).
Our half-time odds have the United States at +175, Japan at +300 and a draw at +110. Again, most of our players are backing the USA.
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